Chapter 288: Chapter 288: Your Business Is My Business
Chapter 288: Your Business Is My Business
Rachel Royce looked up at the man, her brow tightly furrowed. "Tristan Sterling, have you forgotten our agreement? You have no right to interfere with my freedom."
Tristan Sterling replied, "This isn’t just about your freedom. You’re a married woman now. Julian Jennings has his own family to take care of him. As for the debt you owe him, I can repay it on your behalf." His tone was imperious, leaving no room for argument.
Rachel Royce’s expression hardened, and she said resolutely, "Tristan Sterling, I don’t need you to repay anything for me. This is my business."
"From now on, your business is my business," Tristan Sterling declared.
Rachel Royce frowned at him. "Tristan Sterling, I’ll say this one last time. Mind your own business."
"What’s all the arguing about?" a voice suddenly interjected.
Rachel Royce withdrew her gaze.
Tristan Sterling turned and saw Alexander Sullivan walking toward them.
Rachel Royce also saw the man walking toward them.
Alexander Sullivan approached them and noticed Rachel Royce’s sour expression. "Has President Jennings woken up?" he asked.
Rachel Royce glanced at him without a word and turned back into the hospital room.
Seeing Rachel Royce return to the room, Alexander Sullivan turned to Tristan Sterling. "Julian Jennings was injured because of Rachel," he said. "It’s only right that she takes care of him now. You shouldn’t go too far." Although he hadn’t heard their exact words, he could guess the gist of their argument.
Tristan Sterling’s expression was cold and grim. He ignored Alexander Sullivan’s comment and said, "I have something else to attend to. I’m leaving."
Alexander Sullivan stood where he was, watching the man’s retreating figure.
After he had gone, Alexander Sullivan went to Julian Jennings’s hospital room, knocked, and went inside.
Julian Jennings wasn’t surprised to see him.
Alexander Sullivan glanced at Rachel Royce, who was on the balcony taking a call. He walked over, placed the gift he’d brought on the coffee table, and then approached the bed. "President Jennings, how are you feeling?"
"I’m fine," Julian Jennings replied. "Thank you for taking the trouble to visit, President Sullivan."
"It’s the least I could do," said Alexander Sullivan. "The important thing is that you’re all right. With the New Year approaching, you need to focus on a speedy recovery."
...
Rachel Royce hung up her call with Florence Preston. ’Hearing Alexander Sullivan’s words, she couldn’t help but compare his sincere attitude to Tristan Sterling’s. The difference is stark.’
She remained on the balcony, basking in the sun, not wanting to interrupt their conversation. The winter sun felt especially warm on her skin.
The two of them chatted for a little while.
Alexander Sullivan didn’t stay much longer. "President Jennings, please get some rest. I’ll visit again another time." He rose to his feet and looked over at Rachel Royce on the balcony.
Her eyes met his.
Alexander Sullivan gave her a small smile before heading out of the room.
Once he was gone, Rachel Royce came back into the main room.
"Alexander Sullivan seemed to have genuinely come to see you, Professor," Rachel remarked.
"I get the feeling he has something on his mind," Julian Jennings said.
Rachel sat in a chair and started peeling an apple. "I felt that too." ’Alexander’s attitude had always been gentlemanly and polite, yet distant. But today was obviously different. The way he looked at me, especially... I couldn’t quite describe the feeling.’
"Perhaps he’s carrying a secret he can’t talk about," Julian Jennings suggested.
Rachel Royce found it strange, but she wasn’t particularly interested in Alexander Sullivan’s personal affairs.
"But," Julian Jennings added suddenly, "Alexander Sullivan came by the office the other day. I thought he would have rushed back to Portington by now, but I’m surprised he’s still here in Kingsland."
His words reminded Rachel Royce of Claire Ainsworth’s suicide attempt.
’It’s one thing for Tristan Sterling not to be concerned about Claire Ainsworth,’ she thought.
’But why is Alexander Sullivan still in Kingsland?’
"It is rather surprising," she said aloud. ’After something so serious happened with Claire Ainsworth, Alexander Sullivan’s attitude that day seemed so detached. I wonder what happened between them.’
Rachel recalled the time Alexander Sullivan had suddenly been hospitalized, and how he had sent Claire Ainsworth away.
’It seems something must have gone wrong between those three.’
"In any case, it’s none of our business," Rachel said, handing a slice of the apple she was peeling to Julian Jennings.
Julian Jennings took the slice and glanced at Rachel Royce. ’He had a nagging feeling that Rachel might somehow be involved in all this.’
Downstairs, Alexander Sullivan ran right into Florence Preston and Johnson Royce, who were heading his way.
The couple had just gotten back this morning.
They had heard that Rachel Royce had nearly been in an accident and that Julian Jennings was injured while protecting her.
It was now almost noon.
Florence Preston had brought a nutritious, home-cooked meal for Julian Jennings.
When Johnson Royce saw Alexander Sullivan, he called out, "Alexander!"
Alexander strode forward. "Dad. Miss Preston."
Florence Preston gave him a cool, indifferent glance and said nothing.
"Alexander, what are you doing at the hospital?" Johnson Royce asked.
"I came to see Julian Jennings," Alexander Sullivan replied. "Are you guys here to see him too?"
"Yes! Miss Preston and I were at a wedding last night and only got back this morning. We just heard that your sister nearly had an accident. How could something like that happen out of the blue? Thank goodness everyone is all right."
Alexander hummed in acknowledgment. "Julian Jennings seems to be in good spirits, so it’s probably not too serious. You don’t have to worry, Dad."
Johnson Royce breathed a sigh of relief. "So, you’ve seen Rachel?"
"Yes."
"And? What did you two talk about?"
A lonely look crossed Alexander Sullivan’s face. "Not much. I’ll find a chance to talk to Rachel later. Dad, you don’t need to say anything."
Upon hearing this, Florence Preston didn’t linger any longer and headed for the elevators.
Watching Florence Preston walk away, Alexander Sullivan said, "Dad, you should head on up."
"Alright, alright," Johnson said with a sigh. "Alexander, don’t take it to heart. Your Miss Preston has a sharp tongue but a soft heart."
Alexander Sullivan gave a gentle smile. "I know."
Johnson Royce then hurried after Florence Preston.
Only after his father’s figure disappeared from view did Alexander Sullivan look away and turn to leave.
Once he was in his car, Alexander Sullivan’s phone buzzed. He picked it up, glanced at the screen, and after a moment’s hesitation, answered.
"Hello?"
The call was from Jane Sullivan.
"Alexander, your sister is in the hospital. She wants to see you. Aren’t you going to come back and visit her?" Jane Sullivan’s voice was heavy with pain.
"Mom, do you know that Rachel also nearly had an accident?" Alexander Sullivan asked.
Jane Sullivan was taken aback. After a moment’s silence, she asked, "What kind of accident?"
"You don’t sound very concerned, Mom," Alexander observed.
Jane Sullivan’s voice grew heavy with a sense of helpless frustration. "Alexander, your sister refuses to eat or drink. I’m at my wit’s end. I just don’t have the energy for these games of yours."
Alexander paused before replying, "I’m not playing any games, Mom. Just take care of Claire. I have work to do here. I’ll come back to see her when I have time."
With that, Alexander Sullivan hung up the phone.
He cast one last look in the direction of Julian Jennings’s hospital room, then looked away and drove off.
Back in the hospital room, Johnson Royce and Florence Preston were thanking Julian Jennings profusely. Florence placed the lunch in front of him. "Julian, please see if it’s to your liking. I can bring you meals every day from now on."
