CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26: HAVE THEY ALWAYS SLEPT IN SEPARATE ROOMS?

Originally thought they would be living together outside, but unexpectedly, Evan chose Platinum Bay for the location.

Well, with her cover, the two of them could live shamelessly without a care.

Under Evan’s warning gaze, Juliana quickly adjusted her emotions, lowering her eyes.

"This is your home, you don’t need to ask me who you let stay here."

Her voice was calm, but between the lines, it was clear she was angry.

Stella felt quite embarrassed.

Just about to speak, Evan spoke first.

"Stella, you sit down, I’ll get Juliana to pour you a glass of water."

After speaking, he pulled Juliana into the kitchen.

"Did you think over what I said last night?"

"I didn’t oppose you letting her stay, is that still not right?"

Juliana turned to pour herself a glass of water.

It was her acting as if nothing had happened that was the real problem.

Evan hugged her from behind.

"Last night, Stella was attacked in the apartment she was staying at. Luckily, the bodyguards reacted quickly, and only her hand was injured. She will only stay at Platinum Bay for a while, she’ll leave once her mother finishes surgery."

Juliana took a sip of water, "In order for her daughter to stay, I’m afraid Lily wouldn’t rush to have the surgery, would she?"

Evan frowned, "Do you think she’s feigning illness?"

Juliana smiled lightly, "I didn’t say that."

She just wanted to divorce him, no need to argue over right and wrong.

"Juliana, Stella only sees me as a brother, she has no intention of provoking you. Letting her stay here was my idea. We talked last night, and I thought you would understand."

Juliana put down the glass, "So you think I hold a grudge against her and have plans to frame her?"

Evan was momentarily stunned, "No."

Juliana pursed her lips and smiled, continuing to pour water.

"Brother..."

At some point, Stella arrived at the kitchen doorway.

Evan instinctively let go of Juliana.

"Brother, maybe I should just stay at a hotel. Those people might be arrogant, but they wouldn’t dare do anything to me at a hotel."

Evan walked over, "Don’t overthink it, your sister-in-law has no objection. She’s getting you some water. Did you take your medicine today?"

Stella nodded, "I take it on time every day."

"Here, your brother thought you might be thirsty."

Juliana handed a steaming cup to Stella.

Stella reached out just in time to take it.

For some reason, her hand touched the cup, spilling the water on her hand.

Perhaps feeling the heat, Stella immediately flailed her hands in panic.

Juliana was startled and let go.

The cup fell to the ground with a clatter and shattered.

"Don’t touch it and get cut."

Evan quickly grabbed Stella’s wrist, preventing her from moving.

Juliana watched this scene and raised an eyebrow without speaking.

"We’re all family, was burning her with water intentional?"

Evan criticized Juliana, but Stella’s face turned pale.

Juliana didn’t argue.

One moment he said he believed she wouldn’t harm her sister, the next he accused her of doing it on purpose.

Luckily, she no longer cared, otherwise her heart would hurt again.

"Brother, the water isn’t hot," Stella whispered.

Evan stood there, frozen.

"Of course, it’s room temperature lemon water. The steam was just for decoration, it can’t burn you. Unless you’re worried about a room-temperature frostbite?"

After Juliana said this, she left the two of them and went upstairs.

Stella’s heart sank.

Evan was meticulous, who knows what he was thinking.

She never expected Juliana to give her a cup of room temperature water.

A perfect facade was defeated by a cup of water, she was too careless.

"Brother... I..." Stella cautiously probed.

"The guest room is ready, go rest."

Evan’s attitude indeed turned much colder.

That night, Juliana slept in the master bedroom, Stella in the guest room, and Evan continued to stay in the study.

Stella tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.

Early the next morning, she knocked on the master bedroom door.

Juliana, still in her pajamas, clearly just woke up, answered the door.

Stella instinctively looked inside but didn’t see Evan.

So early... Could it be they always sleep separately?

"What’s up?" Juliana’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Sister-in-law, I’m sorry for intruding by staying here. This is a small token of my appreciation."

As she said this, she handed over a delicately packaged shower gel.

"This is a custom royal orange scent, not sold on the market. Each scent is matched to one owner, and I’ve been using it. It smells wonderful. I actually meant to give it to you last night, but it was too late, so I’m giving it to you now," Stella introduced.

But Juliana didn’t accept it.

A woman taken care of by Evan naturally uses the best.

Four years at his side, what did she count for?

Her previous understanding was overestimating herself, she might not even count as an ornament.

"Orange scent?"

Juliana thought of the scent on Evan’s clothes that day.

"Miss Grant, your brother isn’t here, no need to put on an act with me. Once I start using this shower gel, I won’t be able to tell if the unusual smell on him is yours or mine. This cover cloth succeeded once again in providing you two a guise, your calculations have been heard all the way to Antarctica."

"I didn’t have such intentions..."

Stella wanted to explain when Evan, fully dressed, walked over from the study.

"What’s going on?"

Stella’s face held expressions of grievance and innocence that were too slow to completely hide, catching Evan’s attention.

"It’s... nothing, I was just chatting with my sister-in-law."

This kind of response was more destructive than a direct complaint.

Juliana closed her eyes, waiting for Evan to harshly reprimand her.

However, his gaze remained on the bottle of shower gel.

"Your sister-in-law doesn’t like the orange scent, it’s your custom order, keep it for your own use. We’re family, no need for such empty gestures."

Stella nodded and retreated to her room with the shower gel.

As Juliana closed the door, Evan squeezed through just before it shut.

"Your sister’s unhappy, aren’t you going to comfort her?"

Evan glanced at the time, "Soon we need to go to the studio to take our fourth-anniversary reception photos, clear out your morning."

Juliana frowned, "Why didn’t you say so earlier?"

There was a hint of disdain in Evan’s eyes, "It’s not as if you have anything important. Missing half a day isn’t a problem."

Juliana steadied herself, suppressing the urge to argue with him.

Seeing her silent compliance, Evan pinched her ring finger and once again placed the replica wedding ring back on it.

This time, Juliana didn’t take it off.

She blinked and said, "Aren’t you afraid I’ll sell it online again?"

Evan didn’t believe she’d do such a thing, replying with a smile, "If you’re short on money, just tell me."

Juliana pursed her lips and said nothing.

The two got ready to leave.

Stella didn’t want to stay alone at Platinum Bay, so Evan agreed to let her go with them.

The studio in the city center was located in an area where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, with a very luxuriously designed teahouse right next door.

Their custom gowns had been prepared the day before.

To accommodate them, the studio wasn’t open to the public that morning.

Stella watched Juliana being attended to like a star surrounded by the moon, feeling envious.

After taking a few photos, Juliana went into the dressing room to touch up her makeup, with Evan’s gaze following her.

Last night’s incident led Evan to suspect her of having ulterior motives.

But during the photo shoot, she seemed genuinely happy alongside them.

If she had selfish intentions, she wouldn’t act like this.

"Would you like to take some photos?" Evan asked.

Stella was pleasantly surprised, "Can I?"

Evan signaled to a staff member, "Take an artistic set for her."

Stella elegantly followed the studio staff into the wardrobe room to select a gown.

However, less than two minutes later, an explosion suddenly went off in between the dressing and wardrobe rooms.

A partition of gypsum board was blown down by the blast, and gray-white smoke filled the space instantly.

Juliana was stung by the choking smoke, unable to open her eyes, struggling out from the debris, instinctively wanting to know Evan’s condition, when she heard the arriving bodyguards shout into their earpieces:

"President Grant ordered, Miss Grant is the priority."

"Find Miss Grant and protect her evacuation."