Chapter 1714: Don't Regret It
"Dad, I was the one who pressured Elliott into getting married," Julia suddenly said. "He didn't deceive me."
James laughed angrily, "You're defending him and still say he didn't deceive you? Julia, I thought you were the most rational in the Jude family, but it turns out you're also driven by emotions. Honestly, I wasn't too supportive of Laura and Derek's relationship before, but since Derek isn't my son, everyone just assumed they were truly in love. But now, with Elliott entangled with you, I start to question the Miller family's intentions."
Julia couldn't help but furrow her brows tightly. "Dad, you misunderstood. Elliott and I met when we studied abroad. He was my first love."
James was stunned, but then his face darkened even more. "Didn't you say you didn't date anyone abroad?"
"You all just wanted me to marry Orval. If I told you I was in a relationship, would you have gone looking for Elliott?"
Julia's lips curled coldly. "For so many years, I've done as you wished. But now that I've grown up, is it wrong for me to want to marry someone I love?"
"Why didn't you say this earlier?" James said angrily. "If we had known Elliott was your first love, we wouldn't have let Michael marry Laura."
"If Michael hadn't married Laura, how could I have met Elliott again?" Julia suddenly said.
This time, it was James and his wife who were shocked.
They probably never expected that Julia had been calculating for a long time, meaning she had included all of them in her plans.
"You used all of us," James pushed Caroline away and slapped Julia across the face. "You will divorce him immediately, while no one else knows."
Julia staggered back, one hand pressing on the sofa. After a few seconds, she barely managed to stand, but half of her face seemed numb.
"Why should I get a divorce?" she said softly. "Is it me getting married, or is it you?"
"What did you say?" James pointed at her in disbelief. "Marriage is a matter of two families, not just two people. Especially you, your status is different. You and Derek, both of you, are like this. I have to wonder if the Jude Group will directly become the Miller family in the future."
"If you have such concerns, I can leave the Jude family."
Julia spoke with a hint of weariness. "I can also hand over the power I hold. I won't interfere in any Jude family matters in the future."
James was stunned for a moment, then laughed coldly. "You took the position from Michael, then feared I'd oppose you, so you sidelined me as chairman. Would you be willing to let go of power?"
"Whether you believe it or not, I never intended to take this position. Given the situation at the time, Laura was brought into the Jude family by me. Michael wronged her, and he wouldn't divorce her. I didn't want Elliott to do something impulsive. Plus, Michael was too indulgent with Megan. I was also worried that after Megan and Michael got married, they would covet the Jude family, so I made Michael lose his inheritance rights."
Julia explained calmly from beginning to end. "Now I've achieved my goal. If you suspect the Miller family, I can resign. After all, Dad, you're only in your fifties. You can still personally teach Aaron. I know you and Grandpa never wanted to hand the Jude family over to me. You think I'm a woman who will eventually get married, and if things go wrong, the Jude family will become someone else's. So, I'm willing to give the Jude family back to you."
She lifted her head, her delicate face still bearing five red fingerprints, but her eyes were always so stubborn and proud.
James was stunned and hesitated.
After all, he was still young and felt resentful when he was sidelined.
But even if he could work until he was seventy, so what? Michael was foolish, and he knew Aaron's character well.
Not to mention, Aaron was preoccupied with dating. Even if forced to take over the Jude family, he might not be able to handle the board members.
Caroline looked at Julia with a complex expression, realizing she had never really understood her. "Julia, is it worth giving up the Jude family for a man? Even if Elliott was your first love, it was a long time ago. Don't do something you'll regret. You're very smart, but you're too naive when it comes to love. For a woman, no matter when, only a career will never betray you."
"Mom, I'm letting go not because I don't want this career, but because I don't want to be bound by the Jude family and unable to do what I want."
Julia laughed self-deprecatingly. "Dad, Mom, honestly, haven't I done enough for the Jude family? Since I graduated, I've been working tirelessly for the Jude family. My whole life, I studied the subjects you wanted me to study, and married the man you wanted me to marry. From childhood to adulthood, everyone said I was a prodigy, always top of my class, never worrying my parents, obedient and well-behaved.
But this prodigy married a seriously ill man in her prime. Back then, you all knew Orval wouldn't live more than two years, but you still made me marry him. I lost my husband at a young age.
I never blamed you because you gave birth to me and provided the best education. But for so many years, I've been working from six in the morning to eleven at night. Haven't I repaid you enough?"
Caroline listened, tears of heartache falling. "Julia, I'm sorry."
Julia had always been so strong. With two other sons, and Eric saying Michael was the future heir of the Jude family, Caroline focused all her attention on Michael, neglecting Julia.
Caroline forgot that when Julia was born, she was Caroline and James's first child, and they were very happy.
"You have nothing to apologize for. Giving birth to me was the greatest gift. But I'm also human, and I get very tired."
Julia looked at Caroline's tearful face without much expression. Maybe she had hoped for it when she was young, but as she grew up, she became numb and hardened. "Now I have money, and I want to try things I haven't experienced before. Since you doubt Elliott's intentions, I'll leave. Even if he betrays me in the future, I won't regret it because this time, in my life, I'm doing what I want to do."
With that, she turned and opened the door, ready to leave.
James stared at her back with a complex expression. "Julia, don't regret it."
"I have nothing to regret."
Julia left.
Caroline wiped her tears in pain. "Maybe we should just let it go. Julia has had a hard life."
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