Her Marriage: The Night is Still Young-Chapter 217: I’m Pregnant—It’s Yours

Julian Grant chuckled gleefully, "Haha, I told you earlier, if we secretly hide the map, no one would know. If we study it ourselves, it might even have more research value."

"Now that he’s taken it, he might secretly find someone to go treasure hunting. If it really is a Treasure Map, it would be better left in our hands. At the very least, we’re just curious and not greedy for treasure."

"..." Josephine Thompson felt a lump in her chest, feeling even more depressed.

Professor Linton now had the map.

Even if she found the other half of the map, she probably wouldn’t have the chance to personally uncover the secrets within it.

"Regretting it now?"

"...Not exactly regret, just a bit of a shame. My parents researched it all their lives and never figured it out. I thought I could fulfill their last wish, but didn’t expect..."

"Haha..." Julian couldn’t help but laugh.

"We can continue researching."

"The map’s been taken away, how can we continue?"

"How silly!" Julian scoffed and handed her the camera.

"What’s this?"

Julian leaned close to her ear and said mysteriously, "I just took a picture of the map!"

Poof.

Josephine looked at the camera Julian handed her.

Her fingers paused.

When she tapped the gallery open, her eyes suddenly brightened.

The photos on the screen were very high-definition.

They captured the lines on the parchment so clearly, even the hair-thin tributary marks next to "Eagle’s Beak Peak" weren’t missed, clearer than when she viewed it with a magnifying glass before.

"When... When did you take these?" She looked up at him, her voice full of surprise, and her earlier gloominess almost vanished.

Julian raised an eyebrow, leaned back into the chair with an "I was prepared" expression: "Yesterday, when you were studying the map, I took these pictures without you noticing."

"I originally thought they might come in handy for comparison later, and I didn’t expect they’d be useful today."

He paused, leaned closer, and pointed at the camera screen: "Look, there’s a notch at the edge of this half map, it’s very smooth. If it fits with the other half in your family’s Jade Bone Box, it will perfectly align."

"We have the photos now, so even without the original map, we can match it against Aethelburg’s topography to roughly mark out the location."

Holding the camera, Josephine gently traced the map with her fingertips, feeling warmth and tenderness in her heart.

She had thought Julian was always playful.

Unexpectedly, he was so meticulous, more thoughtful than she had imagined.

"But without the original map, relying only on photos, could there be any errors?" She was still a bit worried, as archaeological research demands precision and even a slight deviation can result in a big difference.

"Don’t worry, when I took the photos, I specially used the camera’s macro mode and included scales."

Julian said, pulling out a note from his pocket, on it was a simple scale drawing he made based on the photos, "Look, I’ve calculated how many meters each centimeter on this corresponds to."

"Once you get the other half of the map from the Jade Bone Box at home, we can align them against this scale to calculate the approximate coordinates."

Josephine looked at the tidy handwriting on the note.

Then glanced at Julian’s smiling eyes, suddenly feeling that even with Professor Linton having the original map, it was okay.

With this person by her side, holding this photograph, they could still unravel the mystery her parents couldn’t.

"So... shall we start comparing now?" She asked looking up, her voice filled with anticipation.

"Of course!" Julian immediately straightened his posture, pulled out a map of Aethelburg from his backpack, and spread it on the table, "Do you remember the patterns inside your family’s Jade Bone Box? Approximately how much can they match with this half map?"

Josephine leaned forward, pointing to the photo in the camera, "The inner wall of my family’s Jade Bone Box seems to have a ’Crescent River’ mark, but I’m not sure if it connects with this half map..."

Both heads were close together.

One holding the camera for detail comparison, the other marking positions on the topography map.

The light in the dormitory gradually dimmed, but neither thought to turn on the lights.

At this moment.

Every line on the map felt like it was guiding them, bringing them a step closer to the secret hidden for millennia.

"By the way, I need to return to Audenburg soon." Josephine suddenly looked up, her finger still resting on the map’s notch on the camera screen.

"The Jade Bone Box is in the Thornton Family’s safe in the basement, only by going back can we retrieve it. We need the other half of the map to find the complete coordinates."

After speaking.

A tightness gripped her chest, goosebumps involuntarily rising over her body.

Returning to Audenburg.

She feared being watched by Nathaniel Gallagher again.

Nathaniel was a pathological lunatic, just thinking of him sent shivers down her spine.

Julian immediately sat up straight, eyes full of seriousness: "I’ll go with you. I wouldn’t feel at ease with you returning alone. Besides, on the way, we can further examine the map details based on the photos."

Josephine was stunned, instinctively wanting to refuse: "You better not go, you... after all those issues with Nathaniel. If you run into him in Audenburg..."

Upon hearing this, Julian’s face grew even more serious, "Josephine, one day, there will be a tough battle between him and I."

"This time returning to Audenburg, I can also check on the progress?"

"Progress? What progress?" Josephine was visibly shocked!

Julian smiled mysteriously, "Of course, the progress of putting him behind bars."

"..." Josephine’s heart raced, looking at him with horror.

Previously, he had said he’d get Nathaniel behind bars.

She had thought he was just talking.

Unexpectedly, he really meant it.

"Julian, Nathaniel is a madman. Those who oppose him never end well."

"You mustn’t go to Audenburg, or provoke him any further."

Julian looked at Josephine, her eyes full of worry.

He gently patted the back of her hand, his tone firm yet soothing: "I know he’s a madman, but even madmen have to meet their end. I won’t recklessly confront him like before, I’ve already got a lawyer and private investigator gathering evidence on his illegal asset transfers and suppression of competitors. Now, all we need is the final crucial piece of evidence."

He paused.

His fingertip sliding over her furrowed brows, he added: "This time in Audenburg, my main purpose is to accompany you in retrieving the Jade Bone Box, and also for the detective to bring over the latest evidence. I won’t seek trouble with him."

"And with me by your side, if he dares to trouble you, I can protect you, which is better than you facing him alone."

Josephine bit her lip, still anxious.

She couldn’t forget the way Nathaniel looked at her, like a serpent eyeing its prey, so cold and obsessive.

But seeing the earnestness in Julian’s eyes.

She knew she couldn’t persuade him.

Once he decided on something, he wouldn’t give up easily.

"Then promise me, be careful, don’t act alone, and tell me wherever you go." She eventually gave in, her voice full of compromise.

Julian immediately smiled, reaching out to tousle her hair: "Don’t worry, I promise to stay ’bound’ to you the whole time, wherever you go, I’ll be there, more diligent than a bodyguard."

"Besides, we’ll make a quick trip, retrieve the Jade Bone Box and leave, minimizing encounters with Nathaniel."

"...Alright."

Julian picked up the camera again and opened the map photos: "Let’s make a list of things to bring, and set out first thing in the morning. Do you want to inform the staff to prepare the keys in advance?"

"No need!"

"Then let’s ask for leave tomorrow morning, and we’ll leave by the afternoon."

"Okay."

"Get a good night’s sleep tonight."

At night.

Lying on the bed, Josephine tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Julian, however, slept soundly on the mat on the floor.

"Sigh~, hope everything goes smoothly."

The next day.

Josephine asked the team leader for a ten-day leave, and in the afternoon, left the archaeological team with Julian.

...

Audenburg.

The Gallagher Group.

Andy is reporting to Nathaniel Gallagher, "President Gallagher, we’ve received the latest news, Miss Thompson has secretly arrived in Audenburg."

"With her comes Julian Grant."

Nathaniel Gallagher sits in a leather swivel chair, his eyes filled with intense hostility and murderous intent.

"Ha~, she actually dares come to Audenburg."

Thinking about Josephine Thompson being inseparable from Julian Grant all this time.

His heart feels like a jar of vinegar that’s been tipped over, sour to the bone.

"President Gallagher, should we make a move against them?"

Nathaniel Gallagher’s eyes abruptly narrow, his expression dark enough to drip water, "For now, don’t startle the snake, also don’t alert them, let’s see what they’re really up to?"

"Understood."

"You may go!"

"Yes." Andy bows respectfully and exits the office.

"Josephine Thompson, Julian Grant, it seems like your love is truly deep..." Nathaniel Gallagher’s heart burns with rage, his fingers clenching with creaks of chaotic thoughts.

"Beep beep beep..."

The phone rings.

Nathaniel Gallagher frowns and glances; it’s Jay Axton calling.

"Hello."

From the other end, Jay Axton’s respectful and cautious voice comes through, "President Gallagher, Miss Thornton has invited you for afternoon tea and said she has good news to share, insisting you must attend personally."

"Annoying." Nathaniel Gallagher’s brow furrows even tighter, not wanting to deal with Evelyn Thorne.

Unfortunately...

Evelyn Thorne is like a sticky plaster, impossible to get rid of once she’s attached.

She calls him at least a dozen times a day.

Too lazy to engage, he often has Jay Axton impersonate him to handle Evelyn Thorne.

"President Gallagher, we’ve already turned her down five or six times. If not again, she might get suspicious."

"Alright, I understand. Inform her I’ll be there waiting at two in the afternoon."

"Alright, President Gallagher."

...

Two in the afternoon.

Window seat at a café.

Evelyn Thorne is wearing a light coffee-colored dress, occasionally giggling shyly.

Seeing Nathaniel Gallagher push the door open, she immediately rises to greet him, with a deliberately gentle smile on her face, "Nathaniel, you finally came; I’ve been waiting for you for so long."

Nathaniel Gallagher pulls out a chair and sits down, squeezing a slight smile on his handsome face, "So, what’s the good news? My time is limited."

Evelyn Thorne bites her lip, and directly sits on his lap, "Can you guess?"

Nathaniel Gallagher is stunned for a few seconds, "Ha~, I can’t guess."

Evelyn Thorne teasingly scolds him, shyly pushing the pregnancy test in front of him, her fingertips gently covering her lower abdomen, "Nathaniel, look... I’m pregnant, it’s your child."

"..." Nathaniel Gallagher is shocked, his gaze falls on the pregnancy test.

The word "positive" is particularly glaring.

He frowns deeply, his eyes instantly turning cold, full of doubt in his tone, "Mine? Don’t joke with me like that."

"I’m not lying to you!"

"It’s really yours, and I’ve only been with you." Evelyn Thorne pouts, softly clinging to his neck.

Previously on the yacht.

Nathaniel Gallagher had Jay Axton sleep with her.

After that, they met a few more times.

Of course.

Each time, it was the same routine.

First, she was half-drunk, then Jay Axton slept with her.

So, the child she’s carrying is Jay Axton’s.

"Uh~" Nathaniel Gallagher’s mind buzzes.

Even though he knows the child isn’t his.

But she doesn’t know.

Moreover, she still has value to him; he can only calm her down for the time being.

"...This news is so sudden, I wasn’t prepared at all."

Evelyn Thorne’s face pales, she coquettishly says, "I don’t want anything, I just want you to be good to me and the child. Nathaniel, let’s get married, I’ll take care of you and this child well."

"Married?" Nathaniel Gallagher chuckles.

"What? Don’t you want to marry me? Didn’t you tell me you’d divorce your wife and marry me?"

"Mm~ now it’s too sudden, I still need time to prepare."

"I don’t care, you must divorce your wife as soon as possible and marry me."

Nathaniel Gallagher’s head aches, "Give me some time, will you?"

"How long?"

Nathaniel Gallagher pauses for a while, deliberately looking distressed, "Evelyn, I want to marry you too. But now, I don’t want to drag you down."

"Julian Grant keeps targeting me; my career is very unstable. Marrying me at this time would only wrong you."

"I’m not afraid, if you marry me, he surely won’t dare to trouble you again. If he does, I definitely won’t let him off."

Nathaniel Gallagher feigns gratitude, "I know, but, after all, I’m a man; my matters, I still need to resolve myself."

"You’re doing all these things quietly for me, I’m already very moved. Please give me some time, once I handle it, I’ll certainly give you an answer."

"Then don’t lie to me, okay?"

"Why would I?" Nathaniel Gallagher says, while handing a limited edition Hermes Birkin bag from the side.

"Just wait a bit longer."

Evelyn Thorne receives the bag, feeling sweetness in her heart, "Alright then, I’ll give you one more month, is that enough?"

"Mm, let’s see..."

Nathaniel Gallagher is a supreme scoundrel.

For things he can’t do, he never easily makes promises, lies and excuses come effortlessly.

Fooling Evelyn Thorne is like fooling a simpleton.

...

Meanwhile.

The Thornton Family treasure vault.

Josephine Thompson retrieves the Jade Bone Box.

Sure enough.

The two Jade Bone Boxes are a pair.

Julian Grant easily opens the Jade Bone Box using the same method.

"Josephine, there’s indeed a map here."

Josephine Thompson is dumbfounded, looking at him with admiration for the first time, "Oh my god, Julian Grant, you’re amazing! I didn’t expect you’d open it so easily?"

"Of course, I’m the world’s last genius."

Julian Grant puts the two parchment scrolls together.

Once the complete map unfolds, both their eyes light up simultaneously.

Josephine Thompson looks at the complete map, as if in a dream.

The weight in her heart finally settles, a long-lost smile appears on her face, "Great, Mom and Dad’s wishes are finally going to be fulfilled."