Instead of being furious at being reprimanded, Cory felt delighted.

He gave Julie a knowing wink that made her forget about her sadness. Upon being left alone in the room, Mathias Locked his gaze on Julie.

“It's been a while since we last spoke. How have you been?"

“Well, I'm all right."

“Has Bill been treating you well?"

Even though Julie hesitated for a while, she nodded her head.

While this might be true, Mathias sneered, “Maybe he didn't have the courage to ill-treat you back then, but now I'm not sure about it!" Julie's heart inexplicably fell when she heard her father's words. However, she remembered Mathias's conditions.

Mathias's mood could affect his remaining life expectancy.

She feared that her father's displeasure with her husband might harm his well-being.

"Bill treats me well, Dad. From the very beginning, he knew I could have done better, and because of that, he always treated me with respect. Don't worry about me, Dad. I have been living well these years."

Mathias’ expression softened slightly at his daughter's words.

“Since Bill knows what to do, I'm relieved. I still dislike him, but I must say that your daughter is a lovely young lady."

After a moment of shock, Julie asked, "Which daughter are you talking about?"

She could not determine if her father was praising Vivian or Maria.

“I'm talking about Maria."

Mathias paused for a while, then said in a cold voice, "In regards to the other one you and Bill raised... Indeed, she is Bill's counts a

"Yes, Vivian takes after her father in temperament and everything..." Julie actually felt ludicrous as she said this.

After all, both Vivian and Maria were adopted daughters.

But interestingly, she held more of a maternal feeling for Maria than for Vivian.

Bill, on the other hand, was fiercely protective of and affectionate towards Vivian, as if she was really his own flesh and blood.