CHAPTER 106: CHAPTER 106: ELIAS LANGLEY TAKES CHARGE

"Let go."

Evan Grant didn’t bother to hide his disgust towards her.

But Stella’s grip was tight.

"I don’t know Professor Quentin Quinn, but I know his daughter Yvonne Quinn. She studied in Aldoria for four years and often attended local elite parties. We are friends. Recently, she’s been accompanying her father at Linwood Springs Resort for recovery."

Evan Grant looked at her, "What do you want?"

Stella’s eyes were bright, "Please brother, don’t drive me away for anyone’s sake; let me stay by your side."

But Evan Grant pressed his lips together and said nothing.

Stella added, "I swear I have no inappropriate intentions towards you, brother."

Evan Grant snorted coldly, "The most untrustworthy thing is a vow."

Stella stood up and tucked him in, "I will prove it with my actions."

...

Juliana Jacobs prepared a herbal soup and asked Summer Shaw to bring it to Adrian Langley, who would then pass it to Mrs. Young.

George Grant’s men had followed her for three days, gaining nothing.

Adrian Langley sent a message to Juliana Jacobs, saying Mrs. Young’s condition had improved and she could have surgery in a week.

Juliana Jacobs sighed with relief.

A week later, when Mrs. Young terminates the pregnancy, she’d no longer be a pawn in the Grant Family’s internal strife. After that, she’d be free to go wherever she wanted.

Juliana Jacobs continued to leave her in Adrian Langley’s care.

Aetherflame finally received the approval for the long-awaited membership to the New Energy Industry Association.

With this certification, Aetherflame could receive tens of millions in subsidies annually, gain priority access to high-level technology patents, and obtain more resources.

The procedures to be retrieved today were crucial, but Mrs. Shaw fell ill, so Summer Shaw had to entrust the task to Juliana Jacobs.

"The transition of presidents delayed the approval process, so our certification was held up until now. The new president is at Linwood Springs Resort. If you have the chance, be sure to invite him to a meal."

"What’s the new president’s name?" Juliana Jacobs asked.

Summer Shaw handed her a bottle of homemade dried tangerine peel and hawthorn water.

"His surname is Quinn. I haven’t had the chance to find out more. But he controls the permissions for the multi-physics coupling test platform, which our supercapacitor hybrid energy storage system urgently needs. From President Langley’s attitude the other day, the Helios Association’s connections aren’t an option; this Professor Quinn is our second choice."

Juliana Jacobs understood the importance of this certification for Aetherflame and drove there herself.

However, upon arriving at the conference hall entrance of Linwood Springs Resort, she was stopped by the association’s accompanying secretary.

"Weren’t you told to come at two-thirty?"

Juliana Jacobs was taken aback; Summer Shaw had said three o’clock.

"There was a traffic jam and it delayed me a bit," she replied.

The assistant shook his head, "The professor hates people who are not punctual. We’ll discuss the approval procedure next time."

The other party turned to leave, not leaving any room for negotiation.

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Juliana Jacobs was contemplating how to meet this key figure, but when she turned, she almost stumbled into a straight figure.

Jared Langley smiled as he steadied her shoulder, "Director Jacobs, after not seeing you for a few days, you’re this enthusiastic, seems like you’re not angry anymore."

"If President Langley thinks ruining someone’s reputation is just brushing dust off a sleeve and doesn’t take it to heart, then we have nothing to say to each other."

Juliana Jacobs sidestepped to avoid his touch and was about to leave.

Jared Langley dropped his smile and called to her, "I know where the Quinn guy is."

Juliana Jacobs paused, "What’s the condition?"

Jared Langley, "Be friends."

Juliana Jacobs sized him up, "No deal."

Jared Langley’s brow furrowed, "Why not?"

Juliana Jacobs, "Your motives aren’t pure."

Jared Langley couldn’t hold back and laughed.

At the resort, horseback riding area.

When Jared Langley and Juliana Jacobs arrived, Quentin Quinn was having a lively conversation with Evan Grant.

The one sitting next to Evan Grant was a woman about twenty-four or twenty-five, wearing a riding outfit, looking very spirited.

Their seats were very close, and the woman, while sitting upright, unconsciously leaned towards Evan Grant.

This was the most straightforward posture of admiration.

Yet Stella could only stand behind Evan Grant, watching once more as another woman was by her beloved’s side.

Juliana Jacobs narrowed her eyes, meeting Evan Grant’s gaze.

Cold, sharp, as if ready to settle a score with her.

She averted her eyes.

Jared Langley, familiar with Quentin Quinn, ignored the rising tension.

Upon nearing, he smiled, "Professor, the representative from Aetherflame Dynamics has been eager to meet you."

Quentin Quinn turned his head, and upon catching Juliana Jacobs’ gaze, his smile abruptly froze.

And Juliana Jacobs’ expression... was even more severe.

Jared Langley raised an eyebrow, observing how the two looked at each other as if they were enemies.

Quentin Quinn shifted his gaze to the woods not far from the riding field.

"Let’s not talk business today, shall we?"

Juliana Jacobs understood that the approval paperwork was out of reach, so she turned to leave.

"Sis-in-law, won’t you stay a while longer before leaving?"

Stella suddenly raised her voice, causing the air to freeze.

The woman next to Evan Grant immediately straightened her back, her scrutinizing gaze cutting through Juliana like a knife.

Juliana understood that Stella was up to her usual trick of using others to do her dirty work.

Quentin Quinn looked at Evan Grant and smiled faintly, "Since Mrs. Grant is here, why don’t we sit down and reminisce?"

Before Evan Grant could respond, Yvonne Quinn suddenly stood up, "Dad, your men’s topics are quite dull. How about I and Mrs. Grant have a competition? Give us women something fun to do."

A knowing look flashed in Quentin Quinn’s eyes.

He understood his daughter’s little schemes all too well.

"What kind of competition?" he asked with interest.

Yvonne Quinn raised her chin, "A three-thousand-meter horse riding race, the one who takes less time wins."

She then provocatively looked at Juliana, "Does Mrs. Grant dare to compete?"

Evan Grant lowered his eyes to drink tea, remaining silent.

Juliana initially wanted to say she wasn’t interested, but Quentin Quinn interjected, "Aetherflame’s approval documents are with me, missing just the final signature."

She understood his implication.

"Can you ride?" Jared whispered.

Juliana nodded.

Whether she knew or not, she had to, otherwise, the approval paperwork would be a lost cause.

Jared had a gentle horse brought for her.

"Winning or losing doesn’t matter, safety first."

Juliana pressed her lips together and mounted the horse.

But Yvonne Quinn had no intentions to race.

Her whip was embedded with hidden spikes; she just wanted to see Juliana fall off the horse and get seriously injured.

Stella twisted her fingers, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Just as Yvonne stepped forward and raised the whip towards the horse’s hoof, a calm male voice called out from the side, "The sun’s almost setting and you’re still riding, Miss Quinn, are you heading to The Netherworld for a horse race?"

Yvonne’s raised hand paused.

Seeing it was Elias Langley, Quentin Quinn quickly stood up, "Mr. Langley, are you here to ride too?"

Though he was the president of the industry association, his background was far lesser than Elias Langley’s.

"Why, can’t I visit without riding?"

Elias Langley’s gaze swept over Juliana’s abdomen, then turned to Jared with a sidelong glance, "You let her ride; what if she falls and gets injured? Will the Langley Family take care of President Grant’s wife?"

Juliana silently cursed: You’re the injured one, your whole family is injured.

Jared, like he was suddenly enlightened, said, "Uncle, I was wrong."

Elias Langley, "Go help her down."

Jared thought he misheard, "Me?"

Elias Langley’s expression was cool, "Or should I?"

Jared went off to play stable boy.

Evan Grant’s gaze towards Elias Langley turned scrutinizing.

Quentin Quinn detected a hint of something and hastily smiled, "Mr. Langley, your thoughtfulness is unmatched, since it’s almost dinner time, how about we all have a meal together?"

Of course, this "we all" included Juliana.

Elias Langley smiled ever so faintly, "Alright."

Without Juliana breaking her leg, Yvonne Quinn was furious.

At the banquet, Elias Langley naturally sat at the head, with Quentin Quinn seated beside him.

Yvonne, however, played a trick, taking the opportunity to squeeze in next to Evan Grant.

Juliana, not one to wrong herself, simply sat beside Jared across from them.

Afterward, Yvonne frequently toasted and exchanged drinks with Evan Grant.

Having seen Stella’s shamelessness to the extreme, Yvonne’s antics didn’t even rank to Juliana. She remained composed, focusing solely on her meal.

After a few rounds of drinks, Quentin Quinn, looking radiant, said, "Mr. Langley, regarding the project I mentioned before, have you given it any thought? It’s very profitable."

Elias Langley was about to respond when Juliana suddenly stood up, "Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom."

Her mind was solely on the approval papers; she had no interest in their topics, so she’d rather step out for some fresh air after eating.

A few minutes later, after splashing some water on her face in the restroom, she looked up only to meet eyes with Elias Langley in the mirror.

Neither had the chance to speak when outside they suddenly heard Yvonne, drunken and sultry, say:

"President Grant, how is your wife better than me?"