"How are you doing now, Ms. Moore?"
"I'm fine, thank you for coming to see me, Your Highness."
"I mean, you shouldn't have kept this from me..."
"So what? This can't be changed."
Barron personally took Yulia out of the hospital - she had suddenly fainted while working and was discovered by her secretary, who sent her to the hospital in time.
It was at this time that Barron learned that Yulia suffered from a rare congenital heart disease, which was inherited from her family.
Normally, he is no different from a normal person, but there is a very small chance that he will suffer a cardiac arrest, which may lead to death if he cannot get timely treatment.
According to doctors, 40% of people with this extremely rare disease will die before the age of 25, while there is a 60% chance of living beyond the age of 40 - the longest life expectancy recorded for people suffering from this disease is 52 years old.
"I think you need to get the best treatment possible to try to eliminate the underlying condition..."
"Don't be so nervous, Your Highness. This is only the first time I've experienced such symptoms. Fortunately, I am at least 60% lucky..."
Barron didn't know how to respond to Yulia's words.
Before coming here, he specifically consulted a doctor, who also said that with current medical technology, there is still no effective treatment that can eradicate the hidden dangers for Yulia's rare congenital heart disease.
To put it bluntly, people who really suffer from this disease can only accept that they don't know when they will suffer cardiac arrest and be stared at by the god of death.
After being discharged from the hospital, Yulia immediately went back to work. When Barron urged her to take more rest, Yulia simply said calmly,
"I understand my situation better, Your Highness, and because of this situation, I don't want to waste my time."
Although each industry under the family trust fund has its own person in charge, Yulia still has a lot of work to do, especially when it comes to coordination between these industries.
For example, the ongoing renovation of Chatsworth House and Callan Castle is accompanied by the renovation of the Manor Hotel and Castle Hotel under the Cavendish Hotel Group. There is a lot of work involved that requires Yulia to coordinate.
However, on this day, in Yulia's office, Barron still "forced" her to leave work on time.
"I have something else to take care of, Your Highness."
"It's not too late tomorrow, because today is a special day."
Yulia looked up at Barron, and when she thought of today's date, she seemed to suddenly realize something.
"You finally remembered, Ms. Moore, happy birthday... although I wanted to keep it a secret for now."
"So this is why you came here today and asked me to leave work early?"
"It's half past seven, Ms. Moore..."
Barron deliberately looked at his watch and said,
"As your boss, I am happy to have such an enthusiastic employee, but today, it would be too inhumane if we continue to do this."
So next, Yulia took Barron's car and went with him to the Devonshire Hotel, where a sumptuous meal and a birthday cake had been prepared in the most luxurious private room.
"Why, what are you thinking about?"
After having dinner together and cutting the cake and eating it, Barron saw Yulia looking at the cake in front of her in a daze, so he asked.
"In fact, after I turned eighteen, the Duke has been with me on my birthday every year..."
Barron knew that the Duke she was talking about was not himself, but his father in this body, the twelfth Duke of Devonshire.
"In fact, in my heart, I think of him as my father. I once thought that if the day of my death came, he might help me hold my funeral... But I never thought that he would die before me..."
"So, the reason you didn't stay with my brother was because of your body..."
"To be frank, I don't mind having a partner, but I don't want children because I don't want my future children to suffer my misfortune. In this case, James is not my choice. At least I can't let the Devonshire family lose the next generation of heirs."
Barron took a sip of the red wine in the glass and said lightly:
"Sometimes I feel, Ms. Moore, that your sense of mission for the Devonshire family is much stronger than mine."
"Perhaps at some point, people always have to find a place to rely on, especially when your life is more fragile than most people's."
Yulia looked at Barron with a smile on her face:
"I have to say, Your Highness, what you have done for the Devonshire Family is beyond my expectations. Perhaps it can be said that even if James were in this position, he might not be able to do as well as you. I now truly believe that the Devonshire Family can prosper again."
In fact, for Barron, although he had always said something like "revitalizing the family" verbally, in his heart, he did not regard the revival of the Devonshire family as his goal.
After all, his own soul came more from China in his previous life, and his sense of belonging to the Devonshire family was not that strong.
To put it bluntly, it is only because of his current status as the Duke and the foundation of the Devonshire family that he can benefit more.
Although the current result is that the Devonshire family seems to have made great progress, this is just a "by-product" of Barron's own profit, not his ultimate goal.
However, facing Yulia who was in such an emotional state at this moment, Barron couldn't really say that.
Inside this private room, there is an observation deck with an excellent view. In front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, you can see the Victorian-style buildings reflected by the light outside.
Yulia and Barron were talking like this as they stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the scenery outside.
"Your Highness, can I lean on you for a moment?"
When Barron opened his arms, Yulia put her arms around his waist and leaned her head on his shoulder:
"I just want to lean on him like this at this moment, nothing else..."
"I know, Ms. Moore."
Barron's voice came from above her head, and Yulia closed her eyes slightly:
"Thank you so much for spending my birthday with me today. Thank you."