CHAPTER 3: CHAPTER 3: NEITHER OF THEM ARE ANY GOOD

Evan Grant laughed.

"All these years, not only did Father fail to teach her how to be a proper lady, he let her lead him by the nose. Marry the wise, but you married the wrong person after all."

George Grant replied displeased, "Who I marry is my own choice. Back when Old Mrs. Grant wanted you to marry Juliana, you were willing, and I said nothing. Lily Windsor is my legitimately wedded wife, and I hope you respect her."

Evan raised an eyebrow, "Did she respect my wife?"

George was at a loss for words, his eyes darkening.

"Evan, although you’re the heir of the Grant Family, I am still your father. Without me, there is no you."

Evan’s gaze slightly softened.

Juliana sensed his hesitation.

It was impossible for Evan to sacrifice his father-son relationship for her, after all, they were the real family.

She sneered and was about to get out of bed, but the man pinned her down.

"Did the doctor say you can move?"

Juliana: "?"

George frowned.

Evan said calmly, "Dad, my wife is not at fault."

Juliana felt a slight stir in her heart, but on second thought:

Lily painstakingly married into the Grant Family, hoping to rise up as the tycoon’s wife through her husband, only for Old Mrs. Grant to directly pass the inheritance to her grandson. Her status within the Grant Family was awkward, so she could only establish her position by oppressing her.

But if she submitted to Lily, it would be equivalent to the future head of the Grant Family bowing to Lily.

So Evan didn’t let her apologize, which was actually to maintain his own dignity.

In the past, her love for him had a filter; now that the foolishness faded away, everything appeared starkly real.

"Evan, this is just a small issue that can be resolved with an apology, why let it disturb the peace of the family?"

"If Father manages his own wife well, the household will naturally be peaceful."

The father and son, both hot-tempered, were in a standoff when the housekeeper from the old mansion suddenly arrived.

"Master George, President Grant, Old Mrs. Grant wants both of you to return to the old mansion."

When things reach Old Mrs. Grant, they become uncontrollable.

George was about to speak, but the housekeeper lowered his head to him.

"Master George, Madam has already been sent back to the old mansion."

"What? She’s still under observation, with a possible concussion. How could you discharge her!"

George hurried off.

"If the young mistress can bear it, she can go to the old mansion too," the housekeeper said.

Juliana had plans regarding this marriage and just wanted to gauge Old Mrs. Grant’s stance.

"Alright, I’ll go."

She turned over to get up, but Evan pulled her into his arms.

"Not enough trouble already, do you want to return to ICU?"

Juliana couldn’t let him know her intentions now.

"I can’t let Grandma hear only Lily’s side of the story."

Evan said, "With me here, you won’t suffer any losses."

Juliana coldly laughed, "I’m lucky to have waited for President Grant to come to my rescue."

The thorn in her heart was still there, deeply embedded, impossible to pull out or dissolve.

Evan sighed; although he did not respond, his act of draping a coat over her shoulders was his silent agreement.

Juliana’s eyes felt sore.

If he merely saw her as an object, then why be good to her?

Such emotions were indeed hurtful.

Throughout the journey, neither of them spoke.

They arrived at the old mansion.

George and his wife were nowhere to be seen, Old Mrs. Grant was alone in the living room.

Seeing the coat on Juliana’s shoulders, the sharpness in Old Mrs. Grant’s eyes softened instantly.

"Juliana, let’s go to the study."

Evan didn’t speak but followed them in.

Old Mrs. Grant paused, "I didn’t call you in. Wait outside."

Evan smiled, "If I don’t go in, she’ll complain about me."

Old Mrs. Grant knew he was protecting his wife and chuckled.

"Rest assured, no one here, except you, can bully your wife."

In the end, he was shut outside.

Old Mrs. Grant, who used to be a strong woman, was now 72, clear-headed, and quick in speech.

As soon as Juliana sat down, she pushed a prepared mugwort and donkey-hide gelatin tea towards her.

"You were severely injured and hospitalized, it’s wrong of Evan not to be by your side. But man is like jade; the craftsmanship of the wife determines its quality."

Knowing that their argument in the hospital ward reached Old Mrs. Grant’s ears, Juliana was not surprised at all.

When dealing with someone like Old Mrs. Grant, there’s no need to beat around the bush.

"Grandma, four years ago, was it because he fell in love with someone he shouldn’t have, and you wanted to break them apart, that you found me?"

Old Mrs. Grant’s eyes were gleaming, her expression unfathomable.

"Who’s been spreading nonsense to you?"

Four years ago, to prevent Lily Windsor from marrying Evan, she "coincidentally" met Juliana, who was worrying about medical expenses in the hospital, and facilitated this marriage with a substantial reward.

But no one expected that Evan, always above others, would fall in love with Juliana at first sight.

Especially after marriage, his favoritism towards Juliana was well-known, even Old Mrs. Grant thought she had made a good match.

Who would have thought that in just four short years, things would go awry.

"Evan didn’t have a girlfriend or fiancée before marrying you, and his kindness to you over the years, I’ve witnessed it all. Trust is key between husband and wife."

Juliana detected her evasion, "But what if... he was just putting on a show for you?"

Old Mrs. Grant’s face suddenly turned grim, "Impossible! As long as I’m here, I won’t allow any scandalous behavior in the Grant Family!"

But this was Evan, a man whose emotions were invisible, with deep scheming.

If he intended to do something, who could stop him?

Juliana lowered her eyes and remained silent.

Old Mrs. Grant understood her disposition.

This child seemed gentle, but a stubborn streak lay within her.

If her doubts weren’t dispelled, she feared Juliana wouldn’t stay peacefully by her grandson’s side.

Then, Old Mrs. Grant stood up and made a call to the housekeeper.

"Let them all in."

The study door opened, and George, his wife, and Evan were already standing at the entrance.

As George walked in, he said, "Mom, how could such a small matter trouble you in the middle of the night..."

"Tell your wife to kneel!"

Old Mrs. Grant sternly interrupted him.

Lily immediately clung to George’s arm, begging for his protection.

"Mom, the kids are here, please spare us some dignity," George said.

Old Mrs. Grant gave him a sidelong glance, "Juliana was undergoing therapy in the ward, your wife barged in with a man; did you save face for your son?"

George, realizing Old Mrs. Grant intended to stand up for Juliana, quickly changed tactics and criticized his wife.

"Darling, kneel. Look at you, acting without thinking! Clearly knowing Juliana is important to Evan, yet you listened to outsiders. Today you don’t kneel until Mom is appeased, don’t expect to close this Chapter!"

However, Lily didn’t realize her husband’s strategic retreat.

She cried and knelt, reluctantly saying, "Evan doesn’t like this shrew Juliana; he likes our gentle and lovely Stella instead."

George was taken aback by her words.

"Stella and Evan may not be blood-related, but step-siblings are still siblings. How dare you utter such nonsense?"

Lily seemed unaware of the bombshell she had dropped and continued, "I’m not lying; Stella was so depressed she attempted suicide, Evan rushed to Aldoria to care for her day and night to no avail. He is determined to bring Stella back. Didn’t he marry Juliana back then for our Stella’s sake? They..."

"Were you drugged? Enough already!"

George covered her mouth immediately.

But by then, both the pertinent and impertinent things had been mostly said.

Evan was always dominant and originally didn’t intend to explain, but Lily’s words dug too big a hole for him.

He glanced at Juliana, ready to explain, but Juliana didn’t even cast a glance his way. Instead, she bowed her head to Old Mrs. Grant and said, "Grandma, if you can’t stop anything, could you..."

The words asking for her freedom were left unspoken, as Old Mrs. Grant, her face stern, suddenly threw a dagger before her with a "clang."

"Both of them are no good; pick it up and cut out her tongue, then castrate your husband!"