CHAPTER 209: CHAPTER 209: YOUR BUSINESS IS MY TOP PRIORITY

The kitchen was filled with a nerve-wracking calm.

Juliana Jacobs walked over to him and looked at the dish in the pot.

"Is it ready to eat?"

As she spoke, she reached towards the pot.

"Hot!"

Elias Langley nudged her hand away with his elbow.

Juliana sucked on her index finger and leaned against his arm, smiling, "Has anyone ever told you that President Langley looks quite cute when he pouts?"

"Don’t make me kiss you."

Elias Langley picked up the spatula again, his movements regaining their former ease and fluidity.

Jared Langley stood beneath the apartment building, silently gazing at the dark window.

Ben Hayes said, "I asked security. They didn’t see Miss Jacobs’ car come or go; she probably hasn’t returned."

He hesitated for a moment, then advised, "Today’s matter... Madam was indeed thoughtless. That kind of inspection is a tremendous humiliation for a woman. Miss Jacobs must be feeling terrible right now. Should you... wait for a few days until she calms down before talking to her?"

Jared Langley’s brow furrowed slightly, his tone tinged with obstinacy, "Wasn’t the inspection unsuccessful? There’s no real humiliation to speak of. In the end, she was also at fault. If she had followed my mother’s arrangements and reported everything, such misunderstandings wouldn’t have occurred."

Ben Hayes opened his mouth but eventually gave up advising him, "What about Adrian Langley? After being beaten by Madam this time, he won’t let it go easily. He’ll probably make a big deal out of it to gain leverage with Chairman Langley."

Jared Langley opened the car door, his voice cold and firm, "He’s just a bastard, truly thinking of himself as someone significant. Isn’t my second uncle the best example? As long as I, the legitimate eldest son, remain steady, these ’backups’ will never make it to the stage. At least my second uncle had the guts to make something of himself. Him? Without the capability, he can only obediently be a useful dog for the Langley Family."

The car drove away from the apartment.

Jared Langley glanced irritably at the rearview mirror.

Hiding was useless for her.

Tomorrow, he would make sure everyone around her knew whose person she truly was!

At this moment, in the hospital.

Visiting hours were over.

The corridor was tranquil and serene.

Rosalind Linton was staying overnight, so she remained.

"Mom specially made this for you, have another bite."

She held a sticky meat dumpling up to Adrian Langley’s mouth.

Adrian Langley touched his belly and laughed, "Mom, don’t raise me like a pig, I’ll get fat."

Rosalind Linton put down the bowl and picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth, "How are you getting fat? In the years you spent at the Langley Family, you not only lost weight but also got beaten..."

As she spoke, she lowered her head with a heavy heart.

The moonlight in the corridor silently cast the eavesdropper’s shadow onto the porch.

Adrian Langley hurriedly pulled out a napkin to wipe his mother’s tears.

"Mom, I’m fine."

Rosalind Linton was somewhat agitated, "Back then, because your grandfather got sick and we had no money for treatment, I agreed to let you seek him out. You pretended to have amnesia to protect me, but with his suspicious nature, he would never trust you, let alone have any father-son bond. Now that your grandfather has passed, we are unburdened. Why not go abroad together and live a stable life, rather than endure this anger here."

Adrian Langley was silent for two seconds, then nodded, "Actually... if it weren’t for big brother’s accident, I’ve already told father that I want to leave the company, to leave the Langley Family. It’s just that now that big brother is hurt, it would be hard for father to have nobody by his side, so I can’t leave now."

"You’re such a fool." Rosalind Linton’s eyes brimmed with tears, "He lets that woman beat you and treats you as free labor, yet you still think about him."

Adrian Langley smiled, "Isn’t he my father? It’s you who taught me to love him as I love you."

Rosalind Linton remained silent.

Adrian Langley continued to gently say, "I know mom is kind-hearted, and you’re just speaking in anger now. Once big brother recovers, I’ll tell dad that I want nothing, just to live the life I want. Anyway, he already knows about my existence, so I have no regrets."

Hearing this, Rosalind Linton’s expression finally eased.

"Good child, you are sensible, and that comforts me. Helping dad is okay, but make sure not to provoke your aunt again, and most importantly, protect yourself and avoid getting hurt."

Adrian Langley solemnly nodded.

The shadow at the door disappeared, and Adrian Langley immediately lowered his voice, "Go check if he’s left, will you?"

Rosalind Linton cautiously stood up, covered her face with a napkin, and walked to the door.

There was nobody in the corridor; she nodded to Adrian Langley.

Adrian Langley quickly took out his phone and called Juliana Jacobs.

Juliana was lounging on the living room sofa, her head resting on Elias Langley’s lap, waiting for him to finish handling urgent documents before they went to bed.

Seeing "Adrian Langley" appear on her phone screen, she answered without hesitation.

Adrian Langley couldn’t hide his excitement, "You were right, he really came. My mom and I repeated everything you wrote to him, word for word. But he didn’t come in, just left."

Yet Juliana’s reaction was calm, "He’s such a cautious person; he wouldn’t show up in front of your mom on impulse. Next, Victor Langley will surely want to investigate your and your mother’s background. I’ll fabricate a past for you without my presence, but you both need to be cautious too."

Adrian Langley nodded, "Understood! I’ve long been fed up with Leona Sheridan, and as for that unfaithful man, he’s not worth any sympathy. Let’s see where we can go from here."

Juliana hung up the phone, and before she could set it down, the man beside her wrapped a long arm around her, pulling her into his embrace, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe.

"Little fox, doing mischief behind my back again."

Juliana naturally turned her face sideways, her nose almost touching his chin, eyes sparkling with mischief.

"When did I do that? I just have a favor to ask."

She said this as she turned in his embrace, facing him, wrapping her arms around his waist, looking up at him.

Elias Langley gazed down at the coquettish woman in his arms, his face remained expressionless, but he allowed her to hug him without pushing her away.

Juliana seized the moment to rest her chin on his firm chest, speaking softly, "I need a story about the Linton Family without my presence, and one that can withstand your brother’s scrutiny. Can President Langley manage that?"

Elias Langley closed his eyes momentarily, "Pitting us brothers against each other comes at a high cost. What will you give me in return?"

Juliana lightly bit his Adam’s apple, "Come on, hubby~"

"I’ll see how you perform."

Elias Langley’s ears turned red, and he lifted her horizontally, striding towards the bedroom.

...

Early the next morning, the two of them rose early.

As the morning light streamed through the window gauze, Elias Langley placed a warm glass of milk next to Juliana Jacobs.

In a hurry, he made a simple yet exquisite breakfast.

Juliana ate slowly, occasionally feeding him a bite.

In his thirty-four years of life, Elias Langley felt his heart filled for the first time with such mundane daily life, secure and warm.

A while later, the car stopped steadily outside Aetherflame Dynamics, and Juliana unbuckled her seatbelt, only to be gently held back.

A brief kiss landed on the corner of her lips.

"Call me if anything comes up, okay?"

Juliana smiled, "Aren’t you afraid I’ll bother you?"

Elias Langley’s fingertips lightly brushed over her hair, undeniable sincerity in his eyes, "Your matters are my top priority."

Warmth filled Juliana’s heart, leaving her with a subtle smile even as she sat in her office for a while.

Just then, a small commotion arose outside the door.

The receptionist’s voice trying to stop someone approached from afar, "President Langley, you can’t go in without prior notice..."

But in the next second, the door to Juliana’s office swung open.

She exchanged a glance with Jared Langley, who carried a hint of cold gloom, turning his head to instruct the people behind him, "This is the place, go in."