novelraw Chapter 224: Did You Have Fun?
Chapter 224: Did You Have Fun?
Chapter 224: Have Fun?
June Jennings picked up her phone and sent a message to Julian Jennings.
Julian had just finished a work call when he saw the message from June. He replied: Got it.
He put down his phone and watched Rachel Royce, who was building a small snowman on the railing ahead.
He walked over, looked at the snowman Rachel was making, and couldn’t help but smile. "Its design is a bit... unique."
Rachel’s breath misted in the cold air. "You can just say it’s misshapen."
Julian touched it up for her, picked up two twigs, and stuck them onto the snowman’s body.
Rachel bent over and poked the snowman’s little belly. "It’s starting to look a bit more like one now."
Julian gazed gently at her. "Do you want to take a picture with the snowman?"
Rachel agreed. "Okay."
Rachel bent to the side, posing with her hand just below the snowman.
Julian stepped back a few paces, found a good angle, and took a picture of Rachel. Then he asked a passerby to take a photo of them together.
After the photos were taken, Julian thanked the passerby, took his phone back, and walked over to Rachel. "What do you think?"
Rachel leaned in closer as Julian scrolled through the photos for her. "They’re really nice. Professor, with skills like these, you could be a professional photographer."
Julian smiled. "Such high praise?"
Rachel looked at him, her lips curving into a smile. "I’m just telling the truth."
"In that case, maybe I can pick it up as a side hustle."
"Professor, with your status, not just anyone could afford a single photo from you."
"Don’t worry. If you want a photoshoot, it’s completely free for you."
Rachel couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
"In that case, I’ll accept these photos for free."
Julian sent all the pictures to her.
There were many photography bloggers on the mountain.
At that moment, Rachel and Julian were only wearing hats. With their well-matched temperaments and good looks, especially as they built the snowman and posed for pictures together, the beautiful scene looked like it was straight out of a TV drama.
When one blogger noticed them, they deliberately aimed their lens and snapped a couple of photos.
The two of them stayed on the mountaintop, enjoying the scenery. One could look at such a beautiful view all day and never get tired of it.
As more and more people came up the mountain, everyone found their own prime spot to stand.
They, however, didn’t need to squeeze into the crowd.
Julian had booked a VIP viewing spot on the restaurant’s rooftop.
During this time, Rachel received a call from Thomas Sterling.
"Yes, we’re on the mountain. We’ll head back after watching the sunset."
"..."
After she hung up, Thomas Sterling put down his phone and looked at Peter Preston. "Rachel asked if we want to come up the mountain for the sunset."
Peter said, "If we take Melissa up the mountain, Tristan Sterling will definitely follow."
At that moment, Tristan was with Melissa and Stella by the lake, looking at the swans. Stella seemed to quite like Tristan.
Thomas Sterling considered this. He knew Rachel wouldn’t be uncomfortable if he went up the mountain—that wasn’t the problem. He said, "Let’s just forget it then! There will be other chances."
Peter hummed in agreement.
However, Peter knew Julian’s sudden arrival must have been at June’s request; he could see what she was trying to do.
In his mind, whether it was Julian or Thomas, both were excellent choices for Rachel. But selfishly, he still hoped she would end up with Thomas. They had known each other since childhood, and Thomas had waited for her for so many years.
If it weren’t for that accident back then, perhaps the two of them would have been together long ago.
But this world had no room for so many ’what ifs’.
There were some things he couldn’t bring himself to comment on, feeling only a deep sense of regret.
In any case, Rachel’s future could only be decided after she managed to get a divorce.
「Soon.」
Tristan, Melissa, and Stella returned, seeing the two men in the hotel lobby. "Mr. Ford, Mr. Preston."
The two children trotted toward Thomas and Peter. Dressed so warmly, they looked like little penguins when they ran.
Thomas pulled the two children in front of him. "Did you have fun?"
Stella looked up at Peter, flashing her small white teeth. "We did!"
Tristan walked over. "Melissa and Stella want to go up the mountain to find their mother. You should take them up."
Tristan had seen June at lunch but hadn’t mentioned it to them. Peter, however, knew June was in her hotel room at that moment, a fact the children were unaware of.
Thomas Sterling froze for a moment, looking at Tristan Sterling.
Tristan looked at him and instructed, "Take good care of Melissa."
Thomas nodded.
「Around three in the afternoon.」
The three adults took the children up the mountain.
"Aunt Evelynn!"
Rachel walked over, knelt down, and hugged Melissa. "Are you cold?"
Melissa shook her head. "I’m not cold. Daddy said he has something to do now and can’t come up to see the sunset. Can we watch it with him next time?"
Rachel was surprised. ’Could it be that Tristan knows he’s not welcome?’
Rachel agreed to Melissa’s request for now.
The group stayed on the mountaintop until the sun gradually began to set.
The snowy peaks were draped in an orange-red veil, and the rolling sea of clouds revealed a gentle twilight hue.
Melissa and Stella were mesmerized by the beautiful scenery before them.
"Aunt Evelynn, look! It’s so, so pretty!"
Rachel took many pictures of Melissa.
Peter picked up Stella to watch the sunset over the distant mountains, and Stella was incredibly excited.
Seeing the two of them getting along so well, June was of course happy. Then she looked toward Rachel and Melissa. At that moment, both Thomas’s and Julian’s gazes fell upon Rachel. The orange glow of the sunset landed on her cheeks like a golden veil, and the deep tenderness in their eyes seemed capable of melting the mountain’s ice and snow.
But at this moment, Rachel only had eyes for Melissa.
June had originally thought that with Tristan around, Peter and the others definitely wouldn’t have felt comfortable coming up the mountain. She never would have guessed that Tristan would suddenly have something to do and tell them to bring Melissa up to find Rachel.
It was a shame, though, that her brother didn’t get to watch the sunset alone with Rachel.
The sunset lasted for less than ten minutes.
The last ray of sunlight sank into the darkness.
The group took the cable car down the mountain.
They had dinner back at the hotel.
After a full day of playing, the two children were also very tired.
Rachel took Melissa back to their room.
Just as Rachel finished changing Melissa into her pajamas, there was a knock on the door.
Rachel went to open the door and saw the man standing in the doorway.
Tristan Sterling looked at her and asked, "Have fun?"
Listening to his tone, Rachel couldn’t detect any other meaning for a moment. It seemed like he was genuinely just asking if she’d had a good time.
It left her completely unsure how to answer.
"Daddy!" Melissa’s voice rang out.
Rachel didn’t answer his question; she stepped aside.
Tristan entered the room, picked up Melissa, and asked, "Was the sunset beautiful?"
"It was super, super pretty! I want to go see it again."
"Then how about we go see the sunrise tomorrow morning?"
Melissa immediately agreed. "Okay! Then Daddy and Aunt Evelynn can go with me. Just the three of us, okay?"
Tristan said softly, "Why don’t you ask Aunt Evelynn?"
Melissa lifted her gaze to Rachel.
Rachel took a step forward and took Melissa from his arms. "Stella will definitely want to see the sunrise too. Let’s ask Stella and Mrs. Jennings and the others first."
Melissa mumbled, "But I just want Daddy and Aunt Evelynn to go with me for once! You promised me, Aunt Evelynn."