Chapter 270: Not That Close with President Sullivan

Florence Preston was just about to get up and go to her room when she saw Rachel Royce return. She immediately composed herself and said with a loving smile, "Rachel, you’re back. You’ve been so busy lately."

Rachel walked over, sat on the sofa, and smiled. "I can finally get some rest during the holiday. Mom, what were you and Dad talking about just now?"

Before she came in, she had vaguely heard the two of them arguing about something.

Florence Preston secretly shot a glance at Johnson Royce and said, "It was nothing. Rachel, do you have any plans for the holiday? How about taking a trip to relax?"

Rachel said, "It’s too crowded to travel during the holiday. I think I’ll just stay home and rest!"

Florence Preston said, "That works too. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Melissa. You should bring Melissa over to play during the holiday."

Rachel hummed in agreement. "On the 1st, I have to take Melissa to the Sterling family’s estate. I’ll bring her home on the 2nd."

Hearing this, Florence Preston and Johnson Royce were both taken aback.

Johnson Royce quickly asked, "Rachel, what are you going to the Sterling family’s place for?"

Rachel told them about the agreement she had signed with Tristan Sterling.

When Florence Preston and Johnson Royce heard this, their expressions soured. However, they knew that with Tristan Sterling stalling and refusing to divorce, Rachel was in a very difficult position.

The most crucial factor was still Melissa. As people with life experience, they didn’t want to see Melissa get hurt because of their messy divorce.

Florence Preston sighed. "Since you can’t get divorced right now, just focus on spending time with Melissa!"

Rachel went upstairs to her room and received a call from Tristan Sterling. "You’re not back yet?"

Rachel said, "I’m staying at my parents’ house tonight."

Tristan Sterling hummed in acknowledgment. "I just thought of something."

Rachel asked, "What is it?"

Tristan Sterling said, "Back when you presented me with flowers, I remember I said something to you."

Hearing this, Rachel froze for a moment.

’He knows now that I was the one who gave him the flowers back then. The principal must have told him.’

"It’s been so many years. Who would remember?"

Of course, she remembered what he had said to her. It was precisely because of those words that an obsession took root in her heart, making her determined to see him again, to work at his company just to be by his side.

Tristan Sterling chuckled softly. "I believe I said, ’I hope I’ll have the chance to see an even more outstanding you in the future.’"

Rachel’s brow furrowed, and her heart sank.

It was because of that one sentence that, for the next several years, her image of him grew ever more idealized in her mind until it took root deep in her heart and sprouted.

Later, trying to pull out those roots that had burrowed into her heart was no different from gouging it out.

But from beginning to end, the man’s eyes had always held that same look of breezy indifference.

’In the end, I brought it all on myself.’

’For him to say something like this now... it feels like he’s prying into the crush I used to have on him.’

"Tristan Sterling, are you bored or something? What’s the point of bringing up the past?"

Tristan Sterling said, "Sorry, I misspoke. You must be tired today, too. Get some rest."

Hearing his words, Rachel suddenly felt a wave of frustration, like punching a fist into cotton, with no way to vent her anger.

She hung up the phone directly.

She tossed her phone aside.

An inexplicable frustration welled up inside her, and she had the urge to curse someone out.

She got up and took a shower.

She calmed herself down.

Back in bed, she picked up her phone and saw a message from Tristan Sterling: Good night.

Rachel ignored it completely.

「The next day.」

It was the last workday of the year. Tomorrow was New Year’s Day.

Julian Jennings and Joanna Sutton were both heading back to Portington for the holiday.

At three in the afternoon.

Rachel drove the two of them to the airport.

Once they arrived at the airport, they had the misfortune of running into someone utterly detestable.

Claire Ainsworth was hugging Alexander Sullivan, looking up at him with teary eyes as she choked out, "Brother, are you really not coming back with us?"

Alexander Sullivan placed a large hand on her head, comforting her. "I still have things to take care of here."

"Brother..." Claire was about to plead further when she noticed the three people standing not far away, and her gaze instantly turned cold and hostile.

Alexander Sullivan turned to look.

"Rachel, this is far enough. We’ll see you after the holiday," Julian Jennings said.

Rachel nodded lightly. "Professor, Joanna, you two travel safely."

Joanna Sutton and Rachel shared a hug.

After saying their goodbyes, she watched the two of them leave.

Rachel turned to head back.

As they passed Alexander Sullivan, Julian Jennings simply nodded at him before walking on with Joanna Sutton.

Jane Sullivan stood rooted to the spot, her gaze fixed on the figure that was slowly receding into the distance. After a moment, she retracted her gaze and looked at Claire Ainsworth. "Claire, let’s go!"

Claire was still reluctant to leave. After she and her mother had walked away, she said unhappily, "Mom, I don’t want Brother to acknowledge Rachel Royce. I should be his only sister."

’Now Tristan is ignoring me because of her. Why does *she* have to be my brother’s sister? What right does Rachel Royce have? My brother can only have me as his sister.’

Jane Sullivan used a tissue to wipe the tears from Claire Ainsworth’s cheeks, consoling her. "Your brother has handled so many things for you recently. You should be more considerate of him and stop throwing tantrums like you used to."

But deep down, Claire Ainsworth still felt utterly wronged.

’Her brother used to indulge her no matter what she did.’

’What right did that bitch Rachel Royce have to steal everything that was hers?’

On the drive back, Rachel’s nose tickled, and she couldn’t help but sneeze.

Halfway through her drive, a child was playing on the side of the road, kicking a ball. The ball suddenly rolled into the traffic lane, but the nearby adult, who was walking while engrossed in their phone, didn’t notice at all.

The child chased the ball and ran directly in front of Rachel’s car.

Caught completely off guard, Rachel jumped in fright. She reacted quickly, wrenching the steering wheel and crashing directly into a large tree on the roadside. The front of the car was severely caved in.

A loud CRASH echoed through the air.

The child who had run into the middle of the road was scared and burst into tears.

Only then did the adult react, rushing into the middle of the road to pull the child back.

Rachel sat in the car, the airbag having deployed. She remained in her seat, completely shaken.

Just then, someone knocked on the car door.

Rachel turned her head to look out the window. It was Alexander Sullivan.

Rachel snapped back to her senses, unbuckled her seatbelt, and pushed the door open to get out.

"Miss Evelynn, are you alright?"

Rachel was fine, but she met Alexander Sullivan’s concern with a distant and indifferent attitude. "President Sullivan and I are not that close. Your concern is unnecessary."

Yet somehow, Alexander Sullivan seemed unable to sense her cold reception.

He couldn’t explain it, but the moment he saw her crash into the tree, an indescribable nervousness and fear had seized him. Seeing that she was now safe and sound, he let out a sigh of relief.

By now, the child’s mother had already taken the kid and vanished without a trace.

The traffic police arrived quickly and conducted an accident investigation. Rachel contacted her insurance company.

"Miss Evelynn, where are you headed? Would you like me to give you a ride?"

Rachel looked at Alexander Sullivan, who still hadn’t left, and pointedly ignored him, unwilling to say even a single word to him.