CHAPTER 174: CHAPTER 174: PRETENDING TO BE STRANGERS IN PUBLIC, GETTING COZY IN PRIVATE

Juliana Jacobs felt a wave of panic in her heart, but she quickly suppressed it.

She looked calmly at Jared Langley, "What images are still in your head now?"

Jared Langley pursed his lips and thought for a while, "...I don’t remember what you look like in pajamas anymore."

Had she not known about his memory disorder, Juliana would have already punched him by now.

"You know how hard it is to deal with your mom. Go back to the Langley Family? Dream on! Focus on getting better and stay out of trouble!"

With that, she left the hospital room.

However, as soon as she reached downstairs, she ran into Leona Sheridan.

Obviously, the other party had been waiting for her there.

"I’ll have the driver accompany you home to pack your luggage."

Leona Sheridan’s tone was arrogant, as if ordering a servant.

Juliana raised an eyebrow at her leisurely, "If you’re in such a hurry, why not start planning our wedding right now."

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Leona Sheridan nearly jumped, her voice suddenly sharp, "It’s just a play to help my son with his treatment. Do you think you’re worthy to enter the Langley Family’s door?"

Juliana wasn’t angry; instead, she laughed, "Precisely, and you’re not worthy to be my mother-in-law, so we just don’t have that kind of destiny. Don’t fantasize anymore."

The next second, she put away her smile.

"Also, since you remember we’re just acting, it shows you’re still sane, so stop acting crazy along with the patient."

Leona Sheridan’s face turned an angry shade of green, "What’s with your attitude! How dare you..."

Juliana returned a contemptuous look, "Save that wicked mother-in-law face for your future real daughter-in-law, don’t come humiliating yourself in front of me."

With that, she continued to leave the hospital.

Leona Sheridan was so angry she could hardly stand, fortunately supported by the driver.

The next night.

The welcome reception for the strategic collaboration between Aetherflame and Cryovault was held in the exhibition hall of Cryovault Titanium’s new headquarters building.

Juliana and Summer Shaw took great care, spending three hours changing dresses and doing makeup.

Juliana chose a knee-length pearl white halter dress, with simple and elegant lines, a small diamond hairpin in her hair, exuding a gentle air.

While Summer Shaw wore a champagne-colored satin strap gown, charming and lively. She used a pearl mother-of-pearl hairpin to fix the loose strands behind her ears, giving off an indescribable allure.

Summer Shaw stood in front of the mirror, spinning around, always feeling something was off.

Juliana asked puzzled, "What, are you turning into a top?"

Summer Shaw spotted the hairpin in her hair, suddenly realizing what was wrong, and swiftly took her hairpin off, also roughly removing her own.

A few strands of hair got caught in the hairpin, and now they were pulled out, causing Juliana pain.

"Be gentle, I barely have much hair, if you pull it all out, are you going to pay for a wig?"

Summer Shaw said nonchalantly, "Oh, I yanked out a few of mine too, let’s get a 1-for-1 deal at the wig store, we’ll profit."

Juliana found her logic exasperating.

Summer Shaw attached her own pearl mother-of-pearl hairpin to Juliana, checked the mirror, and smiled brightly.

"A swap, and now it feels right."

After dinner, they headed to the reception.

The reception for the collaboration between the two companies invited quite a few business executives.

The regional manager of Cryovault Titanium, Ms. Thorne, was a woman in her thirties.

She wore a deep-sea blue velvet gown with sharp cuts, exuding a composed and confident aura, radiating a seasoned calm.

She smiled, observing Juliana for quite a while, "When I first saw Miss Jacobs, I was pleasantly surprised, I honestly didn’t expect the Tech Director of Aetherflame Dynamics to be so young. You’re rare, with both the grace of a householder and the capability to manage things independently."

Juliana smiled politely, "Ms. Thorne, you’re too kind. Your outstanding management of Cryovault Titanium is truly admirable."

"I hope for a pleasant cooperation between our two companies in the future."

Luna Thorne smiled, raising her glass in a toast.

After taking a sip, each naturally moved off to mingle with other guests.

While they were mingling with other guests, a slight commotion arose at the entrance of the hall.

Juliana looked over and was momentarily stunned.

Still hospitalized, Jared Langley turned up at the reception in a sharp black suit, and the partner on his arm was Isabelle Sinclair.

Summer Shaw looked at Juliana, silently asking: What is he doing here?

Juliana shrugged, returning an equally puzzled glance.

At this moment, Jared Langley appeared just like any normal person. Save for that small piece of white gauze on his temple, it was as if the event of falling off the cliff never happened.

Juliana put down her wine glass and approached him.

Jared Langley saw her too, whispered something briefly to Isabelle Sinclair, and then disengaged, walking directly towards her.

"Juli..."

As soon as he got a bit closer, Juliana subtly took a step back, maintaining a socially polite and distant space between them.

Jared Langley thought she was jealous and hurriedly explained, "She is Isabelle Sinclair, she’s temporarily staying at the Langley Family for these few days. She insisted on coming tonight; given the longstanding friendship between the Sinclair and Langley families, I couldn’t refuse, so I brought her."

But Juliana didn’t pick up on this and asked, "Why are you here?"

There was a hint of unwelcome in her voice.

Jared Langley’s face turned pale quite suddenly, "How could I miss such an important occasion for my fiancée?"

Concerned that he couldn’t handle any more stress, Juliana eased up her tone, "I meant, has the doctor allowed you to be discharged?"

"I took a leave." His face was not as pale anymore.

"Tonight is busy, I can’t look after you, don’t stay too long, go back early."

With that, Juliana turned to attend to others.

But Jared Langley caught her hand.

Juliana shook it off as if electrocuted, making Jared Langley freeze for a moment, "I can’t even touch you?"

Juliana looked around, relieved no one noticed them, carefully responding, "Did you forget? Though I’m your fiancée, you didn’t wish to make our relationship public."

Jared Langley furrowed his brow, his tone slightly confused, "Is that so? Then it’s too unfair for you."

Juliana replied calmly, "You’re still injured, and your memory hasn’t recovered. Until everything is clear, we should continue as before."

With that said, she turned around, exhaled a long breath, and walked away.

Jared Langley looked up at the crystal lights above: How did they interact before? Act like strangers in public, cuddle and kiss in private?

This thought barely crossed his mind when he suddenly felt a slight itch on his skin...

Summer Shaw had to go to the washroom to freshen up her makeup and took Juliana along.

Isabelle Sinclair promptly followed them.

According to the information she had found, these two had simultaneously appeared in Hospital 547 a few times, but whether one of them left a blood sample was uncertain.

But that was no setback for her.

Tonight she insisted on Jared Langley bringing her here, with the goal of getting their hair.

Then a test would reveal the truth.