CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 66: HIS WARNING, BARE AND COLD

The man suddenly pulled her into his arms forcefully, pointing to Stella Windsor and said, "Do you see? This is the difference between love and not loving. As long as I like her, she can do whatever she wants, but if I don’t, she is nothing."

"Women are not objects to be manipulated at will. Truly caring for someone means respecting her independence and dignity. Evan Grant, the only person you’ve ever loved is yourself."

Juliana Jacobs tried to push him away as she spoke, but Evan Grant’s arm was tightly wrapped around her, and she couldn’t push him away; instead, he grabbed the back of her head.

Juliana was forced to tilt her head back, their noses touching.

"I want you to atone. You can run, you can hide, but legally you are still my wife, so don’t think about seducing other men as a backup, or I won’t mind letting the world know what happens to a woman who betrays me."

Juliana’s nails dug into the muscles of his arm.

"I did nothing wrong, what sin do I atone for? Put away your perverse need for control; my social life, my freedom, you have no right to interfere!"

Evan Grant laughed, his eyes glinting with cold light.

"Do you want me to send your grandfather the images of you with Adrian Langley in the hot spring suite, to let him see your other side?"

Juliana became stunned.

If her grandfather saw Adrian Langley’s appearance, he might question whether Aidan Linton was truly dead and rekindle hope.

But if Adrian Langley was indeed not Aidan Linton, it would undoubtedly strike a blow to the old man again.

At that point, even medication costing 1.2 million per injection wouldn’t save him.

Evan Grant watched as her shoulders gradually slumped, his smile deepening.

"Tonight, hosting the Langley brothers, be a good girl, hmm?"

"You’re despicable!"

Juliana raised her hand to slap him, but Evan Grant seized her wrist.

Meanwhile, Stella was like an unnecessary ornament, kneeling on the ground unnoticed for a long time.

She lowered her eyes to conceal the darkness within, knowing that tonight someone would have to pay the price...

In the evening, at the private venue at the summit of ’The Starlight Pools’.

Soaking in the hot springs at this location, one could enjoy the fireworks of half the city.

Jared Langley arrived as promised.

The three men leaned in three different directions.

Under the swirling white mist, undercurrents surged.

Seeing no one speaking, Evan Grant smiled lightly and said, "At ’The Starlight Pools’, we appreciate the night view and savor fine wine. Since the Langley brothers are courteous enough to join us, my fine things naturally should not be hidden."

Being familiar with the Golden Ripple Springs, Jared Langley was a regular guest, and he had visited "The Starlight Pools" countless times.

For people like them, a seven-figure wine was only a daily pastime, so whatever Evan Grant referred to as "fine wine" surely hinted at something else.

"President Grant, you’re too kind," Jared said flatly.

Evan Grant spoke with deep meaning, "President Langley will undoubtedly like it very much."

A bad feeling surged within Jared Langley.

At this moment, Evan Grant snapped his fingers, and Juliana Jacobs stepped out in a white silk dress, holding a bottle of red wine.

Evan Grant nodded, and Juliana walked over to Jared Langley, intending to pour him some wine.

Turning his wife into a server shocked Jared Langley greatly.

"Mrs. Grant, there’s no need."

He took away the wine glass.

"I don’t need any either."

Knowing Evan Grant was humiliating her, Adrian Langley turned his head away, unwilling to witness this scene.

Since they all refused, Juliana could only kneel at the edge of the pool, waiting for Evan Grant to speak.

However, he deliberately held back.

Juliana’s knees hurt from the sharp pain, but she remained silent.

Adrian began to lose patience and was about to speak, but Juliana intercepted him, questioning Evan Grant, "What more do you want from me?"

Adrian’s almost explosive restraint was abruptly calmed by Juliana’s action of stepping in front of him once more.

The intense emotions were forcibly suppressed, leaving only fists clenched tightly in the water.

"Did I tell you to speak?"

Evan Grant looked at Juliana with half-closed eyes and smiled.

Juliana bit her teeth silently.

Jared knew that ending the invitation earlier was the best strategy.

So he said, "Thank you, President Grant and Mrs. Grant, for your generous hospitality. It’s getting late..."

"Is President Langley eager to leave? Are you worried about something?" Evan Grant interrupted.

Jared Langley let out a cold laugh, "President Grant, you must be joking."

Evan Grant’s eyes glimmered with dark brilliance.

"The wine poured by my wife is not for everyone to drink. If President Langley misses this opportunity, it won’t come again."

Jared Langley raised an eyebrow, smiling without warmth, "Mrs. Grant is a beauty like jade; indeed, President Grant is fortunate. How could we dare to overstep?"

Evan Grant nodded contentedly, "I thought President Langley was so busy with Blackstar Technologies’ business that you’d forgotten the boundaries. I originally planned to talk to your father about the Langley family’s conduct, but with what you said today, I’m reassured."

His warning was stark and cold.

A cold frost gathered on Jared Langley’s face.

"That’s enough, Evan Grant!"

Juliana picked up the red wine in her hand, flipped her wrist, and poured the entire bottle into the hot spring pool.

"I straightforwardly communicate with President Langley, what right do you have to warn them? I’ve given you enough compromise. Push any further... let’s see who really can’t afford to lose!"

She attempted to stand up, but having knelt too long on the pebbles, her knees hurt too much to stand.

She fell back, her hands massaging her knees repeatedly, hoping the stabbing pain would fade quickly.

Evan Grant’s face was icy, about to speak when Ethan Carter sprinted over.

He squatted by the pool, whispering in Evan Grant’s ear, "President Grant, your image has suffered damage causing the company to lose two Grade A strategic investment projects. Some shareholders are beginning to lobby the board to file a motion of no confidence against you."

Evan Grant narrowed his eyes, standing up and exiting the hot spring pool.

Ethan Carter quickly brought a robe to drape over him.

Evan Grant, clad in the robe, turned to look at Juliana.

He intended to take her with him, but Juliana deliberately avoided his gaze.

Knowing her stubborn nature, having suffered such humiliation, she certainly wouldn’t come with him.

Thus, his gaze lingered on her for a moment, leaving behind weight-laden words, "The boundary is here, may you all cherish your fortune."

He lifted his foot and left.

The car Ethan Carter drove was parked right by the roadside.

Evan Grant decisively got in the car and left.

By this time, Jared Langley and Adrian Langley had also donned their robes.

Juliana slowly got up, moving her feet.

Jared Langley, with cold eyes, looked at Adrian Langley, "If you dare to stir up trouble, you should learn to clean up after yourself, and not always rely on others to cover for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, a dark figure leaped from the bushes by the hot spring pool, lunging straight at Juliana.

But Jared Langley happened to be between the two of them.

The dark figure couldn’t stop in time and slammed hard into his side waist.

Jared, caught off guard, was thrown by the immense force.

The direction he was flung toward was exactly toward Juliana’s location.

And behind Juliana was a steep slope, with the situation below unknown.

In that split second, she realized if she dodged, Jared Langley might be flung over the slope and fall off a cliff.

So, as she reached out to catch Jared, both of them, driven by inertia, broke through the railing and slid down the slope together.

"Someone, help!"

Adrian Langley grabbed a chair beside him and, while the shadowy figure was still caught off guard, smashed it towards the figure with all his might.

Evan Grant had already gotten into the car, and just as Ethan Carter was closing the door, he heard a slight disturbance, but when he looked back, the hot spring pool was obscured by a plant wall, making it impossible to see the situation.

So he asked, "President Grant, there seems to be some noise, do you want to go down to take a look?"