CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17: LET GO OF MY JULIANA

Grandfather looked at Rosalind Linton, the kindness in his eyes completely gone.

"With Aidan gone, I long ago lost the will to live. Why are you clinging to me? Is it because you can’t bear to lose the current lifestyle where someone takes care of you and you don’t have to lift a finger?"

"That’s not true, I’m worried that our family will need money for all of life’s expenses..."

Rosalind Linton argued, but Grandfather interrupted her.

"You’re only 45 and can’t find any work? Even if you wash dishes at a restaurant, you won’t starve."

"Dad," Rosalind Linton protested, "I’ve finally managed to live without doing hard labor these past few years. I’ve spent hundreds of thousands at beauty salons to maintain my skin’s smoothness. I can’t go back to the past."

Grandfather immediately frowned.

"Our family isn’t one of great wealth and fortune. You’re just an ordinary woman; why spend so much money on maintenance?"

Rosalind Linton touched her meticulously styled bun. "What if my true match comes later in life?"

Grandfather clutched his chest.

Juliana Jacobs hurried to console him, "Grandfather, Auntie Linton is just joking. Don’t take her seriously."

"Juliana, I’m really..."

Rosalind Linton was about to emphasize her seriousness but was silenced by Juliana’s sharp gaze.

Grandfather held Juliana’s hand.

"If Aidan hadn’t passed early, the burden of the Linton Family wouldn’t have fallen on you. Girl, we didn’t raise you for repayment. Don’t sacrifice your future for a family that’s unrelated to you, cough... cough..."

Seeing his lips turning blue, Juliana knew he was having an episode again and quickly gave him his medication.

"Dad, stop being so noble. This house is about to be repossessed, and the other party is only offering five thousand in compensation. If Juliana leaves the Grant Family, who will buy us a place to live?"

After catching his breath, Grandfather glared at her.

"I’ll sleep on the streets, and you can stay at a motel, how about that?"

Rosalind Linton saw that he was genuinely angry and quickly shut her mouth and left.

"Is our house going to be demolished?" Juliana asked.

Grandfather’s lips hadn’t recovered as he snorted, "This house was built by my grandfather. I was born here, and I want to die here. I won’t move!"

As the sun set, Juliana went to the nearby cemetery to visit Aidan.

At that time, they only found his phone and shoes by the river, but not his body, so Grandfather built a cenotaph for him, hoping he’d live well in another world.

In his lifetime, Grandfather cared most about Aidan.

And without Aidan and the Linton Family, Juliana didn’t know if she would have survived to this day.

She couldn’t ignore the Linton Family, even if it meant divorcing Evan Grant; Grandfather’s medication couldn’t be cut off.

As night fell, Juliana returned to the Linton Family.

But before reaching the courtyard gate, she saw several thuggish-looking men standing in front of it with shovels, and an excavator parked nearby.

Rosalind Linton was supporting Grandfather as they confronted them at the gate.

One of the thugs, Blondie, pointed at Grandfather and said, "Old man, this is a hazardous building. Giving you five thousand is charity. Don’t delay the village from building a luxury hotel. This place must be demolished by tomorrow."

Grandfather was infuriated, struggling to speak through his heavy breaths, "The foundation alone is worth more than fifty thousand. You’re robbing us!"

Blondie laughed, "Yeah, it’s robbery. You’ve got no heirs; why need so much money? Better off dead sooner."

Rosalind Linton spat at him angrily, "You’re the one with no heirs! Your whole family, the men are impotent, and the women are barren. You were born of stray dogs from the mountain!"

Her words successfully enraged them.

"Tear down the house!"

As the excavator’s shovel was raised, Juliana rushed in between them.

"Do you have official documents to demolish the house?"

Blondie arrogantly replied, "My dad’s the village chief, and his word is the document. Who are you?"

Juliana remained calm, "I’ve already called the police. Wait until they come to sort this out."

"Police?" Blondie sneered, "My second uncle runs the police station; let’s see if he’ll arrest me or you."

Juliana earnestly said, "I don’t believe you and your family can consume all of the law and order."

Blondie, extremely arrogant, grabbed her hand.

"Where’d this chick come from? Quite a looker. Come play with us up the mountain."

"You beasts, let her go!"

Seeing them try to assault Juliana, Grandfather shakily went to hit them with his cane.

The thugs Blondie brought attacked, some kicking the old man down, others tearing at Juliana’s clothes.

"Stop!"

At this moment, several bodyguard-like men broke in, instantly separating them.

One of them nodded slightly to Juliana.

"Ma’am, President Grant sent us to protect you."

Juliana had no time to acknowledge him and stumbled to Grandfather’s side.

Grandfather had already fallen to the ground, convulsing strangely, foam at the corner of his mouth, yet still muttering indistinctly, "Beasts... let go of my Juliana..."

Juliana quickly pried open his mouth, fed him two quick-acting heart pills, and screamed out of control, "Hospital, get him to the hospital!"

...

At this time, the old Grant residence.

Ethan Carter received news of Juliana and rushed to the study.

Just about to push open the door, he heard a crisp slap from inside and froze.

Old Mrs. Grant, after slapping, pointed at Evan Grant’s nose and scolded, "What kind of skill is it to lock up a wife? Only cowards find satisfaction in bullying women."

Evan Grant took the slap without defending himself.

But one slap wasn’t enough to quell Old Mrs. Grant’s anger.

"What wrong have I committed? A useless son, another grandson who’s not human, and now, the last remaining scion deceives me."

"She’ll leave after paying respects to her father tomorrow," Evan Grant said.

Old Mrs. Grant clearly didn’t believe Stella Grant would leave so easily.

"You have to know, in this Grant Family, the only person without ulterior motives towards you is Juliana. You think I let you marry her for no reason?"

Four years ago, she went to the hospital for treatment and accidentally lost a jade ring she had worn for years.

Juliana found it at the hospital entrance. Some people, with impure motives, surrounded her, trying to coerce or buy the jade ring from her since she was in urgent need of money, but she wouldn’t give it up.

Later, Old Mrs. Grant found her and offered her a significant reward, which the girl accepted without guilt.

One would think at her age, with that money, she’d at least save some for herself, but when the lady left the hospital after her treatment, she saw Juliana squatting on the cafeteria steps gnawing on a bun.

Upon inquiry, she learned Juliana had given all the money to her non-biological guardians.

"The child appears gentle but is actually clear-headed and has her own opinions. Staying by your side, she won’t be instigated to betray, and she’ll be fiercely loyal for your kindness. Do you understand my intentions now?"

This was the first time Evan Grant had a heart-to-heart conversation with his grandmother about Juliana.

He lowered his head, "I will treat her well."

"Treat her well, and stop involving yourself in Stella Grant’s affairs."

However, on this demand, Evan Grant remained silent for a long time.

Ethan Carter saw it was the right moment.

He quickly knocked on the door, pushed it open, and reported, "President Grant, there’s a situation with Madam."