The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 17

Ethan pulled the car up to the entrance of the teahouse.

As soon as Julian got in, Ethan said, "Your father called you. You didn't answer. He asked me to tell you to come home for dinner tonight."

Julian lit up his phone.

Indeed, there were two missed calls.

He had put his phone on silent inside, so he hadn't heard it.

The Magnolia House.

Julian knocked on the study door.

"Dad."

Jonathan Vance grunted in acknowledgment without looking up, his attention still focused on his calligraphy.

The ink on the parchment was bold and commanding, a testament to years of disciplined mastery.

Only after finishing the final stroke did Jonathan speak. "Julian, you're thirty this year, aren't you?"

Julian replied, "Yes."

"You're not getting any younger. Isn't it time to think about marriage?"

"Aren't I already engaged?"

"So you do remember you're engaged?" Jonathan's tone was reproachful. "You and Hailey have been engaged for three years. You're still not planning to get married? How long are you going to make her wait?"

Julian's and Hailey's families were old family friends. Their children had grown up together, true childhood sweethearts.

In everyone's eyes, they were destined to marry and have children.

Three years ago, Julian's mother had suddenly fallen gravely ill. On her deathbed, she had said to her son: Julian, I've watched Hailey grow up. She's a truly wonderful girl, and she's devoted to you. I really hope you two can be together.

Perhaps it was his mother's dying wish that finally made the ever-reluctant Julian agree to the marriage.

Before Julian's mother passed away, Julian and Hailey held a grand engagement ceremony.

"I'm not trying to interfere in your life, son. I'm just reminding you not to make Hailey wait too long. Her parents may not say anything to your face, but they're not happy about it. And now that you're here and you and Hailey are in a long-distance relationship, they're even more uncertain about this marriage."

Julian replied coolly, "I know."

Jocelyn caught the hint and nodded, then leaned in and whispered something in Maria's ear.

Maria immediately went out.

Walking into the living room, Jocelyn saw Adrian sitting on the sofa, his face dark and stormy.

Claire was sitting beside him, her expression hostile.

Claire had gone abroad after her brother, Arthur, passed away.

She had said it was to heal, to get away for a while.

Jocelyn was surprised to see that the girl who still had a bit of baby fat on her cheeks had become so slim and beautiful.

"Jocelyn! You've gone too far!"

Tsk. Her temper, at least, hadn't changed a bit.

"My brother asked you to pick me up! But you deliberately went out to have fun! You left me all alone at the airport, and I had to take an unlicensed cab, and then the rude driver kicked me out in the middle of nowhere, and then I almost got hit by a scooter!"