Chapter 72

Julia had always been terrified of haunted houses. Though she considered herself an atheist, anyone would be frightened in such an environment.

"Why on earth did we come to a haunted house?" she muttered. As a mother to Joseph and Stephen, she could only summon her courage and take a step forward.

She clutched her sons' hands tightly, afraid they might get separated in the darkness.

Caroline, on the other hand, showed no fear whatsoever, confidently leading the way. "What's there to be afraid of? Ghosts don't exist in this world."

Joseph and Stephen exchanged knowing smiles, amused that their mother was afraid of ghosts. They believed that facing a haunted house would be the fastest way to help her forget her troubles.

The deeper Julia ventured, the darker it became—unnervingly so.

"Caroline, perhaps we should turn back?" Julia worried. If she, an adult, was scared, what about the children?

Caroline suppressed a laugh. "Julia, are you serious? Don't tell me you're actually afraid?"

"I..." Julia couldn't deny her fear.

But Joseph and Stephen quickly chimed in, "Mommy, we're not scared at all!"

With her sons being so brave, Julia swallowed the admission of fear that had been on the tip of her tongue.

As they proceeded further, the music grew more terrifying and the decorations more disturbing. Though Julia knew the ghosts weren't real, the combination of eerie music and atmospheric lighting created an immersive experience.

It was truly frightening.

Determined to set a good example for Joseph and Stephen, she kept her fears to herself, carefully watching each step.

While in the midst of her internal pep talk, a pair of stiff legs suddenly appeared before her.

Julia halted abruptly with a gasp.

Then, a ghastly white face with a protruding tongue materialized right in front of her.

By the time Joseph and Stephen realized something was wrong with their mother, it was too late.

Julia released their hands and bolted back toward the entrance.

Too terrifying!

She had to escape immediately!

"Mommy!" Joseph and Stephen came to their senses and chased after her, worried for her safety.

Caroline stood calmly examining the hanging ghost prop, utterly resigned.

It was fake, obviously.

But Julia had already fled in terror.

When they had passed by earlier with Joseph and Stephen, nothing had happened. But this ghost had appeared directly in Julia's path.

"Mommy!" Joseph and Stephen called after her.

Julia, panicked, found an empty room and ducked inside.

She murmured desperately, "Please, don't scare me... I'm afraid of the dark."

Thinking that closing her eyes might help, she shut them tightly, buried her head between her knees, and hugged them close.

Meanwhile, Henry had entered the haunted house and was searching room by room. When actors approached to scare him, he pushed them aside.

Many of the performers dreaded customers like him and gave him a wide berth.

Henry grabbed one of the actors and demanded, "Have you seen a woman with two young boys? Which direction did they go?"

"Her?" The actor spoke briefly with colleagues via walkie-talkie and easily obtained Julia's location.

When Henry pushed open the door, he found Julia trembling, curled up in a ball—a pitiful sight.

"Please... don't scare me anymore..." she pleaded.

Henry felt a pang seeing Julia so frightened. Why would she bring her children here if she was so afraid?

Moved by compassion, he crouched down and, hearing her terrified cry, pulled her reassuringly into his arms.

Julia detected his familiar scent but was still too disoriented to fully comprehend. Shaking uncontrollably, she begged, "Help me... get me out of here..."

"Get you out?" Henry took a deep breath, his expression softening while his brows remained furrowed. "If you're so afraid, why did you come in?"

Julia recognized his voice as her thoughts gradually cleared.

Henry? How was he here?

Julia couldn't believe her ears. She suddenly looked up—it was indeed Henry.

Meeting her tear-soaked eyes, Henry said gently, "It's all right. I'll take you out."

Upon seeing Henry, Julia's fear vanished instantly.

In its place came confusion: why was he here?

Despite her fear, remembering how he had allegedly ordered Joseph and Stephen's expulsion, she composed herself and withdrew from his embrace.

Julia eyed him warily. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you."

Hearing his earnest reply, Julia responded firmly, "I've made myself perfectly clear. Why go to such lengths to find me? What do you want?"

That morning she had finalized withdrawal paperwork and blocked all contact with Henry.

Based on past experience, she believed his presence couldn't be motivated by love.

Just like when she left the country years ago.

If Henry had truly wanted to keep her, he would have found a way.

But he hadn't.

Julia couldn't imagine any reason for his appearance except that he needed something from her.

The situation was urgent, and Henry couldn't worry about misunderstandings anymore. "About Joseph and Stephen's expulsion—I've already addressed it. As CEO of the Hearst Group, I assure you I didn't expel them. Do you understand?"

Julia responded with a noncommittal "Oh," her expression distant.

"Don't tell me you think I tracked you down just to repeat myself. Let's be direct—what do you really want? No need to beat around the bush."

Henry could see that Julia's words dripped with sarcasm. Her misunderstanding ran deep.

Whether he had influenced the principal or Vivian had, the fault ultimately lay with him.

"It's complicated, but I didn't do this. I must tell you—even considering my own daughter, I wouldn't expel Joseph and Stephen. Vivian saw you dropping off your children this morning when she was dropping off Tiffany, and she made the decision herself."

Of course, Vivian's authority at the preschool came from Henry himself.

Julia found this ironic. "Since when do you and Vivian act independently?"

Henry's words from six years ago still echoed in her ears—that he would marry only Vivian, that he resented Julia for taking Vivian's rightful place as his wife.

His current explanation made Julia think: how could Henry show so little responsibility?

Loving someone meant always considering them first, didn't it?

Even when she was wrong, he should have supported her, as long as no moral boundaries were crossed.

But Henry had completely distanced himself from any blame.