Chapter 289: Chapter 289: Why Are You Still Thinking of Her?
Chapter 289: Why Are You Still Thinking About Her?
Julian Jennings had no choice but to start with some winter melon soup. He had tasted Florence Preston’s cooking before. "Your cooking is even better than a professional chef’s, Miss Preston."
Florence Preston smiled. "Good. Then you just focus on getting better, and I’ll make your favorite dishes for you every day."
Julian Jennings found it hard to refuse their kindness. "Then I’ll really be troubling you, Miss Preston."
"Don’t be silly. It’s no trouble at all."
After Julian Jennings and Rachel Royce finished lunch, Johnson Royce and Florence Preston didn’t disturb Julian’s rest any further. After offering a few more words of care, Rachel Royce walked them downstairs and saw them off.
Florence Preston said, "Rachel, you have to take good care of your professor. We really have Julian to thank this time!" Although she didn’t know what the situation had been like at the scene, the mere thought of it sent a chill down her spine.
"I know, Mom," Rachel Royce said.
Later that evening, a male nurse was hired to take care of him, so Rachel Royce took a taxi home.
When Rachel Royce got out of the car, she saw a familiar Rolls-Royce parked at the entrance. She couldn’t help but frown as she walked toward the villa.
She came face to face with Tristan Sterling, who was on his way out.
Seeing her, Tristan Sterling took a step forward and said, "You’re back."
Rachel Royce heard Melissa’s voice coming from the living room.
Tristan Sterling said, "Melissa wanted to be with you tonight, so I brought her over."
Rachel Royce had received a call from Melissa in the afternoon. She had said she was coming home today. Melissa knew her mom wasn’t living at the Silvermist Bay Villa and wanted to go back to the Royce Family home to be with her.
Rachel Royce said nothing, simply looking at Tristan Sterling and stating calmly, "Tristan Sterling, our relationship doesn’t extend to you repaying my debts of gratitude. Don’t meddle in my affairs. Just mind your own business. Melissa will stay here for a couple of days."
Before Tristan Sterling could say anything, Rachel Royce walked into the villa’s main hall. Seeing her mother, Melissa happily rushed over and threw herself at her. "Mommy!"
Rachel Royce knelt and hugged Melissa tightly. She had missed Melissa terribly these past few days.
"Mommy, I missed you so much."
Rachel Royce stroked Melissa’s head. "Mommy missed you too, Melissa."
Melissa tilted her little head up at Rachel Royce. "Mommy, I heard Mr. Jennings got hurt and is in the hospital. Can I go with you to visit him tomorrow?"
"Of course you can," Rachel Royce replied. Later, when Peter Preston returned, he asked about Julian Jennings’s condition.
「The next day.」
Rachel Royce took Melissa to the hospital.
Before they even reached the hospital room, Rachel Royce heard voices from inside. She led Melissa in and saw Mr. and Mrs. Jennings, as well as June Jennings with Stella.
When Stella saw Melissa, she called out happily, "Melissa!"
The two children hadn’t seen each other in a while, and Melissa and Stella gave each other a hug.
"Stella, what have you been playing with lately?"
"..."
The two children began to chat.
When Mr. and Mrs. Jennings saw Rachel Royce, she smiled and greeted them, "Mr. Jennings, Mrs. Jennings."
Mrs. Jennings nodded and asked with concern, "Rachel, are you all right?"
"I’m fine," Rachel Royce said. "It’s all thanks to the professor."
"As long as you’re okay. It was his duty to protect you. If something had happened to you, he would have had a lot to answer for."
Rachel Royce prompted Melissa to greet them. Melissa looked at the two elders and said politely, "Grandpa Jennings, Ms. Jennings."
Mrs. Jennings responded with a loving smile and exchanged a few words with Melissa. Melissa then walked to the bedside. "Mr. Jennings, you have to eat well and get better soon!"
Julian Jennings reached out and stroked Melissa’s small head. "Thank you for coming to see me today, Melissa. I’ll get better very soon."
Mr. Jennings said to Rachel Royce, "Julian may have been injured saving you, Miss Royce, but you don’t need to blame yourself. It was his responsibility. His mother will take good care of him, so you don’t need to trouble yourself over it."
Rachel Royce nodded lightly. "I understand."
June Jennings had wanted to say something, but her mother stopped her. She could only purse her lips in frustration. She glanced at her brother on the bed, but Julian Jennings showed no intention of speaking up either.
After a while, Rachel Royce prepared to leave with Melissa.
Mrs. Jennings said, "The two children haven’t been together for a long time. June, why don’t you take Stella and go have some fun with Rachel and her daughter?"
June Jennings agreed. "Alright then! Bro, we’ll get going. You get some rest."
"Go on," said Julian Jennings. "Don’t worry about me."
Rachel Royce said her goodbyes to Julian Jennings, then left the room with June, Melissa, and Stella.
After they left, Mr. Jennings looked at Julian Jennings and said, "So that child really is hers."
Julian Jennings just grunted in acknowledgment.
Mr. Jennings continued, "Her child is already so big. I don’t know why you’re still hung up on her. She’s not the only beautiful woman in the world."
Julian Jennings remained silent.
Mrs. Jennings cut in, "That’s enough. Julian is still injured. Hold your tongue."
Melissa and Stella walked ahead, holding hands.
June Jennings couldn’t help but sigh. "I didn’t tell my parents about my brother’s injury because I didn’t want them to worry. I was planning to tell them when he was a bit better. I have no idea how they found out. But with my mom here to look after him, it is more convenient."
Listening to June Jennings, Rachel Royce had a suspicion.
The two women took the children from the hospital to a mall. While the kids played in the children’s area, Rachel Royce and June Jennings watched over them from the side.
June Jennings had originally wanted to invite Joanna Sutton, but Danny Willow had already asked her out today. Joanna was now trying to give him a chance.
June Jennings said helplessly, "Forcing yourself to accept someone will only end in a backlash."
Rachel Royce completely agreed with her.
"Sigh, don’t you think the three of us are in the same boat? Why can’t we just meet a good man for once?"
Rachel Royce said, "A happy life is never that easy to come by. Maybe this is just a trial from heaven."
June Jennings laughed. "That makes sense. We’re just going through a rough patch. Once we get through it, everything will be fine. Come on, cheers." As she spoke, she picked up her water bottle and clinked it against Rachel Royce’s.
Rachel Royce clinked her bottle back.
"By the way, has Ian found anything yet with his investigation?"
Rachel Royce replied, "It’s not clear yet. It probably won’t be that easy to find the person so quickly."
’Whoever dared to do something like this must have made thorough preparations, but as long as they did it, they’re bound to have left a trail.’
During this time, June Jennings received a call from Ivan Alden.
"I’ll take care of Stella myself," June Jennings said into the phone, then hung up.
Her mood instantly soured. They used to be so in love, but now, even the sound of his voice was enough to annoy her.
People’s hearts are just that fickle.
’That’s why the only way to avoid being hurt by the outside world is to always keep your heart safe with yourself.’
Just then, Rachel Royce received a WeChat message from Tristan Sterling. It read: "Bring Melissa to dinner tonight. I’ll come pick you up."
She glanced at it but didn’t reply.
