"My family's situation is kind of messy, so I had to grow up fast and mature quickly. Who doesn't want to be a little princess? It's just that life doesn't let you." Julia Yu took a deep breath, turned to Cecilia Gu, and said, "You've probably already had someone look into me, or maybe someone mentioned me to you. Yeah, right now I'm stuck in a place where no one wants to take responsibility, but both sides want to control me. But I know exactly what I want, so nobody can shake my resolve. I know what my parents are thinking, but I'm not going to do what they want."
Cecilia Gu opened her mouth, wanting to say she hadn't actually asked anyone to look into Julia Yu, but seeing Julia's emotions running high, she just kept quiet.
She's always so calm and decisive, like she was born a robot without feelings.
But how could anyone be without feelings?
She acts that way because it's just a mask she puts on—a mask to protect herself.
Cecilia Gu understood how Julia Yu felt, so she decided not to say anything and just be a good listener.
Sure enough, once Julia Yu started talking, she couldn't stop: "My mom's come to me more than once, and her reason is simple—my stepdad wants to latch onto the Monroe Family. To put it bluntly, he wants me to become Mr. Monroe's woman, so he can be Mr. Monroe's father-in-law and use the Monroe family's power to get ahead. My dad's side is a little better; he hasn't forced me to do those things, but my mom's stirring has made him tempted too. Before I came to Malaysia, both sides had already approached me, but I refused them all."
"I know, working beside Mr. Monroe is bound to get attention and gossip. But I just want a stable job, that's all—is that so wrong? If I worked at some small company, I'd get chewed up and spat out in no time. For the sake of a steady job, I've been diligent and careful, doing my best. Why do they have to push me so hard?"
"Yeah, I'm the biological mother of Leo and Theo Mo, but so what? I don't plan to acknowledge either kid, and I don't plan to use them to threaten my way into being Mr. Monroe's woman. No matter how rough my life gets, I won't stoop that low. But my family—ha, so-called family—they're just a bunch of bloodsuckers hiding behind the label of relatives. My parents never loved each other. When they divorced, they were more decisive than anyone, and I became the unwanted baggage neither of them wanted."
Honestly, I'm grateful they waited until I got into college before divorcing, so at least I wasn't miserable enough to miss out on higher education. After college, in my mind, all they had left was the obligation to support me—no more feelings. Now they've both got new families and new kids. Why can't they just live their own lives? Why do they have to interfere with mine?
"I really don't get it. What's so wrong with living on my own? Why do they have to push me to be some clinging vine who relies on a man?" Julia Yu's voice cracked as she spoke, her eyes turning red and brimming with tears.
Cecilia Gu didn't say anything, she just stepped forward and gently hugged Julia Yu.
Julia Yu hugged Cecilia Gu back and started crying silently.
She hadn't talked to anyone about all the grievances she'd been holding in these past few days.
If Cecilia Gu hadn't brought up her family tonight, she probably would've kept bottling it up until she just couldn't anymore.
Cecilia Gu gently patted Julia Yu's back and said, "Go ahead and cry. You'll feel better afterward."
"I want a family too, a healthy family. But I can't do it. Cecilia Gu, do you get it? Someone as broken as me can't have a normal, happy family, because I instinctively run away from feelings, from responsibility, from love. I'm scared I'll end up being a terrible mom who abandons her kid. So I'd rather stay single forever, just leave this world alone someday."
"I've put up with all the gossip and pressure, sticking to my job as Mr. Monroe's lawyer. People say I'm scheming, just trying to get close and take advantage. I really want to ask them, am I really that awful? Can't I just live on my own, without relying on a man? The world is so unfair to women like us. Why can't people just see our hard work for what it is?"
"Mr. Monroe is such an amazing guy—who wouldn't like him? But I love my freedom more, a life where I don't have to take on all that responsibility. I'm not stupid, I know exactly what it means to be Mrs. Monroe. I'm just an ordinary person, I just want a simple life."
"I understand, I really do," Cecilia Gu comforted Julia Yu.
Julia Yu finally let out all the emotions she'd been bottling up for years in front of Cecilia Gu.
Cecilia Gu comforted Julia Yu until she was almost done crying, and only then did Julia start to calm down.
Julia Yu looked a little embarrassed. "Mrs. Monroe, I'm really sorry for making a scene today."
Cecilia Gu sighed and said, "You're carrying way too much on your shoulders."
Julia Yu gave a silent laugh. "Who in this world isn't carrying some kind of burden as they move forward?"
"You're really smart," Cecilia Gu smiled at her, encouraging her. "Smart people always end up happy."
Julia Yu laughed too. "I don't know if I'll be happy, but I do know that smart people know how to live, and people who know how to live don't self-destruct. Right now, I get to work for Mr. Monroe, with a high salary and great benefits, and when I'm old I'll have a fat pension. That's enough for me, I don't have any other ambitions."
"What about Leo and Theo Mo?" Cecilia Gu couldn't help but ask, "If they ever acknowledge you, what will you do?"
Julia Yu smiled carefreely. "If they need me, I'll help as much as I can. If I can't, I'll just say so. If they need a subordinate, I'll be a good subordinate. But if they need a mother, I won't be their mother."
Julia Yu's answer was crisp and decisive, not dragging things out at all.
Cecilia Gu looked at Julia Yu with genuine admiration—she wasn't sure she could be so carefree herself.
Julia Yu really was a remarkable woman.
"Because only smart people live long," Julia Yu said with a sigh. "The Monroe Family would never allow a birth mother with a mysterious background to show up. But they will accept an outstanding lawyer."
Cecilia Gu smiled silently. "Yeah."
Julia Yu took a deep breath and said, "Thanks for listening to me ramble today. I feel a lot better now. Once I get back, I'm going to finally settle my family's mess. I can't let this kind of trouble blow up my future career."
"Need any help from me?" Cecilia Gu asked.
Julia Yu grinned. "No need, this is nothing. If I can't even handle this, I don't deserve to stand next to my boss and be his right-hand woman."
Cecilia Gu nodded. "Alright, if you ever need me, just ask."
"Okay, I won't be shy about it." Julia Yu glanced at her watch and said, "I should get going. There are so many people staying at the Monroe Family Estate right now, I can't help but worry something might go wrong. All these guests are here for my boss, and as an employee, I have to look out for him. I'll excuse myself now."
"Alright," Cecilia Gu nodded with a smile.
Julia Yu knew Cecilia Gu always had people watching out for her, so she didn't stand on ceremony and just turned to leave.
Not long after Julia Yu left, Max Mo showed up in front of Cecilia Gu.
"You heard everything just now?" Cecilia Gu asked.
Max Mo looked at her helplessly. "You, huh~"
Cecilia Gu chuckled. "If you ever decide to get married, my first recommendation is Lisa Li the lawyer."
"You heard her yourself, she has no intention of marrying me." Max Mo joked, "Do you really think I'm everyone's favorite?"
If I really was everyone's favorite, why don't you love me?
But Max Mo kept that thought to himself.
"It's just kind of a shame," Cecilia Gu said. "There are a lot of people out there shipping you two as a couple!"
"Not in this lifetime," Max Mo said, a faint smile flickering in his pale blue eyes. He didn't want to get married anymore.
Some wounds—once is enough.
Cecilia Gu didn't push it, just changed the subject: "How are things going with the Qu Family?"
"Just about ready." Max Mo replied, "Zachary Qu is really efficient. The whole Qu Family is cleaned up and reorganized—now, everyone left is loyal to him. Once this banquet's over, we'll head back."
"Mm." Cecilia Gu nodded. She'd had enough of this place and couldn't wait to go home and hug her precious kids.
"Any plans for Lisa Li?" Cecilia Gu tilted her head at Max Mo. "She's so smart—it's kind of a shame for her to just drift through life like this."
"I've got plans," Max Mo said calmly.
Cecilia Gu didn't ask any further.
Meanwhile, when Julia Yu got back to the Monroe Family Estate, sure enough, a pile of things was waiting for her.
Julia Yu sighed to herself—she knew it would be like this.
The biggest headache was that Lisa Li and Snow Grace were at it again.
This time, it was because Mrs. Grace took a plate of snacks out of the kitchen, and those snacks were specially prepared by Lisa Li.
And Lisa Li just happened to catch her in the act.
So, the argument broke out immediately.
When Julia Yu got back, the two of them were already arguing in the kitchen.
"You say these snacks are yours, so they're yours?" Mrs. Grace snapped back. "I say they're mine! This is the Monroe Family, not the Li Family."
Snow Grace tried to mediate, "Mom, let it go, it's just snacks. We don't have to eat them."
"Eat them? Why shouldn't we?" Mrs. Grace huffed. "We're guests too, why should we give in to her?"
Lisa Li sneered, "Why? Because of my friendship with Max Mo, that's why!"