Chapter 388


    Scarlett was thrilled to hear that.


    “Mom, I''d like to have some fruits. Can you please bring some to me?”


    Tamara knew that her daughter was trying to remove her from the room, but she could not lose her


    temper with her. At least, not right after forcing her to donate her bone marrow. Thus, after a long look


    at Olivia, Tamara stepped out of the room.


    Once Tamara was out, Scarlett quickly helped Olivia to take a seat by the bedside.


    “Mrs. Xuereb, I thought you''d epted the mother-and-son duo as family.”


    “How can that be possible?” Olivia patted the back of Scarlett''s hand and consoled, “I told you a long


    time ago that you''re the only daughter-inw I approve of. Who do those two think they are, and what


    right do they have to join the Xuereb family?”


    As a dark look crossed Scarlett''s face, she pursed her lips. “But Justin refuses to ept me. Now that


    he has a son and has legally taken Veronique as his wife, what chance do I have left with him?”


    Right then, a look of cruel determination shed past Olivia''s face, and she leaned toward Scarlett to


    whisper something to her.


    Once Scarlett registered the words, she widened her eyes. “M-Mrs. Xuereb, can we really do this? I''m


    afraid that it''ll only make things worse, and Justin might hate me even more.”


    “Even if he doesn''t hate you, you still don''t have his favor. In that case, why don''t you take the risky


    way instead? That way, he''ll have to bear responsibility for you even if he doesn''t want to. Tell me,


    Lettie, are you willing to take this risk?”


    Scarlett worried her lip in silence for a while before gritting out, “All right, I''ll do as you say. You''re right.


    I''ll never win over his heart no matter what I do now, so I might as well take the risk.”


    At that, Olivia patted her head and smiled. “That''s right. A weekter will be my husband''s birthday, and


    you''ll be a guest at the event. I''ll think of a way to knock Justin out so that you can sleep with him. With


    the number of guests at the event, Justin will have no choice but to bear responsibility for what he


    does.”


    At the Gezmond residence, Wendy was staring at her younger sister, who was sitting in the gazebo.


    Sighing, she said, “Julie, you''re the hope of the family, so don''t take the same path I did and end up


    getting kicked out of the family.”


    Juliana slowly turned around to give Wendy a nce. “You''ve gone through this before, so you should


    know that these feelings are out of my control. You were willing to abandon the family for that man back


    then, but now, you''re trying to convince me to do otherwise?”


    Wendy pressed her lips tightly together for a moment before striding toward the other woman. She then


    reached out to hold Juliana''s shoulders and chuckled bitterly. “It''s because I''ve been through this that I


    don''t want you to experience the same pain. I might say otherwise if Mr. Shurmer had feelings for you


    too. At least that way, the things you do for him would not be for nothing. But he has rejected you


    countless times, and he already has a fiancée, so why must you insist on dying on this hill? Love is


    nothing but puppy love when you''re young. This is but admiration disguised as love; it''s not romantic


    love. As time goes by, you''ll forget about it.”


    “No.” Juliana shook her head. In a solemn tone, she went on, “Perhaps it was truly admiration at the


    start, but as time went by, I realized that he has burrowed deep into my heart. Wendy, you can''t change


    my mind. Not even my master could dampen my resolve. No one will be able to rescue me from this


    unless I step out of this myself.”


    Wendy narrowed her eyes. After a while of hesitation, she tentatively said, “I received news about how


    the family has sent men here, to Hallsbay. They must have heard about you falling for a man and are


    worried that things would go horribly wrong. That''s why they''ve decided to bring you back to the family.”


    At that, Juliana leaped to her feet and stared at Wendy in surprise. Even her voice was trembling as


    she asked, “D-Did our family really send people to Hallsbay?”


    Wendy nodded. “Yes, they''ve departed and are on their way here. It''s one of the elders in the family


    who hase per our parents'' request. I''m guessing that they''re going to force you back home.”


    Her words made Juliana''s face turn ashen.


    Juliana did not want to leave Hallsbay.


    She did not want to return to the family.


    “Wendy, help me. Please help me! It''ll be close to impossible for me toe back out here if they drag


    me back now!”


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Wendy''s expression was conflicted as a bitter smile manifested on her lips. “I''ve already cut ties with


    the family. Per the family rules, I''m not allowed to intervene in the Hoffman family''s matters anymore.


    Julie, you''re only making this hard for me.”


    Juliana clenched her teeth and stayed quiet.


    Wendy then mulled over the matter for a little longer before suggesting, “Why don''t you seek Bailey''s


    help? She should have a way to keep you here.”


    Juliana''s mouth remained mped shut, for she knew that not even her master would be able to


    protect her if her family was dragging her back.


    After all, Bailey had made a promise with Juliana''s father back then that she would not intervene if the


    Hoffman family wanted to bring Juliana back to take over the family matters.


    That was why Bailey wanted her to give up on Zeke.


    “Wendy, do you think our parents will be disappointed if I end up making the same choices as you?”


    Wendy''s heart lurched. “Julie, you''re not going to...”


    Juliana shrugged. “I''m just pulling your leg. I don''t have the guts to sleep with Zeke. Frankly, I''m a little


    afraid of him. It''s difficult to know what he''s thinking about, and I don''t really have the courage to cross


    him.”


    Hearing that, Wendy let out a soft relieved sigh before holding Juliana''s shoulders again. She then


    enunciated, “Julie, you''re the hope of the family, so don''t ever let your feelings take over your


    rationality. Love is what hurts a person the most in life. It''ll be much easier on you if you have power


    since that will allow you to live a freer life.”


    Meanwhile, Bailey, who was at Shelbert Condominium, also received news of the Hoffman family


    sending men to Hallsbay.