novelraw Chapter 223: Where is Rachel Royce?
Chapter 223: Where is Rachel Royce?
Chapter 223: Where’s Rachel?
Since they were here, they might as well go see the summit.
Rachel Royce nodded.
Julian Jennings said a few words to June Jennings, then headed up to the summit with Rachel Royce.
After watching them walk off into the distance, June Jennings took the cable car back down the mountain and sent Julian Jennings a message to let him know.
She didn’t go to the ski resort; she had to give Stella and Peter Preston some time alone. She went straight back to the hotel to lie down, just trading one place for another to lounge around on her phone.
As Rachel Royce and Julian Jennings made their way up the mountain, the stone steps were quite slippery. They walked slowly, and Julian kept a close eye on Rachel to make sure she didn’t slip.
However, Rachel exercised regularly and had excellent balance. Her boots also had non-slip soles, so the climb was no trouble for her.
But a young woman walking in front of her suddenly slipped, her body tumbling backward, about to crash right into Rachel.
With quick reflexes, Julian shot out a long arm to pull Rachel into an embrace, using his other hand to steady the young woman’s back.
After the young woman regained her footing, she was still shaken and hadn’t quite recovered from the shock.
Julian looked down at Rachel, his arm still holding her protectively. "Are you okay?" Rachel looked up at him. "I’m fine." Julian withdrew his arm.
The young woman who had regained her balance turned around. The moment she saw Julian, she froze. Although she couldn’t see his face clearly, his build and aura were undeniably striking.
"I’m so sorry. Thank you so much," the young woman said gratefully.
Julian said, "The path is wet and slippery. Watch your step."Her heart skipped a beat at his deep, magnetic voice. Then she glanced at the woman beside him—obviously a stunning beauty.
Rachel Royce and Julian stepped past the young woman and continued on their way.
"Hey, wait a second."Rachel Royce and Julian stopped and turned to look back at her.
The young woman had a camera and a Polaroid hanging around her neck. She lifted the Polaroid and said enthusiastically, "I’m a freelance photographer, and you two have such an incredible presence. Could I take a picture of you together, as my way of saying thanks?"Julian glanced at Rachel. "Want to?"’Rachel had no reason to refuse. What was a beautiful mountain view for, if not for taking pictures?’
Julian led Rachel into position. He stood slightly behind her, with half of his body shielded by hers and one hand resting on the nearby guardrail. The angle made it look as if he were holding her in his arms.
The photographer handed them the picture. "You two look so good together."She had obviously gotten the wrong idea.
’But there was no need to explain things to a stranger.’
Julian accepted the two photos and thanked her. "Thank you.""You’re welcome," the photographer said, pulling a business card from her pocket. "I heard the sunset here is gorgeous, so I’ll be staying until sundown. If you two want any more pictures, feel free to contact me. I’ll do it for free."Julian took the card. "Thanks."With that, the photographer left.
Julian handed one of the photos to Rachel, and she took it and slipped it into her pocket.
The two continued their ascent.
"I saw some videos online," Julian said. "The sunrises and sunsets up here really are beautiful."
"I was hoping to see the sunset today," Rachel said.’The original plan was to spend the day at the base of the mountain and come up in the afternoon to watch it set.’
’But who could have predicted Tristan Sterling would suddenly show up and throw the whole plan into disarray?’
Julian said, "Well, since we’re already here, it would be a shame to miss the sunset. We can get in touch with Peter Preston and the others to come up later.""Tristan Sterling is here," Rachel said. "He’s skiing with Melissa at the base of the mountain."’I don’t want to see him, and I certainly don’t want to be around him, but Melissa is here, and she’ll want to be with her father.’
’Tristan Sterling’s presence would only make everyone uncomfortable, but an arrogant, conceited man like him wouldn’t know the first thing about self-awareness.’
Julian wasn’t surprised by Rachel’s words. June had already told him last night that Tristan Sterling was here too.
They soon reached the summit.
Gazing at the roiling sea of clouds, an endless expanse of white stretching out before them, all their troubles seemed to melt away.
In that moment, Rachel decided she would watch the sunset before heading back down.
Julian took a few photos of her with his phone, and Rachel took a few of him in return.
Standing before the railing and gazing into the distance, they felt an irresistible urge to shout out.
The two had lunch at the summit restaurant, admiring the snowy landscape from their table.
Julian gazed out the window and spoke slowly. "I remember recommending Yasunari Kawabata’s *Snow Country* to you last year. You said it was just a story about a scumbag."Rachel Royce clutched the warm teacup in her hands, listening to Julian’s words. She thought back to when she’d read it. She had been busy with work at the time and hadn’t had a chance to truly understand it.
"A literary masterpiece like that definitely explores more than just the story of a scumbag in a patriarchal society," Julian said. "The book touches on relationships, but it isn’t really about love. The author projects life’s illusions, its impermanence, the inner void, and the futility of existence onto the two women the protagonist meets. Add in the character Yukio, and you have these themes being discussed through the four of them."Rachel listened quietly as Julian spoke. His voice was wonderful—gentle and magnetic, yet full of power, conveying a deep sense of stability. Those eyes of his seemed to see through to the very essence of everything in the world.
*
June Jennings didn’t have lunch with Peter Preston and the others. Instead, she called the hotel staff and had food sent up to her room.
KNOCK, KNOCK.
June Jennings got up to open the door.
A hotel employee was outside with a room service cart.
But she immediately spotted the man standing diagonally across the hall, looking right at her.
June flinched. As she met the man’s deep, dark eyes, she felt an inexplicable pang of guilt.
Melissa had started coughing a little, so Tristan Sterling had come to Rachel’s room to get the powdered medicine she always carried for her.
June stepped aside, letting the employee enter. The hotel worker pushed the cart in and began arranging the food on the dining table by the window.
Tristan Sterling took a step forward. "Alone, Miss Jennings?"For a moment, June couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze, her eyes flitting about nervously. "Um... I was a little tired, so I came back early.""Where’s Rachel?" Tristan asked, his tone clearly darkening.
"Rachel should be back soon. You don’t need to worry, Mr. Sterling," June said, her voice completely lacking conviction.
Tristan Sterling’s deep, dark eyes stared at her, and June felt as if she was about to crumble under his gaze.
The hotel employee pushed the cart out of the room.
"Well, Mr. Sterling, I’m going to have my lunch now," she said.
Then, June promptly shut the door.
She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her heart pound with panic and fear. ’That man is terrifying,’ she thought. ’He didn’t even say anything, but he gives off this incredibly oppressive and uncomfortable feeling.’
’But when Melissa was around, you couldn’t feel that overbearing aura from him at all.’
’Now I’m worried,’ she thought. ’Is he going to go up the mountain to find Rachel?’
’I have to warn Rachel. No, on second thought, I’ll tell my brother!’