CHAPTER 86: CHAPTER 86: LET EVAN WITNESS HER MESSING AROUND WITH ANOTHER MAN

The phone call didn’t clarify things, so Juliana personally went to Celestial Vista.

And she took along the deer antler essence that Jared Langley had given her a few days ago.

Rosalind Linton teased, "Oh, our Juliana has bought things at a higher level now."

"It was a gift from a foolish friend."

Juliana brushed it off lightly and then inquired about the painting from her grandfather.

Old Man Linton seemed in good spirits, although his expression was somber.

"The ’Snow Creek Hidden Inkstone Painting’ is an ancestral piece from the Linton Family. But when the family fell on hard times, I had to sell it for the sake of our livelihood. Now I hear it will be at an auction tomorrow night, and I’ve saved a little..."

He placed a card in Juliana’s hand.

"With Aidan gone, I feel I’ve let down our ancestors. There’s a hundred thousand on this card. If you can buy it back, it would be something to make our ancestors proud. If not... so be it."

Old Man Linton looked profoundly sorrowful.

Juliana thought of the card Adrian Langley had left her, with five million on it.

She said, "I’ll take a look. If it seems right, I’ll buy it."

The following evening, at The Apex Hotel, The Lunar Hall.

This was an exclusive private auction, with only about thirty guests invited.

Juliana wore a deep blue French-style dress.

The simple cut accentuated her slender waist, the square neckline subtly revealing delicate collarbones, and her jade-like wrists under the three-quarter sleeves. With each step, the discreet swirl of the skirt displayed her elegant, well-proportioned calves.

Evan Grant knew every advantage of her figure, so whenever he brought her to events, he always arranged for dresses that concealed all her advantages, making Mrs. Grant appear as just an ordinary woman in the eyes of others.

But attending this event alone, all the beauty he had deliberately hidden spilled forth with the sway of the skirt, drawing the eyes of the entire room.

"Sister-in-law, are you here too?"

Stella Windsor held her mother’s hand, walking happily towards her, as if there were no grudges between them.

Lily Windsor also smiled, "Juliana, if you had told me you were coming to the banquet, we could have come together. Evan promised Stella that she can buy any gift she wants at the auction. What are you planning to buy? Does Evan know?"

Recently, the Grant Family had been caught up in many scandals, and this mother and daughter seized the opportunity to clean their image.

Juliana saw through them clearly, refusing to be their detergent and not intending to endure Lily’s barbed words.

She smiled coldly, "You two can’t live a day without leeching off men, I dare not compete. Don’t smile at me like working girls do, I find it disgusting."

Her words made the nearby onlooking guests burst into laughter.

Juliana glanced at Evan Grant, who was talking business with friends not far away, and walked off as if she didn’t know him.

Stella walked over to Evan with grievances, "Brother, sister-in-law she again..."

Evan looked at Juliana’s back, eyes deep as he sipped his champagne, cutting her off, "I promised you a farewell gift, and I won’t go back on it. I have matters to discuss with Mr. Wyatt. Whatever you want to buy, tell Ethan Carter."

With that, he went to the adjacent lounge with someone who looked like a corporate executive, not even sparing her a glance.

Stella’s mask almost cracked in anger, and she turned all her fury towards Lily.

"See that? He still only sees her. Is this the method you racked your brains to come up with?"

"No, I even sent him the photos of her with another man, and he’s still not angry, I..."

"If you don’t have the brains, just give up. I’ll still have a life of luxury even if I’m sent abroad, but you..."

Stella chuckled.

"I might still have a chance to come back and manage your funeral."

She took a glass of champagne and went to look at the exhibits alone.

Lily Windsor breathed heavily, the hatred in her heart spreading...

On the second floor, Elias Langley stood by the window of the lounge, looking down at the hall.

The secretary, after pondering his expression for a while, whispered, "This Miss Jacobs resembles the lady by three parts, her personality is quite amusing too. It seems she definitely intends to divorce Evan Grant. Actually, since madam has been missing for so many years, even if you kept a stand-in by your side, nobody would say anything."

Elias Langley’s eyes were as calm as still water, "If I hadn’t thought it through back then, I wouldn’t have taken her memorial into the house. Since I did, whether I find her or not, I’ll remain faithful for a lifetime. You’ve been single for too long; even a robot looks good to you now. Go find yourself a girlfriend before you get too frustrated."

Quinn Shepherd’s smile froze for a moment, "The eldest and third young masters will also come tonight, probably to persuade you to go home again."

Hearing this, the faint unperceived smile on Elias’s lips gradually faded.

...

Juliana quickly found the ’Snow Creek Hidden Inkstone Painting.’

As she observed it, Jared Langley’s voice came from behind, "That’s a piece by Qingdale Painter Louis Yates, over three hundred years old, Miss Jacobs has good taste."

Juliana smiled, "Not as much as President Langley, with business progressing smoothly, to have such leisure."

Jared, accustomed to her jabs, did not get angry but smiled instead, "My brother has prepared the divorce papers for you two. When can you discuss it?"

Both being wily foxes, Juliana saw through his intentions.

She looked at the painting, her gaze calm, "I’ve already filed the personal lawsuit today, no need for President Langley to worry."

Jared pursed his lips, "The more friends the better."

Juliana raised her brows, "Aren’t President Langley and I in a transactional relationship?"

At this moment, the lights in the hall dimmed, and the auction began.

The first few items were quickly sold.

When the ’Snow Creek Hidden Inkstone Painting’ appeared, Juliana was the first to raise her paddle.

"Five hundred thousand!" the auctioneer called.

Stella promptly followed, "Six hundred thousand!"

Juliana knew she would cause trouble, lucky that Adrian Langley’s card still had ample funds.

However, just as she raised the bid to seven hundred thousand, Lily shouted, "One million!"

Juliana was caught off guard.

Then Lily, brimming with pride, said, "Whatever Stella wants, Evan wants. Let’s see who dares to compete with her!"

The implication being, what value does Juliana, this Mrs. Grant, even hold?

The guests unfamiliar with the Grant Family began whispering, seemingly convinced of the stories of Evan’s favoritism towards his half-sister over his wife.

On the second-floor lounge, Quinn stated softly, "Weren’t you also interested in this painting? If you could let someone have their way..."

"She’s Evan Grant’s woman, the one who should be letting people have their way isn’t me."

With that, Elias Langley turned and left.

At that moment, Evan received a message from Ethan Carter and arrived at the auction scene.

"Actually, if sister-in-law likes it, I can also give it to her."

Stella, appearing unworldly, left the matter to Lily.

Lily quickly said, "This is what Evan promised you; don’t worry, he won’t break his promise. Right, Evan?"

Evan’s gaze swept coolly over Lily, finally landing on Juliana.

Juliana put down her paddle, her expression full of disappointment.

She couldn’t manage either to return the painting to her grandfather or to reclaim her recognition as a granddaughter.

However, just as the auctioneer was about to drop the gavel, Evan suddenly approached Juliana, raising his hand to signal.

The auctioneer, excitedly, called out, "President Grant lighting the lantern for his wife!"

Immediately, applause filled the room.

"That’s more like it. What’s a half-sister compared to a legitimate wife, who is the one with true dignity?" someone in the crowd shouted.

Stella stood frozen, while Lily went pale.

But Juliana, with a tranquil expression, told Evan, "I’ve already filed for divorce, consider this painting as a farewell gift."

"Juliana..."

Not wanting to hear more, Juliana turned to handle the paperwork backstage.

Guests continuously offered her champagne in congratulation; she barely managed to finish two glasses before finding a moment to escape.

Evan watched her back, ultimately not following.

He thought, give her some time, let her see his changes, she will return.

Stella stood there, looking innocent, unsure whether to stay or go.

Evan looked at her, his tone icy.

"You have no right to tell her to give up anything to you. What she doesn’t want, you may not necessarily have."

With that, he went back to the lounge for business discussions.

"See? If your ’brilliant ideas’ worked, would I be humiliated like this?"

Stella gritted her teeth in frustration.

Lily quickly said, "Don’t worry, I just gave Juliana spiked wine and booked her a good room with her lover. When Evan sees her fooling around with another man, I don’t believe he’ll hold back. They are definitely getting divorced."

...

With the painting in hand, Juliana felt unwell, heated and heart pounding.

After just a few steps, dizziness took over, and she reached out to brace against the wall.

"What’s wrong with you, are you feeling unwell?"