novelraw Chapter 213: Is That Xiao Ze’s Girlfriend?
Chapter 213: Is That Xiao Ze’s Girlfriend?
Chapter 213: Is That Thomas’s Girlfriend?
Jane Sullivan composed herself and said with a faint smile, "I’m fine. Let’s go."
Evelyn Fitzwilliam didn’t say much.
The two of them got into the car.
Only then did Jane Sullivan ask, "Was that Thomas’s girlfriend?"
It was only natural that Jane Sullivan didn’t know Rachel Royce’s identity. After all, none of them had recognized her before either.
Evelyn Fitzwilliam didn’t explain much, simply saying, "No, she’s a friend of Thomas."
"I saw them walking together just now and thought they were a couple. She looks good with Thomas."
Evelyn Fitzwilliam just smiled and didn’t continue the conversation.
But hearing Jane Sullivan’s words sent her mind racing. ’I’ve been so worried about Thomas Sterling’s marriage. He’s not getting any younger—he’ll be thirty soon.’
’But whenever I bring it up, Thomas gets impatient. When I ask if he has a girl he’s interested in, he refuses to say.’
’He’s just dead set against getting married.’
’Thinking back to how close he was with Rachel Royce at the Fitzwilliam family home, and the look in his eyes just now when he spoke to her as they came in...’
She frowned, forcing herself to stop thinking about it.
Thomas Sterling finished his check-up.
The two of them went to lunch.
After returning to the office, Thomas Sterling received a call from his mother. "Thomas, come home for dinner tonight."
Thomas Sterling replied, "I might have to work late tonight, Mom. Is something up?"
’He had a feeling she must have called for a reason.’
Evelyn Fitzwilliam sighed. "All you do is work. You should start thinking about settling down..."
"That’s enough, Mom," Thomas Sterling interrupted. "I know what I’m doing, so please stop pushing me. I’m really busy. If there’s nothing else, I’m going to hang up."
Thomas Sterling hung up.
In the end, Evelyn Fitzwilliam couldn’t bring herself to ask.
’Rachel Royce is beautiful and talented now. Thomas’s maternal grandfather has always thought very highly of her, which is a testament to her character.’
’If she weren’t married, and if Thomas could be with her, I wouldn’t object at all.’
’But as it stands, Rachel is still his cousin’s wife and Melissa’s mother.’
’If Thomas really is in love with Rachel, what am I to do?’
「It was Friday.」
「That afternoon.」
Rachel Royce went to pick up Melissa from school, having arranged to meet up with June Jennings.
Having not seen Rachel Royce for over a month, Melissa threw herself into her arms and immediately burst into tears.
Rachel Royce hugged Melissa, her heart aching. "There, there, sweetie, don’t cry. Auntie’s back now. Let’s get in the car first."
Rachel Royce picked Melissa up and got into the car.
June Jennings and Stella went back to the Royce family home with them.
June Jennings and Stella stayed at the Royce family home for the weekend, and she and Rachel Royce looked after the kids together.
"Ivan Alden said he’s coming back next month after wrapping up his work in the United States. He wants to come back and spend quality time with Stella. Sounds like he’s planning to stay for a while," June Jennings said reluctantly.
Although June Jennings and Ivan Alden’s custody battle had been very ugly, they had stayed in contact because of their child.
Rachel Royce remembered what Ivan Alden had said at the hospital. "Did you know Stella told Ivan about you and my brother?"
’Ivan Alden clearly hadn’t gotten over June Jennings.’
"I only found out afterward," June Jennings said. "I told Stella not to tell Ivan Alden anything about me. How did you know? Did you meet with him? He didn’t do anything to you, did he?"
June Jennings didn’t know that Zion Alden had been released from prison. Julian Jennings hadn’t told her, not wanting to worry her.
"I’m perfectly fine now, so don’t worry. But I can tell he still has feelings for you."
June Jennings scoffed, "He’s a womanizer, just like his brother. Who’d want his affection? It’s disgusting."
’She had been fooled by Ivan Alden’s looks for so many years. It wasn’t until she met Peter Preston that she finally knew what a real man was like.’
Rachel Royce wasn’t too worried about Ivan Alden returning. This was their home country; he wouldn’t dare try anything reckless here.
「Two weeks later.」
In late autumn, Kingsland was bleak and desolate, and the temperature had dropped sharply.
Rachel Royce was back to her usual work routine, and Melissa had been staying at the Royce family home.
That evening, Melissa was on a video call with Tristan Sterling.
This was the longest Tristan Sterling had ever been away from Melissa. She missed her daddy very, very much, but thankfully, with Aunt Evelynn by her side, it wasn’t so bad.
"Daddy, please come back soon, okay?"
"Okay, Daddy will be back on the 17th. What kind of present does Melissa want?"
"I’ll love anything Daddy gets me. And Daddy, remember to bring a present for Evelynn."
"..."
Rachel Royce, who was doing her skincare at her vanity, froze when she heard Tristan Sterling’s words. ’Julian is also coming back on the 17th. It seems they’re on flights for the same day.’
’Lately, a series of scandals had rocked the Alden Family, and the stock price of Alden Corporation’s funds had taken a huge hit.’
’The Alden Family’s scandals were being reported frequently in the domestic financial news.’
’Zion had invested funds into Julian Jennings’s project, and that money was now trapped in the stock market. Given the current situation, all he could do was cut his losses in time. Stabilizing things was more important than trying to drag Julian down with him.’
’As for Tristan Sterling...’
’According to Julian Jennings, Tristan Sterling had helped Zion Alden, but a man like him would never help for free. He had taken advantage of the crisis to snatch two of Zion’s major overseas projects.’
’So, the one who ended up profiting the most was Tristan Sterling. What a cunning, crafty man he was.’
’Still, Julian Jennings had also profited handsomely by trapping Zion Alden’s funds.’
As Rachel Royce was lost in thought, the man on the video call spoke again, "Is Melissa in the room by herself?"
Melissa looked over at Rachel Royce. "No, Aunt Evelynn is putting on her lotions." As she spoke, Melissa turned the camera around.
Tristan Sterling saw the figure sitting on the stool and grunted in acknowledgment.
After Melissa finished chatting with her dad, she hung up.
At bedtime that night, Melissa hugged Rachel Royce and said, "Aunt Evelynn, when Daddy comes back, can we go pick him up at the airport?"
Rachel Royce remembered that she was already planning to go to the airport on the 17th, though it was to pick up Julian Jennings. She agreed, "Auntie will be going to the airport then, but Melissa needs to be a good girl and go to school."
Hearing this, Melissa smiled happily. "Okay."
「The next day.」
Melissa secretly told her dad about it. "Aunt Evelynn is going to pick Daddy up from the airport! So Daddy has to dress up all handsome."
Tristan Sterling replied, "Daddy understands."
Hearing the tone of her dad’s voice, Melissa huffed. "Aren’t you happy, Daddy?"
Tristan Sterling soothed her in a gentle voice, "Daddy is happy."
"That’s more like it. And Daddy, you have to give Aunt Evelynn her present right away," Melissa instructed.
"Okay, Daddy will listen to whatever Melissa says."
Only then was Melissa satisfied.
Julian Jennings was scheduled to arrive at two in the afternoon on the 17th.
June Jennings had promised to go with her to the airport, but she had drunk some expired milk that morning and was now at the hospital on an IV drip.
So, Rachel Royce had to go to the airport alone.
On the way to the airport, she stopped to buy a bouquet of carnations and irises.
She arrived twenty minutes early and waited outside.
「Ten minutes later.」
Rachel Royce received a call from Julian Jennings. He had just gotten off the plane. Because he had finalized his return date at the last minute, all the business class tickets were sold out, so he had to fly economy.
"Okay."
She hung up.
「A few minutes later.」
Rachel Royce looked up and saw a few people emerging from the terminal. Her eyes immediately fell on Tristan Sterling, who was walking at the front of the group.
He was tall and dashing, with a noble air, his handsome face as deep and impassive as ever.
His gaze fell instantly upon Rachel Royce, who stood there holding the bouquet of flowers.