Chapter 276: You Need to Be on Your Best Behavior Too, Dad

Florence Preston was, of course, happy to have him.

"Mr. Jennings didn’t go home for the holiday?" Rachel Royce didn’t explain that she had come back because she’d gotten a scare.

She knew Julian Jennings had arrived in Kingsland that morning and was here all by himself, so she thought she might as well invite him over for dinner.

The whole family sat in the living room, watching TV and chatting idly.

As for Alexander Sullivan’s visit to their home yesterday, no one mentioned it. They all acted as if nothing had happened. Johnson Royce had originally planned to tell Rachel Royce about it when she returned today.

But Alexander had sent him a message yesterday, asking him not to mention anything to his sister for the time being.

Florence Preston also didn’t want Rachel Royce to know about Alexander.

Johnson Royce knew this put him in a difficult position because of Jane Sullivan. He’d had his own selfish motives back then; if Tristan Sterling had married the Ainsworth family’s daughter, then Rachel could have divorced him.

But now Tristan Sterling refused to divorce her and, judging by his current behavior, even seemed to want to make amends with their family—not that Johnson thought much of the gesture.

So, he said nothing about Alexander Sullivan.

At 12:30 p.m., Julian Jennings arrived at the Royce family’s home, carrying quite a few gifts.

Florence Preston hurried to greet him.

"You shouldn’t have! Just your presence is enough," Florence said. Julian Jennings smiled. "It’s only proper." Johnson Royce stepped forward to take the items from his hands. "Well, hurry and wash up so we can eat." Julian went along with it and handed the gifts to Johnson. He then lifted his gaze to Rachel Royce, who gave him a warm smile. "Let’s eat first!" Julian nodded with a smile.

When Melissa saw Julian Jennings, she politely called out, "Hello, Mr. Jennings." Julian gently ruffled her hair. "Hello, Melissa." Then, he took a red envelope from his pocket. "Happy New Year, Melissa." Melissa looked toward her mother.

Rachel Royce said, "Go on, you can accept it." Melissa took it with both hands. "Thank you, Mr. Jennings." "You’re welcome." Melissa then handed the red envelope to her mother.

Rachel held onto it for her.

Julian Jennings then gave a red envelope to Bobby as well.

Florence Preston took it for him and then ushered everyone to the dining room to sit down and eat.

*

After Alexander Sullivan finished his last IV drip that morning, Tristan Sterling had lunch with him. Tristan then drove him back to Hawthorne Manor. The two of them were silent the entire way, neither saying a word.

It was only when they returned to the villa and walked into the living room that they saw Claire Ainsworth sitting on the sofa.

When Claire Ainsworth saw the two of them, her heart inexplicably tightened at the sight of Alexander Sullivan. She walked over, calling out, "Brother. Tristan." Alexander looked at her. "Why are you back?" How could Claire not notice the added chill in his tone? A wave of hurt washed over her. Suppressing her emotions, she said, "I didn’t want you to be here all alone, Brother. The housekeeper told me you were sick and had to go to the hospital. What’s wrong?" She gazed up at Alexander, her naturally beautiful and bright eyes now filled with a look of such well-behaved innocence that it always reminded him of Rachel Royce as a child.

Especially whenever she made a mistake and had him take the blame, she would look at him with that same innocent and pitiful expression.

After he’d been punished,

she would come to him with snacks, as if trying to curry favor and make it up to him.

Seeing Alexander Sullivan staring at her without a word, Claire Ainsworth’s heart clenched. "Brother." Alexander subtly averted his gaze. "I’m fine. Claire, you should go back to Portington today."

At his words, Claire Ainsworth quickly grabbed Alexander Sullivan’s arm. "You’re sick, Brother. I need to take care of you." As she spoke, she turned to look pleadingly at Tristan Sterling.

Tristan Sterling didn’t respond, which made Claire feel even more hurt and wronged.

Alexander Sullivan said, "The housekeeper is here to take care of me. I’ll have someone book you a flight in a bit."

With that, he started walking toward the stairs.

Claire suddenly became agitated. "I’m not going back!" She rushed forward, gripping Alexander’s arm tightly with both hands as she gazed at him through tear-filled eyes. "Brother, I won’t go back. Let me stay and take care of you, please? I just want to be with you. I know you don’t like going back to the Ainsworth family, but in my heart, you’ll always be my closest family." In the past, whenever she put on such a pitiful act, Alexander would have given in to her every demand.

This time, however, Alexander didn’t indulge her as he usually would. His voice was laced with exhaustion and distance. "That’s enough, Claire. Stop making a scene."

"Brother..."

"..."

Alexander went upstairs.

Downstairs, only a lost and helpless Claire Ainsworth remained.

She stood frozen, watching Alexander’s indifferent back. Suddenly, she began to sway, and the next second, she collapsed.

Tristan Sterling strode forward and caught her, steadying her body.

Claire Ainsworth immediately leaned into Tristan Sterling’s arms and began to cry, sobbing, "Tristan, what’s wrong with my brother? Does he not want me anymore?"

Tristan Sterling looked at her and said simply, "You should listen to your brother and go back to Portington for now." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Claire shook her head from within the man’s embrace. "I don’t want to go back." She looked up at Tristan Sterling. "Tristan, please tell my brother for me. I don’t want to go back to Portington. I don’t want him to be here all alone. I want to stay with him."

Before Tristan Sterling could say anything, his phone started vibrating. He helped Claire Ainsworth to the sofa and sat her down, then glanced at the caller ID before walking straight outside.

"Tristan!" Claire Ainsworth quickly grabbed his wrist.

Tristan Sterling glanced back at her. "I have something to take care of. I have to go." He pulled his hand away.

Claire Ainsworth could only watch helplessly as Tristan Sterling strode away. She clenched her fists, hatred swelling in her heart.

’It’s obvious. Brother already knows Rachel Royce’s true identity.’

’On what grounds?’

’How dare she take everything from me?’

’That bitch.’

Tristan Sterling left the villa and answered Melissa’s call.

"What’s up, Melissa?"

Melissa asked, "Daddy, did you go somewhere today?"

"Uncle Alexander is sick," Tristan Sterling explained. "He’s here all by himself, so Daddy has to stay with him."

Melissa went "Oh," then said, "Then Uncle Alexander needs to take his medicine so he can get better quickly."

Tristan Sterling chuckled. "He’s not as well-behaved as you are, Melissa. He doesn’t know how to take his medicine properly."

They chatted for a few more moments.

Then Melissa said, "Mr. Jennings came over to Mom’s house for dinner today. Mr. Royce, Grandma Preston, and Mr. Preston really like him."

Melissa sounded a little emotional as she said this; even she could tell that when her dad was around, Mr. Royce and the others weren’t nearly as enthusiastic with him as they were with Mr. Jennings.

"Is that so? When did Mr. Jennings get there?"

"He arrived at noon. You need to be on your best behavior too, Dad."

Tristan Sterling said, "Okay, Daddy understands. You be a good girl at Mom’s house today, alright?"

"Of course I’ll be good. Are you coming over today, Daddy?"

"Daddy can’t make it today. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow."

Melissa said, "Okay, then! Well, you take good care of Uncle Alexander, Daddy."

"Mm-hmm."

He hung up the phone.

Tristan Sterling got in the car.

’Julian Jennings certainly got back quickly,’ Tristan thought.

"Let’s go."

The driver stepped on the gas, and the car slowly pulled away.