Chapter 28: I'm sorry to have embarrassed you

Upon seeing Julia standing on the revolving staircase, Nathan furrowed his brows. He quickly approached and supported her, saying, "What are you doing? Don't you know about your physical condition?"
Julia patted his arm soothingly and replied, "I'm just a little weak, but not to the point of being unable to walk."
Elio stood nearby, observing their interaction. His gaze, however, seemed filled with bitterness as it firmly landed on Nathan's hand wrapped around Julia's waist.
Nathan led Julia to sit on the sofa, placing a thin blanket over her legs. As he attended to Julia's needs, she smiled apologetically at Elio and said, "I'm sorry for causing you embarrassment."
However, Elio remained silent, simply staring at her.
Julia didn't find anything odd about the situation and continued to smile at Elio. After a long while of silence from Elio, she hesitantly asked, "Um, is something the matter with Mr. Parker?"
"It's probably because you resemble his deceased wife," Nathan replied in a monotone voice, devoid of any fluctuations.
"What is your name?" Elio asked Julia once again.
This time, Julia didn't evade his question and looked at him with a smile, saying, "Julia."
"No, you're not Julia...Julia has died..." Elio continued to look into her eyes, enunciating each word,
"Mr. Parker, you're really acting strange. I just happen to share the same name with your love..." Julia appeared to be slightly angry. "But I am not her."
Elio chuckled lightly, "Yes, you still can't admit it." However, there was no trace of amusement in his eyes.
"What do you mean, Mr. Parker?"
"You know what I mean, don't you?" Elio looked at her and whispered.
"Mr. Parker, you must be joking. What are you talking about? I am not her!" The distance in Julia's eyes vanished, replaced by anger.
"Mr. Parker, if you have nothing else to say, please leave." Nathan was now giving him the boot.
However, Elio had no intention of leaving. "Julia, you've returned, haven't you?"
Julia's expression turned cold. "Mr. Parker, I hope you understand that I am Julia, not the Julia you are referring to, nor your deceased wife."
Julia's tone wasn't pleasant. "Although I sympathize with your experience, if you intend to harass me in the name of your deceased wife, I have the right to throw you out."
Elio's heart trembled suddenly.
If he was uncertain at first, he was now certain that she was the person he had been seeking.
She was his Julia.
Elio suddenly laughed, leaving Nathan perplexed.
"Mr. Parker?" Nathan's voice deepened. "My wife-"
"No, she is my wife." Elio interrupted Nathan. "You don't have to acknowledge it, I can give you time, but don't..."
"Mr. Parker!" Julia's voice raised a few notches. "I hope you stop saying misleading words. I don't even know you, how did I become your wife?!"
"Then tell me, are you Nathan's wife?"
"Yes." Julia held Nathan's arm without fear, looking into Elio's eyes, and stated each word clearly, "He is my present and future lover. I also hope, Mr. Parker, that you don't confuse things. Your wife has long passed away, and I am merely a woman who bears a striking resemblance to your wife."
"Just an hour ago, I also believed that my wife had passed away." Elio stood up. "But look, aren't you still standing here? If you are still here, how could I deceive myself into thinking that you have died?"