The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 319

"I think I'll sit this one out," Jocelyn replied. "I want to stay back and focus purely on preparing for the competition."

"Fair enough. Prep hard so you can take home the championship. I can't wait for Adrian to see you standing on that podium with his own eyes."

Jocelyn smiled softly.

It wasn't just about proving Adrian wrong anymore. It was mostly for herself.

It was about taking the steps to finally achieve the dreams she had put on hold.

"It's the weekend tomorrow," Sarah said. "Come shopping with me. I need new clothes. I've been burying my head in code for so long, I haven't treated myself in forever."

Jocelyn happily agreed.

...

Priceless rare hardwoods, gleaming like spun gold under the light, filled the room.

Materials that money usually couldn't buy.

Yet, in the Vance Mountain Estate, such lavishness was simply everywhere.

The sheer level of opulence was staggering.

On the heavy wooden desk lay a stack of photographs.

Julian glanced at them, his expression hardening into stone.

Jonathan Vance spoke softly, his tone mild, yet his words carried a bone-chilling weight.

"You've crossed a line."

The two people in the photos were Julian and Jocelyn.

In two of the shots, they were holding each other.

Even if that embrace had been completely innocent—a pure gesture of comfort and encouragement—trying to explain that right now would be utterly pointless.

"It seems you really do have feelings for her."

As an experienced man, Jonathan could easily read the warmth and raw affection in his son's eyes in those photos.

Julian gathered the pictures, stacked them neatly, and slid them into his pocket.

"Good camera work."

Jonathan's gaze turned predatory.

"Have you forgotten what I told you?"

Julian remained silent.

Jonathan stared at him for a long moment.

This was his own flesh and blood, yet the emotional distance between them spanned oceans.

Jonathan flinched in genuine shock.

He never imagined his son would go so far as to say something like that.

Jonathan's glare sharpened into daggers.

"You'd throw away everything for her? Including your mother's dying wish?"

"I simply said, don't touch her. So... the choice is yours."

The deadlock returned, suffocating the room.

Jonathan maintained his furious glare for a long time.

Finally, the rigid lines of his face relaxed a fraction.

"I can give you your freedom, but on one condition."

"You will shoulder the burden of the Vance Clan and fulfill your mother's dying wish. Can you do that?"

Julian lowered his gaze, concealing the storm of emotion in his eyes. He didn't say a word.

"I have already taken a step back. If you insist on throwing your life away, then don't blame me for being ruthless."

"Julian, you can't have your cake and eat it too. The moment you were born into this family, it was written in stone that you would have to sacrifice certain things."

"Including... love."