Chapter 75

Julia suddenly turned around to find someone tugging at the hem of her dress. It was Tiffany.

Though her eyes remained vacant, her little hand gripped with surprising strength.

Henry and Gregory were astonished. Typically, when Tiffany experienced an episode, full recovery took at least a week. This time... it seemed impossibly quick.

Tiffany had withdrawn into herself and should have been unresponsive to the outside world. Yet somehow, she sensed Julia's presence? She didn't want Julia to leave.

It was strange—genuinely perplexing. Gregory, despite being a psychologist, had never encountered anything like this.

Julia looked at Tiffany, her heart aching. That suffocating feeling overtook her body again as she carefully knelt down.

"Tiffany, you can sense me, can't you?" she asked gently.

Though Tiffany's expression remained blank, her small hand never let go of Julia's dress.

When Joseph and Stephen saw Tiffany's condition, they pleaded with their mother, "Mommy, can we take Tiffany home with us?"

Taking Tiffany home? It might be the best solution right now. But... Julia instinctively glanced toward Henry and Gregory standing at the doorway, wondering about their thoughts on the matter. After all, Henry was Tiffany's biological father, and his daughter was in the midst of an episode. Would he consent?

Gregory seemed supportive. "Tiffany is responding most positively to you right now. More interaction might significantly increase her chances of recovery." He turned to Henry for his input.

Henry's gaze lingered on Tiffany's small hand clutching Julia's dress. After a few moments of silence, he withdrew his gaze. "I'll drive you," he offered.

Julia hadn't expected Henry to agree so readily.

When Joseph and Stephen heard their dad's approval, they hugged Tiffany tightly, their faces beaming with joy. "We'll take good care of Tiffany, we promise!"

Hannah Nguyen, the nanny who had cared for Tiffany since she was little, felt a pang of sadness seeing them take her away. Yet knowing Tiffany would be with her birth mother Julia gave her some comfort.

She went to pack Tiffany's everyday necessities and soon handed a neatly organized suitcase to Julia. "These are Tiffany's clothes and her favorite toys... I hope they help."

Hannah sighed deeply, clearly having treated Tiffany as her own granddaughter.

Julia gave Hannah a grateful look but remained silent. As she reached for the suitcase, Henry intercepted it mid-way. "Let's go," he said, taking it himself.

Henry drove them himself. In the car, Tiffany sat on Julia's lap, flanked by Joseph and Stephen. Far from being jealous, the boys held Tiffany's hands and talked to her continuously, showing genuine concern.

During the drive, Henry meticulously detailed everything Julia needed to know about caring for Tiffany. Listening to him, Julia couldn't help but reflect that Tiffany truly was his daughter. Despite his demanding role at the Hearst Group, he remembered so many details about Tiffany's care.

When he finished, Henry looked at Julia. "Thank you for being willing to help her. I appreciate you taking care of her during this time."

Julia lowered her eyes, still unaccustomed to Henry's gratitude and apologies. "As I've said before, children are innocent. Tiffany won't be treated differently in my care. You can rest assured," she replied coolly.

Her words served as a pointed reminder of how small-minded his previous actions had been. How utterly lacking in perspective.

They soon arrived at Julia's home. Henry, aware of her current aversion to him, didn't linger. After helping set up Tiffany's room and kissing his daughter goodbye, he reluctantly departed.

Looking at Tiffany's presence in her home, Julia belatedly realized something strange. Henry was completely devoted to his daughter. He wouldn't even let his first love, Vivian, near Tiffany for too long. Why would he entrust his daughter to her care so willingly?

But seeing Tiffany's blank expression, she pushed these doubts aside. Her focus now was to help Tiffany reopen her closed heart.

Once outside Julia's house, Henry's expression darkened instantly. He took out his phone and dialed Vivian's number.

Seeing the incoming call, Vivian was ecstatic, wondering if Scarlett's advice had actually worked. Henry hadn't called her in ages.

"Henry," Vivian deliberately made her voice sound gentle.

Henry's voice was cold in response: "Meet me at the park by the Hearst Group."

Without waiting for her reply, he hung up.

Vivian's initial excitement evaporated like steam in the air. Henry's tone didn't sound promising at all.

Nevertheless, the fact that he had called to meet her soon overshadowed any negative feelings. She quickly got out of bed, checked the time, and hurriedly changed into an outfit she'd prepared for the next day.

Henry had given her only thirty minutes, and he famously despised tardiness.

She urged her driver to hurry the entire way. The driver nearly wore out the gas pedal before they finally arrived.

When Vivian reached the park, Henry was already waiting at the entrance. He acknowledged her with a slight nod but said nothing, leading her to a corner café.

Vivian sensed an alarming chill emanating from Henry. Inside the café, after ordering coffee, she nervously broke the silence, "Henry, you seem so tense. Is something wrong?"

Henry's piercing eyes lifted suddenly, the air around him becoming even more oppressive.

Vivian felt panic rising within her, though she tried to maintain her composure.

After a long silence, Henry spoke coldly, "You took Tiffany to school this morning."

Vivian nodded quickly. "Yes, your mom asked me to help, so I went."

Henry had anticipated this response and scoffed. "So it was also my mother who instructed you to approach the principal, demanding those two children be expelled immediately? Even invoking the Hearst family name when the principal resisted?"

Vivian never expected Henry to confront her about this.

"I was just dropping Tiffany off when I saw those children bullying her. I acted on impulse when I spoke to the principal..." she explained carefully, watching Henry's expression.

She emphasized Tiffany being bullied. "Henry, I simply can't stand seeing anyone mistreat Tiffany. Surely you understand? I've watched her grow up."

Had she stopped there, Henry might have let it go. But her continued insistence about Joseph and Stephen bullying Tiffany pushed him over the edge. He wanted to see just how far she would take this charade.