novelraw Chapter 219: Really Going to Be a Lonely King?
Chapter 219: Really Going to Be a Lonely King?
Chapter 219: Does He Really Want to End Up All Alone?
Julian Jennings and Rachel Royce arrived at Mr. Fitzwilliam’s hospital room.
Mr. Fitzwilliam had just finished his IV drip, and Franklin Fitzwilliam had also just arrived at the hospital to keep him company.
The three of them exchanged greetings. Mr. Fitzwilliam seemed to be in fairly good spirits.
"Mr. Fitzwilliam."
"You’re here."
Mr. Fitzwilliam knew they were coming this morning.
"Rachel can read the newspaper to me."
Franklin Fitzwilliam smiled. "Grandfather, I’m right here. Why don’t you let me read to you?"
Mr. Fitzwilliam said disdainfully, "Who wants to listen to that gruff voice of yours?"
"Yes, yes, I’m gruff now."
Rachel Royce and Julian Jennings couldn’t help but chuckle.
Rachel walked forward and took the newspaper with both hands, asking, "Where should I start reading from?"
Mr. Fitzwilliam pointed to a section for her.
Rachel sat on a nearby stool and began to read. In the quiet hospital room, only the woman’s clear, crisp, and steady voice could be heard.
Julian Jennings and Franklin Fitzwilliam went out to the balcony to talk, leaving Mr. Fitzwilliam to listen to the paper.
「Ten minutes later.」
Rachel Royce finished reading the newspaper.
Julian Jennings and Franklin Fitzwilliam returned to the room.
Mr. Fitzwilliam asked them about their recent work.
The three of them made small talk with Mr. Fitzwilliam.
Mr. Fitzwilliam asked about the situation between Rachel Royce and Tristan Sterling.
Rachel said helplessly, "Tristan Sterling refuses to divorce me because of Melissa."
Mr. Fitzwilliam snorted. "So now he decides to think about the child? Where was this attitude before? The Sterling Family clearly failed to raise him right. If anyone in the Fitzwilliam Family dared to act like that, I’d have beaten him to death long ago."
Franklin Fitzwilliam instinctively flinched and said, "Grandfather, calm down. Your health is what’s important. I’ll have a good talk with him later."
"I’d advise you to spend less time with him, lest you pick up his bad habits."
Franklin Fitzwilliam smiled. "Under your wise and brilliant guidance, Grandfather, how could I possibly be led astray by him?"
Mr. Fitzwilliam glanced at Franklin. "Alright, enough with the smart mouth."
Rachel said reassuringly, "Mr. Fitzwilliam, you should focus on your health. I’ll handle my own affairs."
Mr. Fitzwilliam looked at Rachel and asked, "So, Rachel... you still haven’t told Melissa the truth?"
Rachel said, "I have no way of telling Melissa right now."
Melissa was still so young; she wouldn’t be able to understand any of it.
Franklin Fitzwilliam said, "Melissa is so dependent on you and fond of you, Rachel. Deep down, she already sees you as her mother. There will be a chance for you two to formally acknowledge your relationship."
Rachel just hummed in agreement.
Rachel Royce and Julian Jennings stayed in the hospital room for an hour.
"Well, Franklin, Mr. Fitzwilliam, Rachel and I will be going now."
Franklin Fitzwilliam walked them out of the room.
The moment he opened the door, the sound of faint sobbing could be heard from the hallway.
Lifting his gaze, he saw Claire Ainsworth on a bench outside Jane Sullivan’s room, crying on a man’s shoulder. The man sat sideways on the bench, his hand on her shoulder, seemingly comforting her.
Alexander Sullivan stood before them, watching in silence.
He noticed someone up ahead watching them.
Alexander turned his head and saw Julian Jennings and Rachel Royce.
"What is it?"
Mr. Fitzwilliam’s voice called out.
Franklin looked at his grandfather and said, "It’s nothing. Probably just some family dispute involving another patient."
Julian Jennings and Rachel Royce said their goodbyes to Franklin Fitzwilliam and walked away.
Tristan Sterling seemed to have successfully consoled Claire Ainsworth. As she pulled away from his embrace, she saw the two approaching. The moment she laid eyes on Rachel, her fingers clenched, and an irrepressible hatred flared in her red-rimmed eyes.
Tristan Sterling heard the approaching footsteps and glanced to the side.
Rachel Royce was standing on the other side, her figure mostly obscured by Julian Jennings. The two of them walked straight ahead.
They continued until their figures disappeared toward the elevators.
"Tristan!"
Claire Ainsworth called out, her voice choked with grievance.
Tristan Sterling retracted his gaze. "Alright, Claire, you go inside first."
Claire Ainsworth bit her lip, then got up and went into the hospital room.
Tristan Sterling stood up as well. He looked at Alexander Sullivan and was about to speak when he caught sight of a familiar figure in his peripheral vision. He turned his head and saw Franklin Fitzwilliam approaching.
Tristan wasn’t surprised to see Franklin here.
Seeing Franklin Fitzwilliam, Alexander Sullivan greeted him politely. "Minister Fitzwilliam."
Franklin nodded. "Do you two have something to discuss?"
Alexander replied, "Nothing urgent."
"In that case, Tristan, come with me for a moment."
The two of them walked out to the balcony.
Franklin asked directly, "Rachel said you’re refusing to divorce her because of Melissa?"
Tristan Sterling asked, "What did she say to Grandfather Fitzwilliam?"
Franklin replied, "You think Rachel would complain to my grandfather?"
"No."
"Rachel didn’t bring it up. My grandfather asked her out of concern, but she didn’t say much. Guess what my grandfather said?"
A corner of Tristan’s lips curled. "I’m sure it was nothing good."
"Glad to see you still have some self-awareness. You’re using the child as an excuse not to divorce now, but where were you before? If you were one of the Fitzwilliams, you’d have been beaten to death by now."
Tristan chuckled. "I guess I dodged a bullet then."
Franklin snorted. "You’re still in the mood to laugh? I can see Rachel is dead set on divorcing you. If you really want what’s best for Melissa, then you need to make a clean break with that woman from the Ainsworth Family."
Tristan Sterling stared out the window, his dark eyes hiding his thoughts.
Franklin’s expression turned serious. "You’re someone who always weighs the pros and cons. Haven’t you ever thought about what kind of person is truly suitable to be your wife?"
Tristan pulled his gaze back and looked at him. "I know what I’m doing. You don’t need to worry."
Franklin sighed softly and didn’t press further. "It’s best if you do."
Franklin left first.
After seeing Franklin leave, Alexander Sullivan walked over to Tristan Sterling’s side. "Get chewed out again?"
Tristan looked at him without answering the question. "You’re really not even considering your own mother anymore."
Alexander’s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile, his eyes dimming. "Am I really her son in her eyes?" he asked.
’Just an uncontrollable pawn, that’s all.’
Tristan said, "Do you really want to end up all alone?"
Alexander looked at him and let out a soft laugh. "Of course, I can’t compare to you. You have a daughter now."
"If you want one, then hurry up and have one."
"How many times have you bragged to me about this? I never would’ve guessed you were the type to like kids."
Tristan said, "Once you have one, your perspective always changes."
*
Melissa called Rachel Royce and said her dad was busy, telling her to wait at home.
Tristan Sterling had gone to console Claire Ainsworth, so he had to leave Melissa at home. After saying goodbye to Julian Jennings at the hospital, Rachel went to Silvermist Bay to pick Melissa up.
"Your dad probably has something very important to do, so he can’t take you skiing. How about Auntie takes you out to play instead?"
Melissa was unhappy and wanted to call her dad.
Rachel Royce stopped her.
When Tristan Sterling got home at noon, he found out Melissa had been picked up. He called Rachel Royce, and she answered.
"Hello!"
"Where are you and Melissa?"
"I’ll take Melissa out for the next two days."
"Where are you going?"
Rachel simply said, "I will take good care of Melissa," and hung up the phone.
Tristan Sterling put down his phone and pulled up the location from the tracker on Melissa’s watch phone.