The Professor's Lie Accidental Billionaire

Chapter 6

"I don't mind at all. Please, call me Julian." Julian Harrow responded with a courteous smile.

"Elena has never been in a relationship before, and I know you haven't either... No need to explain. I've lived eighty years—I can tell. Elena rushed into marriage with you because she was worried about me..." Her grandmother's voice broke, and tears began to fall.

Julian felt a mix of emotion and unease. He quickly pulled out a tissue and handed it to her, speaking gently, "I understand. I'm sorry for causing you worry..."

"Elena lost her mother at a young age. I know it's not something to boast about. When she was little, she didn't even have enough to eat—her stepmother treated her terribly... That's why she's so thin. She wanted to escape that home where neither father nor mother cared for her, which is why she rushed into marriage. Julian, I can see you're a good child. I don't have any grand demands—I only hope you'll treat Elena well. Don't let her go hungry or cold. Give her a place to call home..."

Her grandmother wiped her tears as she spoke, then added with a choked voice, "Elena doesn't have a mother. Many people look down on her for it. I hope you'll protect her in front of your family... Don't let anyone mock her for being motherless..."

Julian found his own eyes growing red. He was deeply moved by the old woman's genuine love for her granddaughter.

A child without a mother would certainly have had a difficult life. Yet Elena Vance was cheerful and outgoing—she must be very strong.

"Rest assured, I won't let Elena go hungry or cold, nor will I let her suffer." As long as their marriage lasted, he would play the role of a good husband and treat Elena Vance with as much warmth as he could.

Elena, who had come over to join them, overheard their conversation and her grandmother's words. With red-rimmed eyes, she slipped into the bedroom to cry quietly.

Her grandmother—her wonderful grandmother. If anything ever happened to her, what would she do?

She didn't dare think about it. She couldn't bear to.

Mary tactfully gave them space and followed Elena into the bedroom to comfort her. "I think Professor Harrow is a decent man. They say the face reflects the heart, and he has a kind look about him. Just focus on building your life together. I hope you don't mind me saying so—I've been with Grandma for three years, and you're both good people..."

"Of course not, Mary. I'm truly grateful for how you care for Grandma. I'm always so busy with work and can't come often. Thanks to you, Grandma takes her medicine on time and her heart condition is under control." Elena's gratitude was heartfelt.

Mary was in her fifties, and with her child away at university, she had taken this job to earn some money.

"It's my job. You're the one paying me, and you even give me a raise every year. Besides, I only have one person to care for—it's fairly easy for me. There are other caregivers in this neighborhood, and sometimes we chat when we go shopping. I know my pay is good and the work is light. Elena, rest assured. You're only a few years older than my son—I think of you as my own child..."

Mary knew Elena had never received a mother's love, so on such an important occasion as marriage, she wanted to say encouraging words and support her.

Elena couldn't help but tear up again. "Thank you, Mary."

...

Julian Harrow had other matters to attend to and checked his watch several times. Her grandmother noticed and called out, "Elena, come out now. You should head back early. It's getting dark, and driving won't be safe."

Elena dried her tears, composed herself, and walked out with a smile. "Grandma, I'm married now and on wedding leave. I don't have anything to go back to—I'll stay here with you."

"That won't do. A newlywed staying at her mother's home—people will talk. Listen to Grandma—go home. You two should live your own lives without interruption." Her grandmother thought ahead, not wanting her handsome new grandson-in-law to be left alone to any mischief.

Elena glanced at Julian, who was looking at his watch again, and understood why her grandmother was urging her to leave.

"Alright, Grandma. I'll come see you in a few days. Remember to take your medicine on time, eat well, and take a stroll in the square after meals to help digestion, okay?" Elena worried endlessly.

"Don't worry about me. I'm in good health."

Her grandmother and Mary reluctantly saw them to the courtyard, watching until the car drove out before returning home.

She had wanted to give her granddaughter some homemade pickled vegetables, but looking at the refined, worldly air about her new grandson-in-law, she decided against it, not wanting Elena to be embarrassed.

On the road back, Elena Vance and Julian Harrow had little to say to each other.

Elena's phone rang, breaking the silence.

As she reached for it hastily, a card flew out.

Elena answered the call while bending down to retrieve it. It was a bank card.

It wasn't hers, nor the one Julian had given her. Where had it come from?

Perhaps her grandmother had slipped it into her pocket when she left?

On the other end, the caller grew anxious. "Elena, why aren't you saying anything? Hello? Have you eaten? Let me take you out for a drink! By the way, how did your blind date go? Was the professor any good? He doesn't happen to be balding already, does he?"

"Oh, Sophie? I just dropped something and bent down to pick it up." Elena snapped back to attention and quickly answered.

"You sound off. Did the date go badly again? Do you really have to get married so soon? I know your stepmother is awful and you can't stand living there anymore. Just move in with me—I'll charge you rent so you don't feel like you're taking advantage. How about that?" Sophie was genuinely concerned about Elena, having called specifically to check on her friend's blind date.

She understood why Elena, despite being such a catch, was in such a hurry to marry—and she felt both sympathy and pity.

"No, it went well. Sophie, I got married. Remember the one I told you about? Professor Harrow's son, Julian Harrow. We just left my grandmother's place and are on our way back to Aster Bay." Elena had planned to tell her friend after returning home, but Sophie happened to call.

"What? Married? You got the license? You actually went through with a shotgun marriage? What do you know about him? Is he a decent person? My goodness, are you trying to scare me to death? Wait right there—I'm coming to see you. I need to vet him myself, before things go too far." For a moment, Sophie felt Elena had lost her mind. At just twenty-six or twenty-seven, how could she throw herself into marriage so recklessly?