Chapter 275: I Told You to Get Out

When Tristan Sterling arrived at Hawthorne Manor and stepped into the living room, he found the bedroom pitch-black. A potent stench of alcohol mixed with the acrid smell of smoke washed over him.

He looked toward the sofa. In the darkness, he could faintly make out a man sitting on the floor, leaning against it.

He went and turned on the lights.

The entire living room was instantly flooded with light.

Alexander Sullivan was slumped on the carpet, his head thrown back against the sofa. He looked utterly broken and world-weary, as if his very soul had been drained from him.

Liquor bottles and cigarette butts were scattered across the coffee table and the floor.

In all the years Tristan had known Alexander Sullivan, he had never seen him lose his composure so painfully. Even during the years he was under the Ainsworth Family’s control, he had never betrayed a hint of emotion.

But from the moment Alexander learned that Rachel Royce was the sister he had missed for so long, Tristan had known this day would come.

’That’s why you should never invest your heart in feelings you can’t control.’

’Or better yet, never give your heart away at all, because human emotions are just too fragile and cheap.’

’He’d never really understood Alexander’s actions before. After so many years apart, he’d figured that even the deepest feelings would have long been worn down by time, rendered fragile and insignificant.’

’But ever since Melissa came into his life, he could understand Alexander a little.’

He walked over, sat on the sofa, and looked down at Alexander Sullivan. "This really isn’t like you," he said. "Wallowing in misery all by yourself isn’t going to solve anything."

Alexander Sullivan slowly opened his eyes. They were weary and bloodshot. Looking at Tristan, he asked, "What are you doing here again?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Tristan Sterling replied, "I had a feeling you’d be like this. If I hadn’t come, were you planning on staying here drunk all night?"

Alexander struggled to lean forward and reach for a bottle, but they were all empty. He fell back limply, then picked up a cigarette and lit it. He took a deep drag, exhaled a plume of smoke, and said, "I want to be alone. You should go."

Tristan said, "After you finish that cigarette, I’ll help you upstairs to rest."

Alexander’s smoking faltered for a moment. He continued to puff on the cigarette in silence, his expression exceptionally cold.

Tristan Sterling sat quietly beside him.

The vast manor seemed particularly empty and silent.

When Alexander Sullivan finished his cigarette, he reached out to stub it in the ashtray. Just as he was about to pull out another, Tristan grabbed his wrist. "That’s enough."

Suddenly, Alexander raised a fist and punched him in the face. "I told you to get out!"

Caught completely off guard, Tristan Sterling took the punch, his head snapping to the side.

The blow exhausted all of Alexander Sullivan’s strength, and his body slumped to the side. Immediately after, a searing cramp shot through his stomach, and his face turned deathly pale.

Tristan sensed something was wrong. As he reached down to help the other man up, Alexander tried to push him away.

"Get out!" The words came out weak and breathless.

Tristan Sterling didn’t let go. "If you’ve got anger to vent, wait until you’re feeling better."

He forcibly helped the man onto the sofa to lie down, then immediately took out his phone and called the hospital. After that, he went to the kitchen and poured Alexander a glass of warm water.

By now, Alexander Sullivan was in so much pain that cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Drink some water first."

Alexander turned his head away.

Tristan said, "Do you want me to force it down your throat?"

Alexander shot him a glare, then reached for the glass and drank some of the warm water.

Ten minutes later, an ambulance arrived at the villa.

Alexander Sullivan was taken to the hospital and put on an IV drip.

Tristan Sterling called Rachel Royce.

Rachel answered, but she didn’t say anything.

Tristan said, "I’ll be back late tonight."

Rachel said, "I already told you, you don’t need to report your schedule to me."

His tone remained unchanged. "I still think I should let you know. Alexander Sullivan isn’t feeling well. I’m at the hospital with him now."

Rachel Royce hung up the phone.

Tristan put down his phone, then turned and went back into the hospital room, pulling up a stool to sit by the bed.

「Half an hour later.」

The man in the hospital bed looked noticeably better. Alexander Sullivan was now fully conscious, but neither of them spoke.

Just then, a hotel staff member delivered a late-night meal.

"Just leave it there," Tristan Sterling said.

The staff member turned and left the room.

Tristan stood up and looked at Alexander. "Get up and eat something. Don’t play games with your health."

Alexander didn’t move. After a long moment, he finally spoke. "Go home."

Tristan said, "Alright, get some good rest at the hospital tonight. Remember to eat something."

Alexander Sullivan didn’t respond.

Tristan glanced at him one last time, then turned and left the room, asking a nurse on his way out to take good care of him.

By the time he returned to Silvermist Bay Villa, it was already ten at night.

When he entered their room, Rachel Royce wasn’t there.

Rachel hadn’t gone to bed yet; she was still chatting with June Jennings.

June was telling her that her father had arranged several blind dates for her brother, and all the women were top-tier candidates in terms of family background, looks, and temperament.

June complained that she had no idea where her dad had found all these women.

Mr. Jennings was being particularly insistent this time, demanding that Julian Jennings go meet them. Julian had reluctantly gone to meet one of them today, and June had secretly tagged along.

The woman had taken an immediate liking to Julian, acting very enthusiastic and unable to hide her adoration. To June, this was only to be expected.

Of course, Julian had politely turned her down in the end. His father had his blind date schedule completely filled, so he had already booked a flight back to Kingsland for the next morning.

Rachel was in the middle of replying to June’s message.

A sound came from outside the door, and then the man pushed it open and entered. Seeing the woman leaning against the headboard, Tristan Sterling lowered his voice. "Still awake?"

Rachel said, "What is it?"

Tristan walked over. "You’re going to your parents’ home tomorrow. I’ve already had the gifts put in the car. I have to go to the hospital first thing in the morning."

Rachel averted her gaze. "Got it."

Tristan sat on the edge of the bed and looked at their sleeping daughter. He didn’t stay long. "Get some rest," he said to Rachel.

With that, he got up and left the bedroom.

「The next day.」

Rachel Royce and Melissa didn’t get out of bed until nine o’clock.

Tristan Sterling had already left.

After the mother and daughter got ready, the villa’s driver took them to Hillcrest Villa.

When they arrived, the driver took the gifts out of the trunk one by one and carried them inside.

’Florence Preston saw all the things he had sent again. With Melissa present, it wasn’t appropriate to say anything, but she made a mental note to tell Rachel later to have Tristan stop sending them.’

’He used to look down on their family, and now they looked down on the things he sent.’

"Rachel, you’re back."

Peter Preston came down from upstairs.

When Melissa saw Peter Preston, she called out obediently, "Mr. Preston."

Peter looked at Melissa, walked over, and said, "Come, let your uncle hold you."

Melissa held out her arms for Peter Preston to hold her. "Melissa is so pretty today," he said.

Melissa smiled happily.

"You don’t have to work overtime for the next couple of days, right?" Rachel asked her brother.

Peter Preston grunted in affirmation. "I can rest for two days."

"Oh, right, Mom," Rachel Royce added, turning to Florence Preston. "The professor is coming over for lunch."