CHAPTER 221: CHAPTER 221: WHICH WOMAN IS ELIAS CHATTING WITH?

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

A very faint smoky sandalwood scent drifted into Juliana’s nostrils.

She shivered slightly.

Mason Sheridan’s eyes swiftly scanned everyone present at just the right moment.

Victor Langley furrowed his brow, visibly displeased, but due to his role as head of the family, he only moved his lips without taking substantial action.

Elias Langley didn’t even change his posture, still leisurely leaning back as if the scene before him was just a farce unrelated to him.

Only Jared Langley got up from the sofa and walked over immediately.

Before Juliana could break free, Mason Sheridan "chivalrously" held her shoulders and gently pushed her away, as if he wasn’t the one who had forcefully grabbed her earlier.

He had a playful smirk on his lips and said blandly, "Miss Jacobs, is Mr. Sheridan so charming that you can’t help yourself?"

Juliana, under the watchful eyes of everyone, was forced into an "embrace," immediately realizing Mason Sheridan was humiliating her.

Even though she endured this humiliation, she couldn’t say a word.

"Juliana, how could you be so careless?"

Jared Langley seized the opportunity to pull her a bit farther away.

Men’s innate territorial instincts prevent even elders from being too close to their women, even if it’s accidental.

"Let me introduce you; that girl over there..."

He pointed behind the sofa.

Only then did Juliana notice a girl standing quietly there.

"...is my third uncle’s daughter, Sylvia Sheridan. She came over with my uncle from Linwood this time."

Sylvia Sheridan lifted her head at Jared Langley’s words, revealing a not extraordinarily beautiful but rather delicate and bookish face.

But her gaze towards Jared Langley was filled with complex emotions.

Juliana nodded to her, but she didn’t respond.

Seeing her lack of manners, Jared Langley ignored her and leaned closer to Juliana’s ear, quickly whispering in a volume only the two of them could hear, "She’s brought over by my aunt, not my uncle’s biological daughter."

Juliana didn’t understand why he told her this, and just nodded blankly.

She had things on her mind and was struggling to maintain restraint.

"I’m a little tired, want to go back to my room and rest."

"All right, I’ll take you upstairs," Jared Langley said.

Juliana glanced at Mason Sheridan and whispered, "Your uncle is here, you’ll be busy. Don’t mind me."

Having said that, she nodded to everyone and headed upstairs alone.

In a corner everyone ignored, Sylvia Sheridan’s gaze at Juliana was filled with intense hatred.

Juliana barely held onto the last shred of sanity as she returned to her room.

The moment the door closed behind her, it was as if all the strength left her, and she slid down the door frame to the floor.

In the darkness, she no longer needed to hide her panic.

The faint and unique smoky sandalwood on Mason Sheridan was the same scent as the assassin who nearly took her life that night!

Fear and the excitement of confirmation intertwined as she took out her phone, her hand trembling uncontrollably.

She opened her conversation with Elias Langley and forcefully typed:

"Mason Sheridan and the assassin who harmed Summer Shaw have the same scent."

After sending it, she felt completely drained.

Downstairs in the living room, a few men were chattering and laughing.

Elias Langley’s phone vibrated in his pocket.

His expression remained unchanged as he naturally took out his phone, glanced at it, and calmly replied:

"We guys are heading out for drinks tonight, you should rest early."

Just as the message was sent, Mason Sheridan leaned in.

But Elias Langley’s phone screen had already darkened.

Mason Sheridan’s face held a curious smile, "Elias, chatting with some woman, are you?"

His words instantly drew the attention of Victor Langley and Jared Langley.

Elias Langley, who was much taller than him, looked at him with a subtle air of superiority.

"Mr. Sheridan’s curiosity about other people’s phones seems congenital. Looks like you overdraw on this ’gossip’ talent at the expense of a man’s poise."

Mason Sheridan’s smile froze, and everything he was about to say got stuck in his throat, unable to respond for a moment.

Victor Langley quickly intervened, "Chatting at home is boring, let’s hit the bar. It’s more fun to chat while drinking."

With that, he invited them all out.

Only then did Mason Sheridan shake off the awkwardness, stiffly telling Sylvia Sheridan, "We’ll be back late; you should go back to your room and rest."

Sylvia Sheridan nodded.

Upstairs, Juliana received the reply, took a deep breath, and reluctantly mustered the energy to go to the bathroom for a shower.

Finally forcing Leona Sheridan’s hand, but she had no previous ties with The Sheridans. Could they want to assassinate her just because they opposed her being with Jared Langley?

Her relationship with Jared Langley was fake; it made no sense at all.

After her shower, she sat at the vanity, drying her hair.

"Knock, knock, knock."

A gentle knocking sounded at the door.

Outside, Sylvia Sheridan’s soft, melodious voice came through, "Miss Jacobs, are you asleep? I’ve brought you something."

Juliana’s hair-drying paused abruptly.

She hid a folding knife in her sleeve before going to the door.

Opening it, she found Sylvia Sheridan at the entrance, holding a finely crafted silver incense box.

"Miss Jacobs, did I disturb your rest?"

Juliana leaned against the door frame, showing no intention of letting her in. Her words were nothing but blunt, "If I say you did, will you just leave?"

Sylvia Sheridan didn’t expect such directness and her smile froze slightly, but her gaze quickly flitted over Juliana’s shoulder, sweeping the room, especially pausing briefly on the large bed before returning to Juliana’s face.

"It’s like this, my cousin...has always had trouble sleeping and needs someone to talk to before he can fall asleep. Was it the same with you when you were together?"

Juliana raised an eyebrow slightly at her words.

So before Jared Langley’s memory lapse, Sylvia Sheridan was the one who lived with him?

Juliana maintained a blank expression, responding coolly, "Miss Sheridan, you must be joking. As you can see, this is not his room. So what you asked... I don’t know."

Seeing Juliana’s flawless response, Sylvia Sheridan’s eyes dimmed, and she handed over the incense box.

"This is a calming incense I blended myself. It’s something he’s always asking me for; it works well. You should keep it for him."

"You can make incense?"

A chill shot up Juliana’s spine.

Could the unique smoky sandalwood on both the assassin and Mason Sheridan be her work?

Sylvia Sheridan’s eyes sparkled with a bit of pride, "Yes, I’ve studied it for years. Miss Jacobs, are you interested in aromatherapy?"

Juliana chuckled mockingly, lightly disdainful, "I don’t like this stuff."

Sylvia Sheridan, momentarily awkward, pushed the incense box closer, "Take it. Whether for my cousin or yourself, it’s a sincere token."

With no way to refuse, Juliana accepted the box, "Thank you, then."

Sylvia Sheridan’s face revealed a hint of relief, "You should try it. It really is calming, and I have plenty more if..."

She hadn’t finished her sentence when Juliana abruptly closed the door.

Sylvia Sheridan stood outside, hands tightly clasped at her chest.

"Taking it is fine; I’ve crafted this incense for you. Hope you have a long, undisturbed sleep tonight."