Chapter 671

The person standing before him was Evelyn Ross.

Julian Evans's pupils contracted sharply.

He stared fixedly at Evelyn, his heart pounding wildly in his chest, almost as if it would break through his ribs.

In that instant, it felt as if the entire world had brightened.

He blinked hard, his gaze locked onto Evelyn's face, finally settling on the corner of her eye.

There, beneath the concealer, the faint outline of a small, dark tear mole was barely visible.

Julian's throat tightened violently.

His eyes instantly grew hot, his vision blurring.

He tried to speak, but no sound came out. He could only stand there dumbly, staring at her like a fool.

She was alive.

She was truly alive.

This thought exploded in his mind like a thunderclap, shocking him to his core.

Even if she was Alexander Vance's wife now.

Even if she could never belong to him—

As long as she was alive.

As long as she could be happy, that was enough.

Julian raised a hand and roughly wiped his eyes. Evelyn's clear features came back into view.

This wasn't a dream.

He pinched his own arm hard. A sharp pain shot through him.

Not a dream.

Julian's lips trembled. He wanted to cry out the name buried deep in his heart, but he stopped himself abruptly.

What right did he have?

He had hurt her so badly before.

Did he deserve to?

Evelyn, however, stared at him coldly, her voice like ice. "Speak. Do you really want to marry Victoria Lawrence?"

Richard Evans immediately stepped forward, placing himself between Julian and Evelyn. "Miss Ross, I've already said, my son listens to me! If you interfere in our family affairs again, don't blame me for being rude!"

Robert Vance's face was also flushed with anger. "What do you mean? If you don't want Julian to marry Victoria, do you want Alexander to marry her instead? I get it now. You're afraid that if Julian marries Victoria, he'll outshine Alexander Vance!"

He turned to look at Eleanor Vance and Alexander, his voice sharp. "See! She's not even part of the family yet, and she's already trying to control the Vance family! A wonderful girl like Victoria, how could Julian not want to marry her? He'd be thrilled to have the wedding tomorrow!"

As soon as the words left his mouth.

A hoarse, choked voice spoke up.

"She's right."

Everyone froze, turning in unison to look at Julian, who had spoken.

His eyes were red, the tip of his nose was red, and his whole body was trembling slightly. He wiped his tears like a wronged child, but his gaze never left Evelyn.

Robert Vance sneered. "Hear that? Julian said I'm right!"

Richard Evans also breathed a sigh of relief, a smile returning to his face. "My son, of course, listens to me. What status does Victoria Lawrence hold in New York? How many families wish they could marry her! The fact that she doesn't mind Julian being divorced is already a blessing for the Vance family!"

He patted Julian on the shoulder, his tone commanding. "Julian, after you marry Victoria, treat her well. Listen to your wife. Don't be like your uncle, causing such a rift with the family."

Julian slowly turned his head to look at his father.

Word by word, his voice was clear and firm.

"I said, she is right."

He pointed at Evelyn.

The smiles on Robert Vance and Richard Evans's faces instantly froze.

Both men widened their eyes in disbelief, staring at Julian.

Richard Evans's face darkened completely. "What did you say? You ungrateful brat! Say that again!"

In the past, seeing his father's expression like this would have frightened Julian.

Every time his father got this angry, he would storm out and go to that woman outside, leaving Julian and his mother to suffer at home.

But this time, Julian looked at Evelyn.

He remembered what she had just said—

"What do you actually want?"

What did he want?

The Evelyn he wanted was forever out of his reach.

Besides her, what else did he want?

He wanted his father to stay home.

He wanted his parents to get along.

He wanted a complete family.

He wanted his father to have no mistress, no illegitimate daughter…

But all of these had become laughable, extravagant fantasies for him.

He would never get them.

So now, what did he actually want?

Julian's gaze shifted from Evelyn to the faces of Robert Vance and Richard Evans.

Seeing the undisguised anger and desire for control in their eyes, he suddenly understood.

Julian took a deep breath, his voice resolute.

"I said, I don't want to marry Victoria Lawrence. I'm not a puppet on strings. I am my own person!"

Silence fell over the entire living room.

Richard Evans erupted in fury. "I think you've lost your mind! This matter is settled! You have no say!"

Julian straightened his back, his voice ringing with conviction.

"Dad, I said I don't agree. I'm an adult. You can't control my life!"

Richard Evans trembled with rage, raising his hand to slap Julian across the face.

But this time, the hand that had always been submissive firmly caught his wrist.

Richard Evans was stunned.

He suddenly realized that his son's strength had, at some point, surpassed his own.

Robert Vance, meanwhile, whirled towards Evelyn, his cane thudding heavily on the floor.

"What have you done to Julian? You wretched creature!"

With that, he raised his cane and swung it viciously at Evelyn!