Free Web NovelChapter 306: Chapter 306: Then What Did You Do Back Then?
Chapter 306: Then What Did You Do Back Then?
Then, another silence fell.
Jason Sinclair looked at the somber expressions on Tristan Sterling and Alexander Sullivan’s faces. At a loss for words, he could only sit to the side and wait with them.
Tristan Sterling raised his wrist and glanced at the time on his watch.
「Five minutes later.」
Bianca Lowe returned to the lounge, bringing Anna Lawrence with her.
Anna Lawrence walked up to Rachel Royce. The indignant resentment in her eyes was gone, her fiery arrogance completely reined in. She lowered her head and said softly, "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lashed out." Her previous domineering attitude had vanished without a trace. Rachel Royce looked up at her, her gaze cold, and did not respond.
Tristan Sterling sat beside her, his arm resting on the sofa’s armrest. He tapped his index finger lightly, his expression inscrutable.
The vast lounge was utterly silent, so quiet that you could almost hear everyone’s breathing.
Chalrton Lawrence spoke up. "Miss Evelynn, I’m willing to agree to any compensation you desire, as long as you’re no longer upset." Rachel Royce remained silent, showing no reaction.
Watching from the side, Sharon Sinclair couldn’t help but feel a flicker of displeasure at Rachel Royce’s behavior. ’She sits beside Tristan Sterling, and now it’s as if everyone has to walk on eggshells around her.’
’Of course, I can understand,’ she mused. ’After all, with those two protecting her, she certainly has the capital to act this way.’
Jason Sinclair adopted a sincere tone. "Evelynn, this did happen at my home, after all. We won’t shirk our responsibility. Consider us indebted to you. If there’s anything you need, just say the word." Rachel Royce saw clearly that the Sinclairs were protecting Anna Lawrence. She fell silent for a moment before saying, "If that’s the case, then I have nothing to say. And I don’t need anything."
With that, she rose to her feet and walked out of the lounge.
Tristan Sterling, who hadn’t uttered a single word from start to finish, got up and left with her.
Chalrton Lawrence suddenly called out to him. "Tristan, I’m sorry." Tristan Sterling paused, shot him a single glance, and said nothing.
Alexander Sullivan didn’t linger either.
「After the three of them left.」
The atmosphere in the room turned exceptionally grim.
Tristan Sterling and Alexander Sullivan had never made their stances clear, so no one knew what they were thinking. However, Rachel Royce’s attitude made it obvious that she had not accepted Anna Lawrence’s apology.
Anna Lawrence suddenly seethed, "She did it on purpose."
Now that she had calmed down, she realized in hindsight, ’She could have dodged the teacup I threw, but she just stood there without moving a muscle.’
’She must have done it to make Alexander Sullivan and Tristan Sterling feel sorry for her and come to her defense.’
Bianca Lowe said, "What’s done is done. There’s no point talking about it. Anna, from now on, you’d best steer clear of her. You’re no match for Evelynn."
Sharon Sinclair agreed. "Bianca’s right. Anna, don’t forget how your parents had to clean up your mess five years ago because of your foolishness."
She was referring to the time Tristan Sterling had abruptly canceled a partnership with the Lawrence Family. After learning the reason, the Lawrences had personally brought Anna to apologize, and in the end, it was Madam Sterling who had to step in and mediate.
"Tristan Sterling and Alexander Sullivan are clearly protecting Evelynn now. You should just focus on your engagement and learn to curb that temper of yours, before you stir up any more trouble."
No matter how unwilling Anna Lawrence felt, she understood they were right.
After the commotion that evening,
Rachel Royce was in no mood to stay any longer.
The Sinclairs clearly had an issue with her now, so she had no desire to remain.
They had originally planned to stay the night.
Tristan Sterling sent someone to bring Melissa downstairs.
While they waited for Melissa to be brought downstairs,
Sharon and Jason Sinclair walked over and apologized to them once again.
"Mommy," came Melissa’s sweet and soft voice.
The moment Rachel Royce saw Melissa, a gentle smile bloomed on her face. She stepped forward to take the little girl’s soft hand, her gaze then shifting to Franklin Fitzwilliam, who had accompanied her.
"Leaving already?" Franklin Fitzwilliam asked.
Rachel Royce hummed in affirmation.
Franklin Fitzwilliam didn’t press for details, only adding, "Drive safe."
Tristan Sterling led Rachel Royce and Melissa to the car, and they left.
After bidding them farewell, Alexander Sullivan left as well.
Franklin Fitzwilliam watched the car until it disappeared, then turned his gaze to Sharon Sinclair. "What exactly happened?"
Sharon Sinclair gave Franklin Fitzwilliam a brief explanation. "It was definitely Anna’s fault, but it shouldn’t have escalated to this point. I was hoping you, Franklin, could have a word with Tristan."
Right now, the only people whose words carried weight with Tristan Sterling were Franklin Fitzwilliam and Adrian Preston.
The Preston Family was reclusive and didn’t involve itself in the disputes of other powerful houses, but their status was still on par with the Sterlings and the Fitzwilliams.
Franklin Fitzwilliam said lightly, "It won’t do any good for me to talk to him. This whole thing depends on Evelynn’s attitude." His tone carried a hint of resignation.
As for the relationship between Alexander Sullivan and Rachel Royce, he wasn’t clear on that himself.
*
The Rolls-Royce glided smoothly down the road.
The only sound inside the car was Melissa’s voice. She had spotted the bandage on Rachel Royce’s forehead, but Rachel had just told her that she had accidentally bumped it.
"Let Melissa blow on it," Melissa said, leaning forward to gently blow on her mother’s forehead. She puckered her lips and exhaled carefully, as if afraid she might hurt her.
Rachel Royce held Melissa close, a wave of warmth washing over her heart, and her frayed nerves gradually began to settle.
"There, it doesn’t hurt anymore, Mommy’s all better. You can sit properly now, Melissa." Melissa obediently settled into her mother’s lap.
「Two hours later.」
They arrived at Silvermist Bay Villa.
Melissa had long since fallen asleep in the car.
Tristan Sterling carried her out of the car and handed her to the nanny.
Neither of them had eaten dinner.
Tristan Sterling had already instructed the chef to prepare a late meal.
"Let’s eat first," Tristan Sterling said, draping an arm over Rachel Royce’s shoulders. When they reached the dining room, the maids had already set out their dinner.
After they sat down,
Tristan Sterling asked, "About Anna Lawrence... what do you want to do?"
Rachel Royce’s hand, which was lifting her soup bowl, paused. She took a small sip, then looked at Tristan Sterling, the corner of her mouth curling into a faint, mocking smile. "You’re being surprisingly magnanimous."
Tristan Sterling’s eyes remained fixed on her, but he said nothing.
"Do you know why I let her hit me?" Rachel Royce continued.
Tristan Sterling said, "Whatever the reason, the fact is that you were hurt."
Rachel Royce couldn’t help but laugh. She quickly composed herself, her gaze locking onto his. "So, how do you plan to get even for me?"
Tristan Sterling replied, "I would never sit back and do nothing, of course."
Rachel Royce pressed, "Then what did you do back then?"
That dinner party five years ago.
Tristan Sterling was drugged.
She remembered going to find Tristan Sterling in his hotel room. On the way, she’d run into a woman with a livid expression, but before she could get a clear look, the power in the hallway had suddenly gone out.
Though she hadn’t seen the woman’s face clearly, her eyes... recalling them now, they were strikingly similar to Anna Lawrence’s. The connection finally clicked when she remembered the way Anna had stared at her earlier that night as she stood with Tristan.
Thinking back on Sharon Sinclair’s words, she became even more certain. The person who took the fall for drugging Tristan back then had been nothing more than a scapegoat.
’Tristan Sterling must have known that perfectly well, too.’
’And yet, what was the result?’
’Anna Lawrence was about to get engaged, yet she still dared to pull a stunt like this.’
’In the end, the only ones who had borne the brunt of his anger were her and Anna Lawrence’s scapegoat.’
’To think that people like them, with no power or background, were absolutely nothing in the eyes of the rich and powerful.’
