Free Web NovelChapter 1057: Chapter 545: Extra Story: My First Step Toward Strength
"In business, the first thing you have to learn is how to study a contract, because a contract determines the final interests."
"I can’t..."
"If you can’t, then learn."
His voice was harsh, making her, already a patient, feel a wave of grievance.
But...
Eventually, she held herself together and didn’t show vulnerability in front of him.
Taking the contract he handed over, she used all her strength to sit up straight, then opened the contract.
Having never touched business matters before, Alice Robinson found the contract difficult to read, so in the end, she couldn’t see where the flaw in the contract was.
Seeing her dejected look, he didn’t scold her but leaned beside her, patiently instructing, "Look at the 23rd clause of this contract, it says that the cooperation benefits between both parties..."
When he leaned closer, the pleasant scent wafted into her nostrils.
His voice was very nice, patiently explaining to her the flaw in the contract...
But her gaze wasn’t on the contract; she kept staring at his handsome side profile.
Her rationality was burned away by the heat of her body, causing her to gradually forget reality, and her eyes grew increasingly hazy...
Suddenly, she reached out and hugged him...
He was visibly startled, and the explanation paused.
She lay sideways, leaned against his back, tightly embracing him, murmuring, "Brother... I don’t want to be alone..."
When her scorching body pressed against his, he only then felt her abnormality.
He suddenly pulled her body away, his hand touching her forehead, "Damn..."
She got up from the bed, and although her head was still dizzy, the discomfort had greatly lessened.
Alice Robinson glanced around, only to realize she was in her own apartment.
Aunt PA saw her wake up, brought in a cup of water, "Miss, are you thirsty..."
Alice nodded, gulping down the entire glass of water.
As her thoughts gradually cleared, Alice asked, "How did I end up at home..." Her memories only remained on her and him in the car...
Aunt PA sat by the bedside and said, "Mr. Robinson carried you up..."
Alice was startled, "He came by?"
"Yes, Assistant Antony said you fainted in the car, so Mr. Robinson carried you up."
"Oh, and where is he?"
"Who do you mean?"
"Brother." She was still used to calling him that because she didn’t know how else to address him.
Aunt PA replied, "The doctor Mr. Robinson invited came, and he left after seeing the doctor treat you..."
No wonder she felt much better...
Alice asked again, "Did he say anything?"
Aunt PA replied, "Mr. Robinson didn’t say much... but before leaving, he ordered me to pack your things, said he’ll come to pick you up to return to the villa tomorrow."
Alice leaned against the headboard, her voice still slightly weak, "I don’t want to see him, and I won’t go back."
"But miss, you probably can’t refuse Mr. Robinson." Aunt PA frowned, showing a helpless look. freёwebnovel.com
Alice slightly frowned, "What happened?"
Aunt PA said, "Mr. Robinson brought Rachel home."
"What?"
Keith Antony got out of the car holding Rachel.
Rachel’s gaze remained fixed on Chester Robinson ahead.
She looked a little dejected, her small hands tightly clutching Keith Antony, "Uncle Antony, does Uncle not like me?"
Keith Antony paused for a moment, then asked, "Why would Rachel think that?"
Rachel lowered her head, muttering, "It seems like Uncle doesn’t want to talk to me."
"Your uncle is just like that; he doesn’t dislike Rachel."
"Oh... Uncle Antony, when will mommy come to pick me up?"
Keith Antony carried Rachel into the villa, saying, "It should be soon."
"I miss mommy..." Rachel’s voice turned teary.
"Be good, your mommy will be here soon..." Keith Antony softly comforted.
"But I miss mommy..." Rachel pouted, looking pitiful.
"Uncle Antony will call your mommy now and ask her to come quickly to pick you up, okay?"
"Okay."
Keith Antony kissed Rachel’s face, then took out his phone and called Alice Robinson, but unfortunately, her phone couldn’t be reached.
To comfort the child, Keith Antony had to pretend to call her, speaking to the air in the phone.
Only then did Rachel not start to fuss.
Chester Robinson didn’t expect Rachel to run into the study while he was handling work from New York.
"Uncle..."
Rachel held a bunch of building blocks in her hands, stumbling as she walked towards him.
Chester Robinson furrowed his brow, "Keith Antony, Keith Antony..."
He called his subordinate’s name, but the subordinate wasn’t present at this moment.
Chester felt a bit irritable and stood up.
Chester prepared to leave the study, but suddenly, his leg was tangled by something and he couldn’t continue moving. He frowned and looked down, and sure enough, Rachel had placed her toy on the floor beside him and was tightly hugging his thigh, looking up at him with a giggle.
"Uncle... teach me to play..." Rachel called sweetly.
For some reason, she just really liked clinging to Chester.
"Move away." Chester’s voice wasn’t particularly stern, but it lacked any tenderness.
"Uncle, teach me..."
"I said move away." Chester wanted to pull his leg out, but Rachel hugged it tightly like an octopus, unable to be detached.
"Keith Antony? Mrs. Chen?" Chester scanned around, not seeing anyone, "Damn it..." What’s going on? Where did everyone go?
Chester helplessly chose to compromise and bent down, negotiating, "If you let go of me, I’ll help you build your blocks, okay?"
Rachel obediently nodded, "Okay."
Speaking, Rachel’s chubby little hands finally let go of Chester.
Chester was supposed to walk straight out of the study, but Rachel’s innocent, expectant gaze made him pause.
"Uncle..."
The soft, wriggling voice of the little girl inexplicably softened Chester’s hard heart, and he picked up the blocks on the ground and began building for Rachel.
Rachel stood beside Chester’s leg, watching him seriously.
This was Chester’s first time looking at Rachel so closely...
It was only then he realized how adorable she was.
In the afternoon, the golden sunlight shone through the window behind her, creating a dazzling halo at the tips of her soft hair. If she had wings, she’d be like a cute little angel from Western paintings.
Her little face was chubby, white, and tender, with cheeks as rosy as apples and a cherry-like little mouth biting her finger.
She really resembled Alice Robinson...
Seeing Chester finally finished building the blocks, Rachel hugged them and gave Chester a sweet smile.
Seeing Rachel’s angelic and cute smile, Chester instinctively returned a smile. He almost wanted to reach out and hug Rachel’s soft, chubby little body, but a hurried footstep suddenly woke him up.
"Rachel..."
Alice’s anxious voice rang out.
"Mommy..." Rachel ran out.
"Rachel..." Alice picked up Rachel and held her close.
Rachel didn’t understand the relationships between adults, she just happily asked Alice, "Mommy, look... did Uncle build the blocks nicely?"
Alice stared at the blocks in Rachel’s hand, dazed for a moment.
"Uncle is so clever... he knows how to build a house without even looking at the instructions..." Although the child was nearly three years old, her speech wasn’t very clear; she referred to "instructions" as "Ming Ming Shu."
Alice made no comment about this, only gently reprimanding her daughter, "Didn’t Mommy tell you that without Mommy’s permission, you can’t leave with anyone?"
Rachel’s innocent eyes filled with confusion, "But, he’s Uncle..." freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
The child’s words left Alice speechless.
Yes, he is the child’s "Uncle"...
"Miss Alice, don’t worry... the boss won’t do anything to the little missy." Keith Antony had somehow appeared next to Alice, comforting her.
But Alice wasn’t reassured. She handed Rachel over to Keith and said calmly, "Please take care of her for me."
Keith nodded.
Alice then walked towards the study.
"Why do you let Aunt PA pack my things, and even use Rachel to threaten me to come back?"
As soon as she entered, Alice questioned Chester who was sitting behind the desk, looking down at the documents.
Chester didn’t raise his head, indifferent, "An old apartment isn’t suitable for you, you need to move back."
"Where I live is none of your business, you don’t have the right to make me move back."
Her assertive tone made him frown, and he looked up, setting aside the documents, his faint gaze meeting hers, "As the future leader of the Robinson family, living in such a cheap apartment is unacceptable!"
"This is my choice, I don’t need you to control it."
"You don’t need me to control it, or are you just afraid of living under the same roof with me?" Chester coldly stood up, his tall figure coming before her, eyes devoid of warmth as he looked at her.
Alice was stunned.
Chester’s gaze was piercing, "As the eldest daughter of the Robinsons, you’ve never taken family responsibilities to heart, acting on emotions. Do you think this makes you independent?"
Alice’s nose felt sour from his scolding, "I don’t want you to interfere."
"If not for David Robinson raising me, I’d naturally not interfere."
"I don’t need you hypocritically flaunting the grace of the Robinson family at me. You’re helping me for Rachel’s sake, afraid I won’t be able to take care of Rachel in the future."
She knew that although he didn’t love Rachel, he did have paternal love for her...
He didn’t like Rachel only because he didn’t like her.
"Well, since you understand, you should obediently move back. Over the next month, I’ll teach you how to manage the Robinson family’s winery."
"I don’t need you to teach..." Alice stared fixedly at him.
Chester squinted, "What did you say?"
