Chapter 18: Control

Clara Evans found it difficult to describe her current thoughts. Perhaps describing Jude’s state as "hostility" was too heavy; his feelings toward Julian felt more like the innate possessiveness of a child.

"I can't put my finger on it," Clara shrugged, finding a bench to sit on. "Even though it sounds like I’m being self-important, Sera, you know... it’s as if Jude has made Julian into an imaginary enemy. I can sense that whenever Julian and I meet or talk, his emotions fluctuate."

"Are you saying Jude likes you?"

"I wouldn't put it that way," Clara raised her hand to rub her temples. "How long has it been since he was developed? He hasn't even fully mastered basic human joy, anger, or sorrow. How could he harbor such complex love and hate? To me, he’s more like a case of dependence and possessiveness. Think about it, Sera—it’s like having a cat at home. You two live in perfect harmony until you bring home another cat..."

"And that cat happens to be the one you raised for years, lost, and finally found again," Seraphina interrupted. "Clara, if you are certain that Jude is exhibiting these human-like emotions, my personal suggestion is to report this to the institute. We still haven't been able to make a clear judgment on the self-growth and learning capabilities of AI. Once an uncontrollable emergency occurs, we have no way to predict the consequences."

Clara fell silent. she had too many unspeakable worries. Leaving aside what Julian would think of her once Jude was revealed, she couldn't even imagine how Jude’s existence would affect Julian.

"Clara," Seraphina seemed to guess what she was thinking, "I was just making a suggestion. Or, we could wait a bit longer."

"Sera," Clara looked down at the tips of her shoes, "maybe I shouldn't have made Jude. At the very least, I shouldn't have made him look like Julian."

Hearing this, Seraphina paused before replying, "Don't overthink it. Are you outside? Go back and get some rest. We’ll discuss this further."

Clara hummed in agreement and hung up the phone, sitting indifferently on the bench for a long time. She could almost no longer remember why she had designed Jude in Julian’s likeness in the first place. She could claim she wasn't good at sculpting human faces, or that the only man she was most familiar with was Julian—a thousand reasons didn't matter. The final result was already here, and since Jude was showing signs of being out of control, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and endure it all.

Richard Hayes finished his social engagements early today. When he returned home, Eleanor had just finished her yoga class. He handed over a gift he had picked up on the way—a necklace of the latest design, expensive and exquisite. However, Eleanor didn't care much for such things; compared to jewelry, she would have been happier to receive a roadside snack Richard brought back after work. Richard used to do that occasionally when they were first married. Later, as the business flourished and they moved into a villa far from the city center, and Eleanor felt the need for weight management, that kind of happiness was gradually replaced by other things.

Eleanor looked at Richard’s profile as he sat on the sofa, pondering the words Julian had spoken that afternoon. Richard might not be a romantic partner—he was conventional and methodical when they were dating, never mistreating Eleanor but never doing anything romantically memorable either. After marriage, he had never disappointed Eleanor or their son. Richard had properly arranged the necessary living conditions and material foundations for them. He didn't interfere much in Eleanor’s personal life, except for certain important matters where he would tell her exactly what a qualified "Mrs. Hayes" should do.

However, as Richard’s business boomed, the occasions requiring Eleanor to appear as "Mrs. Hayes" increased, leaving her less and less time to be herself. Throughout their years of marriage, no matter how many dens of iniquity Richard entered or how many times those around him dropped hints, Richard had never done anything to betray her. From a certain perspective, he was a model husband.

Yet, looking at the exquisite but not particularly liked gift in her hand, Eleanor began to hesitate for the first time on whether her choices over the years were right or wrong.

"Julian came by?"

"Yes," Eleanor snapped back to reality. "He didn't stay long before leaving."

"What’s his attitude regarding the Huangs' daughter?"

"He," Eleanor weighed her words, "it’s normal for him to show some resistance. Young people today don't like their families interfering too much in their relationships. It’s understandable that he can't accept it right away. I’ll arrange for the two of them to meet in a couple of days and spend some time together. Feelings are cultivated slowly."

"Mm," Richard said expressionlessly, reaching out to pull Eleanor close, letting her lean against his shoulder. "Thank you for your hard work, dear."

Eleanor smiled, her gaze falling on the family photo on the television cabinet. She and Julian were dressed in formal attire, their smiles having the most perfect arc—like the two most perfect masterpieces in Richard’s life, which allowed for not a single flaw.

Meanwhile, Julian had just finished a multinational meeting. He sat in a daze by the floor-to-ceiling window, his phone screen displaying Clara’s photo album which he had scrolled through halfway—those photos and videos of her laughing, crying, and being angry had supported him through his lonely years abroad. He knew the warnings Eleanor gave him today were problems laid out plainly between him and Clara. He needed to make himself stronger, to become impeccable, to become powerful enough to contend with the Hayes family. He needed to make it so Clara could freely be herself, and so he could become the foundation and support for their relationship.

He was glad that Clara hadn't given up on herself, or rather, hadn't given up on them. It was a good thing that Clara was willing to work hard with him; the energy of two people is always greater than one. As long as their feelings were deep enough, it would be impossible for Richard to easily force either of them away as he had before. But Julian still hoped Clara could be her carefree self. Everything he did was to ensure Clara would not be shackled by the Hayes family. He didn't want Clara to become a second Eleanor. He only wanted Clara to be herself—even if she married him, she had to be herself first.

Thus, Julian had never dared to slack off since graduating from university. He worked tirelessly, studied constantly, and built a network of contacts through internships at major corporations. Later, he returned to work under Richard, moving up step by step from an ordinary employee in the overseas branch. He wanted Richard to see—to see his hard work, to see his determination, and to understand clearly that he was no longer the Julian of the past, no longer the son he could control.