Elias Langley displayed a gentle smile on his face and kissed her forehead.
This silent response made Juliana cry uncontrollably in the space formed by his arms and chest.
"You must... be happy, it’s good for both you and the child..."
He indulged her as she wiped her tears on his clothes.
"Are you better now?" Juliana asked.
"I... don’t know."
How could Elias Langley, who could barely speak coherently, be alright?
"My head still... hurts a lot, and I don’t remember so many things..."
"What do you remember now?"
Juliana looked up at him from his embrace.
Elias Langley thought for a few seconds, "I told you... I would definitely... come back. I still have to... give you a wedding... and take care of you for a lifetime..."
He didn’t remember those trivial past events, but he remembered every promise he made to her.
"It doesn’t matter if you forget the past, let’s live well. With the child, you’ll be a good father."
Juliana held him tightly.
Elias Langley hugged her tightly.
"I’m very... happy, I have a home now."
He was once considered dispensable by the Langley Family, used as a substitute by his father.
From a young age, he was taken in by the Sinclair Family, and all along, he climbed every step solely relying on his own efforts.
More than ten years ago, when no one dared to confront Dylan Paxton, he was the only one who dared to face him alone.
Back then, he was all alone, with no ties, and naturally, fearless.
Until he found Juliana, until he knew they had a child.
The heart that had walked alone for too long and grown cold in the world gradually warmed up.
Heaven had not forsaken him. All the past loneliness, trials, and struggles were to accumulate enough weight to hold onto this heavy fulfillment now.
This is worth it.
"Don’t leave me... please?"
Elias Langley surprisingly used a negotiating tone.
Juliana’s breath hitched, and she nodded slightly.
The next moment, she distinctly felt the man’s chest tremble.
"I will... get better, really."
After chatting for a while, Juliana, unable to resist the overwhelming fatigue, soon fell into a deep sleep in his arms under his gentle persuasion.
The next day, when Juliana woke up, the sunlight was already shining at the end of the bed.
The nurse was removing her IV needle and was very happy to see her eyes open.
"You’re awake? Your husband just stepped out, I’ll go get him right away."
As soon as she said that, the hospital room door opened.
The man who walked in was no longer as gentle as last night.
He walked briskly to Juliana’s bedside, examined her closely, and then said, "The doctor said you can eat as soon as you wake up. I’ve prepared the specialty fish head porridge here for you. Just eat some."
As Elias Langley spoke, he opened the insulated lunch box on the bedside.
His actions in scooping the porridge were not clumsy, but they carried an obvious unfamiliarity.
Juliana received the warm bowl of porridge and quietly glanced at him.
Yes, last night was merely a dream.
"The porridge was bought outside. This place only has such conditions. The doctor said your condition is quite stable, and as long as Mrs. Sinclair maintains sterile care, you can travel long distances. Are you planning to return to Kingsford now?"
"You decide."
Juliana lowered her eyes while drinking the porridge, her tone indifferent.
Since he had already decided, why bother asking?
Elias Langley sensed her coldness but didn’t argue with her when he saw her slightly pale face.
So, two hours later, the medical helicopter Elias Langley arranged took Juliana and Mrs. Sinclair back to Kingsford.
Mrs. Sinclair continued to be placed in a sterile ward for treatment.
Juliana saw Raine Kane.
Fortunately, nothing fatal was in Old Mr. Sinclair’s syringe, so Raine Kane just needed rest to recover, and she regretted not being part of this action.
Seeing her safe and sound, Juliana finally felt a weight lifted from her heart.
Sebastian Sinclair had contacted Sinclair Manor in advance, so when Juliana arrived, there was a fragrant bowl of bird’s nest congee prepared for her.
There was no choice. On the first day of resuming eating, she could only have liquid food.
He brought the congee to Juliana’s hospital room.
Elias Langley was there too, but the two barely spoke, and the atmosphere felt rather cold.
Under her father’s gaze, Juliana slowly finished a bowl of bird’s nest congee.
"Dad," she put down the spoon, "Dylan Paxton said at the end that the chip design data should have been his. Why?"
Sebastian Sinclair was silent for a moment before speaking, "His son was my college classmate; initially, we started a business together. Later, I discovered he secretly accepted foreign funds. I advised him, argued with him, but he was stubborn. I could only leave and set up my own studio to continue the research. Dylan Paxton’s only son, all these years he couldn’t get along with me, I suppose because there’s a grudge."
"Then how did his son die?" Juliana asked.
"Overseas, he died from an overdose during a yacht event."
So, in a way, it was Dylan Paxton’s constant wrongdoings that brought disaster upon his descendants.
At this moment, Sebastian Sinclair and Elias Langley simultaneously handed her a tissue.
Without thinking, Juliana took the tissue from her father.
Elias Langley had a moment of embarrassment and withdrew his hand.
"Dad," Juliana wiped her mouth, "since I’m already divorced, I want to change Number 17, Darroway Street, into the Jacobs Estate."
Before Sebastian Sinclair could speak, the always silent Elias Langley suddenly interjected, "The divorce process was manipulated by Dylan Paxton. Now that he’s fallen, the paperwork is invalid. In the system, we’re still a couple."
Juliana looked at him for two seconds, lowered her eyes, and said calmly, "We can just complete a normal procedure."
Elias Langley was about to firmly express his unwillingness to divorce when Miles Monroe’s lazy voice came from the door of the ward.
"Need a lawyer? I know a few who specialize in divorce cases, top efficiency."
Elias Langley turned his gaze to him, gritting his teeth, "Go back to where you came from, you’re not welcome here."
Juliana leaned leisurely against the pillow, speaking lightly, "It’s enough if I welcome him."
Elias Langley was momentarily rendered speechless.
Sebastian Sinclair raised an eyebrow, found an excuse, and left the ward with the meal box.
Whether the marriage ends or not is entirely up to his daughter to decide. As a father, he could only close his eyes and support her; best to leave the battlefield to the young.
Miles Monroe walked in with a smile, placing a bouquet of fresh flowers at the bedside.
"You’re famous now, one of the rare survivors in Dylan Paxton’s hands. The public outcry outside is boiling; the Paxton family has become like rats crossing the street."
Juliana remained calm, "I hope he gets a fair judgment."
Miles Monroe’s smile deepened, and his tone shifted, "So, are you single now? Shouldn’t my ’second-best’ position move up a step?"
Elias Langley suddenly grabbed his collar, his voice icy, "We’re not divorced; try coveting her again."
"Elias Langley, let him go!" Juliana immediately scolded.
Elias Langley’s actions paused but he didn’t let go.
Miles Monroe still wore a nonchalant smile, but a sharp glint passed through his eyes.
"Elias Langley, you first need to understand what kind of woman Juliana is. You don’t know how to respect her, sooner or later you’ll be ’deposed’ by her. Just like... are you not in the cold palace now?"
Elias Langley was taken aback by his words and, overwhelmed by anger, laughed coldly and released his collar.
"Fine, ’second-best,’ visiting hours are over, it’s time for you to leave."
Miles Monroe knew how difficult this personality could be to deal with, so he didn’t persist in causing trouble for himself.
He raised an eyebrow, deciding to stop while ahead.
"Juliana, you should believe I have the magnanimity to accommodate all seas. I’m the best choice for ’first spouse.’"
Without waiting for Elias Langley to erupt again, he skedaddled out.
Elias Langley held his breath, having nowhere to vent his frustration, and when he turned his gaze to Juliana, he internally quelled the fiery anger within him.
"I won’t divorce! But I can change for you."
Juliana was slightly surprised. For him to say such a thing was nearly the biggest concession his personality could make.
Yet as hope kindled, an even deeper weariness and apprehension surged up.
She knew all too well what disappointment felt like, and that slight ripple was swiftly pushed back to the depths of her heart.
"No matter how much you change, you’re still not him."
A sharp pain shot through Elias Langley’s heart, followed by a nearly ferocious smile appearing on his face.
"Alright. Keep on provoking me like this, sooner or later you’ll give me a heart attack... by then, he won’t survive either."
Juliana gazed at him deeply, saying nothing.
If she could train the two personalities into one character, could he come back?
No one has proven it, but she wants to try.
The Miles Monroe Chapter had just ended, and Elias Langley thought today’s "surprises" were enough, yet little did he expect this was just the prelude to Juliana’s "harem group" visitation.