Chapter 1678: A Good Strategy
"That's right," Laura said smugly.
Luke and Rose exchanged glances, both too embarrassed to look at Laura's shamelessness.
However, while Laura's situation was settled, Elliott's matter had indeed become a worry for Rose.
After dinner, Derek and Laura took Maeve for a walk by the neighborhood lake.
The weather was gradually getting warmer, and the evening breeze carried a faint fragrance.
Laura sighed, "Elliott is really hard to figure out. Do you think he still likes Julia? It doesn't seem like it. But if he doesn't like her, why hasn't he found a girlfriend?"
After she finished speaking, she glanced at Derek beside her. "What do you think?"
"I'm not too sure either."
No matter how smart Derek was, he couldn't quite understand, "Maybe he really doesn't like Julia anymore, or maybe he does but has reservations. Besides, it's not just about status and position; there's also Michael between them. James and the others will eventually grow old, and with Michael in his current state, it will sooner or later fall on Julia. She's a responsible person, and both families' parents wouldn't approve."
Laura fell silent.
Maybe some people had loved each other, but not everyone could overcome obstacles like she and Derek did.
No, the reason she and Derek had today was because of Derek's bravery.
But Elliott and Julia both had wounds in their hearts, and perhaps they had long lost the courage they once had.
Thinking this, she couldn't help but hold Derek's hand tighter, wanting to cherish him.
It was 9 PM. Derek finally drove away. Passing by the Jude Group building, he saw the lights on the top floor still on. After hesitating for a few seconds, he turned into the parking lot.
He symbolically knocked on the office door twice before walking in.
Hearing the noise, Julia looked up from the pile of documents, revealing a delicate face. "So late, why aren't you with your girlfriend and instead came here?"
"I just came from Laura's house, passed by here, and saw your office lights still on."
Derek didn't rush to sit down but looked around. "Are you planning to sleep in the office tonight?"
"I've been busy with Michael's matters these past few days, and a pile of work has accumulated." Julia tightened her grip on the pen, a trace of fatigue flashing in her beautiful eyes. "I took him to the hospital for a check-up today. He's like a child now."
"I heard."
Derek hadn't dared to go to Whispering Pines Manor these past few days. Although James and the others wouldn't say anything, with Michael in his current state, he was afraid they wouldn't understand. "How are James and the others?"
"They're okay."
Julia was silent for a while before answering, "Although it's a pity, they seem to have relaxed. As my dad said, it's not so bad. The old Michael never listened to them and was hard to manage. Now he's like a blank slate, mischievous but innocent. I even played with him for a while today. He trusts me wholeheartedly, unlike before when he hated and guarded against me."
"That's good."
Derek relaxed; after all, they were relatives.
After a pause, the office suddenly fell silent.
Julia put down the documents and leaned back into the leather chair. She looked at him and smiled faintly, "So, when are you planning to get married?"
"It's still early. Even if I agree, the Miller family wouldn't." Derek touched his nose, knowing his place. "The Miller family is pushing Elliott. If he doesn't bring a girlfriend home this year, Luke and Rose will make a fuss."
Julia was stunned, then lowered her eyes.
"What do you think?" Derek looked at her.
"Me?" Julia bit her lip slightly, bitterly. "I don't know. In his heart, I'm probably just a despicable woman."
She had tried, but Elliott was too cold.
She could understand; she didn't blame him. Everyone had their stance, but it was a fact that she had abandoned that relationship first.
"Think it through. You're both single now, and there's still a chance. If you miss it, there might be no chance."
Derek leaned quietly against the floor-to-ceiling window. He mainly felt that Julia seemed to have everything in life, but she carried a heavy burden and was internally bitter.
But others could only see the surface.
Julia was silent for a while, then suddenly looked up at the handsome Derek, raising an eyebrow. "When it comes to handling work matters, I'm adept. But in matters of the heart, I'm far inferior to you. Do you have any tricks?"
Derek pondered for a few seconds and smiled, "If I were you, I'd use some strong-arm tactics. With your ability, forcing Elliott to be with you would be a piece of cake."
Julia stared wide-eyed in shock.
It was as if she had heard something unbelievable. "That's not good. Elliott's personality is completely different from Laura's. The more you push him, the more he'll resist and hate me."
"Where there's hate, there's love," Derek said with a smile. "Maybe if you force him to be with you, he'll try it and end up liking life with you."
Julia was speechless.
"Think about it yourself." Derek put his hands in his pockets. "See if you're ruthless enough. First, force him into your arms. On the surface, he'll resist with all his might, but living under the same roof, facing your pretty face every day, and with occasional gentle strategies, who knows, he might end up not being able to leave you."
Late at night, Julia was a bit confused by his insistence.
But she still found it too absurd.
In the eyes of others, she was indeed a strong woman, sometimes even ruthless to achieve her goals.
But in matters of the heart, she wasn't that bold.
Derek leaned on the table, smiling, "Actually, Elliott not getting married all these years doesn't necessarily mean he's over you. He just can't pretend nothing happened. If you push him, he'll either fight back with all his might or give in after resisting. If it's the first, he probably doesn't like you anymore. If it's the second, it means you still have a good chance."
Julia blinked.
Was that so?
Forcing a man, she would feel ashamed.
"I've given my opinion. It's up to you whether you want to act on it."
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