novelraw Chapter 251: Dad
Chapter 251: Dad
Chapter 251: Dad
Julian Jennings’s fingers tightened around his phone, his eyes cold as ice.
*
Inside Hawthorne Manor.
Mrs. Ainsworth received a call from Harvey Ainsworth.
He knew what Mrs. Ainsworth had done, but of course, he had no intention of blaming his wife for it.
He knew that everything she did was for the sake of the Ainsworth Family.
Claire Ainsworth had cried all night.
Her mother was the only person she could trust now, so unable to hide it any longer, she told her the truth. Mrs. Ainsworth now knew everything.
She hadn’t slept well all night.
Alexander Sullivan hadn’t come back, and when she called him, he didn’t pick up.
"So, Evelynn is the woman who used her womb to climb the social ladder back then?" Jane Sullivan asked, her voice weary. "Yes." Harvey Ainsworth’s voice grew heavier.
’Even though Tristan Sterling and Alexander Sullivan are close, if Tristan were to marry Claire, then the Ainsworth Family would ultimately be his closest relatives. Even if it didn’t bring any immediate practical benefits to the family, it would at least keep Alexander in check.’
’That was why he didn’t oppose Claire Ainsworth’s insistence on marrying Tristan Sterling, especially since Tristan genuinely seemed to care for Claire.’
But given the current situation, Tristan Sterling probably had no intention of divorcing his wife to marry Claire anymore.
At this thought, a wave of resentment rose in Harvey Ainsworth’s heart.
"Claire couldn’t have done something like this on her own," Jane Sullivan said. "It was Ivan Alden from the Alden Family who approached her." "Ivan Alden? How would Claire know him?" The name was not unfamiliar to Harvey Ainsworth. The Ainsworth and Alden families had business dealings overseas, and he knew the Aldens had twin sons.
Both were outstanding young men of their generation, especially the elder son, Zion Alden. Harvey hadn’t heard anything about him having an arranged marriage.
Claire Ainsworth had explained to Jane Sullivan that she had met Zion Alden once in the United States, and told her about the conflict between Zion and Tristan Sterling, as well as with Rachel Royce.
Jane Sullivan then briefly explained the situation to Harvey Ainsworth.
"I heard the Alden Family suffered considerable losses recently. It seems that must have something to do with Tristan Sterling." Jane Sullivan frowned. Her woman’s intuition, however, told her it was probably related to Rachel Royce.
’Ivan Alden was probably just using Claire. But if the plan had actually succeeded, a man like Tristan Sterling would never have been able to tolerate the shame of his wife being trampled on by others.’
"But now that things have come to this, Claire has to give Evelynn an explanation. And from what I can see, Julian Jennings’s feelings for Evelynn are anything but ordinary." Jane Sullivan couldn’t help but sigh to herself.
’As expected of my daughter, attracting so many outstanding men.’
’Perhaps I should have taken my daughter with me back then. At least Alexander Sullivan wouldn’t have been holding a grudge against me over it for all these years.’
"How can she explain? Evelynn must hate Claire to the bone by now. And Claire was just instigated by someone else." "What about Alexander Sullivan? We can’t just stand by and watch." "He’s not answering his phone." The line went silent.
"Since things have escalated this far, I doubt Tristan Sterling will marry Claire anymore. I think we should start looking for a new match for her—someone who can at least hold his own against Julian Jennings." "Let’s talk about it later," said Jane Sullivan. "We should wait until Claire’s emotions have stabilized." "Mm," Harvey Ainsworth agreed.
After hanging up, Jane Sullivan tried calling Alexander Sullivan again, but he still didn’t answer.
’It seemed he was truly angry this time.’
She sent him a text: "Do you want to meet your father?" Alexander Sullivan received it moments later. The instant he saw the message, his eyes darkened. He knew what Jane Sullivan was thinking.
He stared at the text for a long time.
In the end, he still didn’t reply.
Jane Sullivan dialed another number.
When the call connected, she asked, "What’s the situation with Desmond Howard?" ’No one had ever dared to humiliate her like that. Who the hell did that Florence Preston think she was?’
"They’re keeping a tight watch on him. Someone’s following him constantly, so he has no chance to get close to Florence Preston." Jane Sullivan’s expression turned grim. If she couldn’t get her revenge, she wouldn’t be able to eat or sleep in peace.
At six o’clock that evening.
As Alexander Sullivan walked out of the company building, he immediately spotted a figure sitting in the lobby’s rest area. He stopped abruptly. His fingers, tucked in his pockets, curled tightly, and for a moment, his mind went blank.
Johnson Royce saw him and slowly stood up.
’His son was grown, and his appearance had changed, but he still recognized him in a single glance.’
In that instant, his eyes couldn’t help but turn red.
Alexander Sullivan stood frozen in place, his feet feeling as if they were filled with lead, unable to move for a long time. Employees leaving work called out to him, but he didn’t hear a thing.
The employees were puzzled but could only leave quietly.
「Ten minutes later.」
Alexander Sullivan and Johnson Royce sat facing each other in a restaurant near the company.
Though they were father and son, so many years had passed that for a moment, they could only look at each other in silence.
After an unknown period of silence, Johnson Royce was the first to speak, breaking the heavy atmosphere. "Alexander, are you married?" "I’m not married yet. I’m mainly just too busy with work on a daily basis," Alexander Sullivan replied. His slowed voice was like that of a son earnestly answering his father’s question.
"You’re not young anymore. Work is important, but you can’t delay settling down for life. You really need to take it seriously." "I will," Alexander Sullivan replied. Johnson Royce nodded lightly, his eyes suddenly stinging. He blinked hard and sniffled. "I never thought we’d see the day we could meet again. Have you been well all these years?" Alexander Sullivan’s fingers tightened again and again as he, too, tried desperately to control his emotions.
"I’ve been well, Dad..." The long-unspoken title sounded so unnatural as it left his lips. He paused for a moment before continuing, "How are you and my sister?"
Johnson Royce said, "We’re both doing very well. Rachel has a daughter now, too."
"Rachel’s daughter must be as beautiful as she was when she was little."
"Yes, she’s a beautiful and adorable little princess." As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere fell silent again.
Both were struggling to control and compose themselves.
"Dad, did Mom ask you to come find me?" ’Apparently, they must have met a while ago, but she never mentioned it to me. Only now did she bring it up of her own accord.’
’As if he didn’t know what his mother was planning.’
Johnson Royce looked at Alexander Sullivan, took a deep breath, and said, "I was the one who asked her. I knew you were in Kingsland, and I wanted to see you, Alexander." ’His father was still the same. His eyes would shift when he lied.’
But he didn’t call him out on it.
"Dad, did you ever hate Mom?" Alexander Sullivan suddenly asked.
Johnson Royce’s fingers tightened. He shook his head. "Marrying me back then was a disservice to your mother in the first place. The fact that she agreed to marry me was enough to make me content. Maybe this was just our fate. I don’t blame anyone. I just feel I’ve let you and Rachel down." He thought of Rachel’s condition at the time; Alexander surely hadn’t fared any better.
Thinking of this, his heart couldn’t help but clench in pain.
He couldn’t hold back a sob.
Alexander Sullivan tilted his head up and looked out the window.