novelraw Chapter 221: Of Course We Must Get Married
Chapter 221: Of Course We Must Get Married
Chapter 221: Of Course They’re Getting Married
The elevator doors opened.
June Jennings took Stella’s little hand. "Stella, let’s get in the elevator first." Rachel Royce took Melissa’s hand and followed them in.
The moment Rachel Royce stepped into the elevator, Peter Preston stood behind her, blocking Tristan Sterling from taking a step forward.
Tristan Sterling paused.
Inside the elevator, Melissa and Stella stood hand in hand.
Peter Preston entered the elevator and stood in front of Rachel Royce. Tristan Sterling stood near the doors, and Thomas Sterling stood across from him.
Peter Preston looked at Rachel Royce and asked, "Did you sleep well last night?"
"Very well," Rachel Royce replied.
Peter hummed in acknowledgment. "Yesterday, you two mentioned wanting to go up the mountain to see the cedars. You can head up later. We’ll watch the kids for you."
Melissa looked up at Rachel Royce. "Isn’t Aunt Evelynn going skiing with me and Daddy?"
Rachel Royce said, "Miss June and I want to go up the mountain. It’s too cold up there, and the path is difficult. Melissa and Stella can ski down here at the base. How about we play with you when Miss June and I get back down, okay?"
Melissa said, "Oh. Okay, Aunt Evelynn and Miss June, you have to come back quickly."
"We’re taking the cable car up, so we’ll be back soon."
They arrived at the restaurant downstairs.
Rachel Royce and June Jennings sat with Melissa at a dining table. Thomas Sterling said to Rachel, "I’ll get you some breakfast."
The breakfast was a buffet.
Rachel Royce nodded. "Okay."
Peter Preston went first, getting breakfast for June Jennings and Stella.
"Thank you, Mr. Preston."
Peter Preston smiled. "You’re welcome."
Tristan Sterling brought a tray over and placed it in front of Melissa, then sat down across from her.
Thomas Sterling brought his breakfast over and sat down next to Tristan Sterling.
With an extra person present, the atmosphere was less relaxed. However, with two children there, it wasn’t too stifling either.
Rachel Royce peeled an egg for Melissa, but Melissa took only one bite and refused to eat more.
"Melissa, finish your egg," Rachel Royce said.
Melissa shook her head. "I don’t want it. Give it to Daddy."
"Give it to me," Tristan Sterling said.
Rachel Royce glanced at Tristan Sterling, noticing that whenever he was around, Melissa acted more spoiled and became a much pickier eater.
Rachel Royce said nothing and handed him the egg Melissa had only taken a single bite of.
Whatever Melissa didn’t finish, she gave to her father to eat. She drank half her milk and pushed the rest to him. Then, Melissa pouted for Rachel Royce to wipe her mouth.
Rachel Royce sighed helplessly and took a napkin to wipe the milk from the little girl’s mouth.
Stella watched them and suddenly asked, "Godmother, are you going to be Melissa’s mommy in the future?"
Rachel Royce’s hand paused.
Melissa turned to look at Stella and answered, "Yeah! I want Aunt Evelynn to be my mommy."
Stella added, "Then Mr. Sterling and Godmother have to get married."
Melissa said adamantly, "Of course they’re getting married! My daddy can only marry Aunt Evelynn."
"Melissa," Rachel Royce cut her off. "Do you want to eat anything else?"
Melissa shook her head. "I’m full."
Rachel Royce quickly changed the subject.
Tristan Sterling sipped the milk, his gaze deep as he glanced at the woman sitting diagonally across from him.
After breakfast, Rachel Royce and June Jennings prepared to head up the mountain. They rented thick down jackets from the hotel and took the hotel’s shuttle to the cable car station.
After the two of them left, the three men took the two children to the ski resort.
Peter Preston walked over to Tristan Sterling’s side. "President Sterling, can we talk?"
Thomas Sterling looked back at the two of them. "I’ll take Melissa and Stella ahead."
Tristan Sterling nodded. After Thomas and the girls had walked a little further away, he turned to Peter Preston. "What did you want to talk about, Mr. Preston?"
His tone was polite and gentle, betraying none of his usual cold arrogance.
Peter Preston’s tone was serious. "I just want to ask, President Sterling, what will it take for you to let Rachel go?"
Tristan Sterling was wearing ski goggles, making it impossible to see the expression in his eyes. He only said, "Mr. Preston, you heard what Melissa said just now."
Peter Preston’s fists clenched. "Melissa just doesn’t know what kind of pain you caused her mother."
Tristan Sterling looked at Peter Preston and said, "If one day Melissa is willing to let her leave, I will naturally divorce her."
Rachel Royce and June Jennings took the cable car to the mountain peak.
The snow-covered cedars in winter were as tranquil as a painting, a beauty that captivated the soul.
***
「At the hospital.」
Jane Sullivan was being discharged. Claire Ainsworth walked toward the main entrance, arm in arm with her mother.
「At the same time.」
Johnson Royce walked in carrying a child, with Florence Preston, who was wearing a mask and a hat, beside him.
Jane Sullivan was dressed in a luxurious fox fur coat. Her delicate face had a sickly pallor, but it added a touch of fragile beauty.
Even with Claire Ainsworth standing beside her, aside from her youthful face, she paled in comparison to her mother.
Her outstanding aura was clearly the kind of elegance that only money could buy, a presence that commanded attention and admiration.
Of course, Johnson Royce and Florence Preston saw her.
The moment she saw Jane Sullivan, Florence Preston’s expression immediately darkened.
Johnson Royce, however, was visibly startled. Florence Preston tugged him sharply. "What are you looking at?"
Johnson Royce quickly averted his gaze.
Just as they were about to walk past, Jane Sullivan suddenly stopped and looked at Johnson Royce. "Johnson."
Johnson Royce hesitated.
Claire Ainsworth looked at her mother in surprise.
Florence Preston stared warily at Jane Sullivan.
Jane Sullivan ignored Florence Preston and said to Johnson Royce, "Johnson, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about."
Johnson Royce hesitated, glancing uncertainly at Florence Preston.
Florence Preston shot him a glare before turning to Jane Sullivan. "Mrs. Ainsworth, my husband has nothing to discuss with you. Please, have some self-respect."
"Mrs. Royce, no need to be so nervous. I just want to discuss a private matter with Johnson. What are you so worried about?" Jane Sullivan’s tone was laced with the arrogance of the upper class.
Florence Preston said coldly, "If your daughter can’t get married, she has only herself to blame for being incompetent. What’s the use of talking to my husband about it? Mrs. Ainsworth, you should really stop meddling in other people’s family matters."
Jane Sullivan’s expression instantly turned icy.
Hearing Florence Preston’s words, the bodyguard beside her snapped, "Ma’am, watch your tone."
Florence Preston looked at the tall bodyguard, a knot of fear tightening in her stomach. She pinched Johnson Royce’s arm hard. "Aren’t you leaving yet?"
Johnson Royce winced in pain, but he didn’t dare say a word. He just clutched the child and walked forward.
As she watched the two of them walk away, Claire Ainsworth, who had heard Florence Preston’s remarks, was furious. "Mom, who are they?"
Johnson Royce and Florence Preston had brought their child to the hospital for an IV drip. Bobby had come down with a fever the previous night. They had brought him in for an IV then, but his fever hadn’t completely broken, so he had to continue the treatment today.
Bobby lay on a hospital bed as a nurse set up his IV drip.
「Back home at noon.」
As Florence Preston was taking the child upstairs, Johnson Royce’s phone vibrated. He went into the study to answer it. The call was from Jane Sullivan.
She asked, "Is Rachel planning to settle down in the country for good?"
Johnson Royce replied, "Jane, even if you no longer have any feelings for Rachel, she’s still my child. I hope she stays here with us. She went to the United States this time to handle her company shares, but she’ll be staying in the country to develop her career from now on."