Free Web NovelChapter 309: Chapter 309: Might as Well Give a Watch Too
Chapter 309: A Watch Would Be a Good Gift, Too
Rachel Royce brought Melissa back to Hillcrest Villa.
As she walked into the living room with Melissa, Rachel heard Johnson Royce on the phone. Hearing them, Johnson turned his head and said into the phone, "Your sister is back."
On the other end of the line, Alexander Sullivan hummed in acknowledgment. "Okay, Dad, I’ll let you go for now."
"Alright."
"Mr. Royce," Melissa called out.
Johnson Royce put down his phone, a loving smile on his face as he looked at Melissa. "Melissa, you’re here! Come and give Mr. Royce a hug."
Melissa threw herself into Johnson’s arms, and he laughed heartily.
Rachel walked over and asked casually, "Dad, who were you on the phone with?"
"A friend," Johnson Royce said.
Rachel didn’t press the matter. She noticed the gift boxes on the coffee table, which must have been New Year’s gifts. A single glance told her they were expensive items from overseas.
She couldn’t help but ask, "Who are the New Year’s gifts from?"
Johnson Royce could only explain, "From the friend I was just on the phone with. He’s abroad and had them sent over."
Rachel wasn’t very familiar with her father’s friends. People had sent New Year’s gifts over the years, but never anything this valuable. Not only that, but they weren’t generic presents; there were five distinct gifts, each one selected for a specific person. It was very thoughtful.
Sensing her confusion, Johnson added, "I helped him out once before. His business has taken a turn for the better this year, so he wanted to thank me. He’s a very considerate person, someone worth knowing. Look, this one’s for you."
Johnson handed one of the gifts to Rachel. "See if you like it."
Rachel took it with both hands and opened it. Inside was a women’s watch with a red strap, its face inlaid with fine diamonds. It was clearly a carefully chosen gift.
The brand was an affordable luxury one, with most of its watches priced around twenty to thirty thousand. In fact, a few of the watches she wore daily were from this same brand.
What a coincidence that he would send this.
Melissa leaned in for a look. "Wow," she exclaimed. "Mommy, the watch is so pretty."
"Do you like it?" Johnson Royce asked Rachel.
Rachel hummed in affirmation. "Your friend is very thoughtful, Dad. How will you reciprocate?"
"Your mother and I will handle the return gift, you don’t need to worry about it." As he spoke, something else occurred to Johnson. "He also has a son. I don’t know what to get him. Rachel, what do you think would be a good gift?"
"How old is his son? What does he do for work?"
"A little older than you. He runs his own business."
Rachel thought for a moment. "A watch would be a good gift, too."
"That’s a good idea," Johnson said. "We’ll get one in a similar price range. Why don’t you pick it out? I have no idea what styles you young people like. Once you’ve chosen one, I’ll pay for it."
"Okay," Rachel agreed.
The father and daughter continued their conversation.
Florence Preston came downstairs with Bobby.
"Rachel, you’re back."
"Mom."
Later that day, Rachel packed her suitcase. Since they would only be gone for a few days, and Julian Jennings had already made all the arrangements in Corhaven, they didn’t have to worry about a thing. All she really needed to do was pack a few changes of clothes.
At that moment, Rachel received a call from Zachary Dudley.
"Miss Royce, Mr. Sterling said he will be bringing Miss Melissa’s luggage over."
Hearing this, Rachel said, "I know. You can come back now."
Just before noon, Tristan Sterling drove up to the villa. He called Rachel, but she didn’t answer, hanging up on him directly. Instead, she had the nanny go out to get Melissa’s luggage.
Melissa was playing with Bobby at the time and had no idea her father had arrived.
Tristan Sterling sat in his car, his dark eyes fixed on the phone screen that had just been hung up on him.
A few minutes later, the nanny came out of the villa.
She noticed the man in the driver’s seat. Although his face was expressionless, he inexplicably exuded an intimidating aura.
She walked cautiously to the driver’s side window, her nerves tightening. After hesitating for a long moment, she suppressed her fear and slowly raised a hand to gently tap twice on the glass.
The window didn’t lower right away.
The nanny’s heart sank with uncertainty. She didn’t dare knock again and was at a loss for what to do.
After waiting a little longer, just as she was about to turn back, she heard the car door open.
The nanny quickly took two steps back. The man’s tall frame was imposing, his handsome face tense. His deep, dark, indifferent eyes were impossible to look at directly.
Startled, the nanny quickly stammered, "Mr... Mr. Sterling, I’m here to get Miss Melissa’s luggage."
Tristan Sterling said nothing. He walked deliberately to the trunk and took out Melissa’s luggage.
"Take it inside."
The nanny hurried forward and respectfully took it from him.
Tristan then got back in his car, turned it around, and drove away.
Seeing the car leave, the nanny finally breathed a sigh of relief. She carried Melissa’s suitcase back into the villa and went to Rachel’s bedroom.
"Miss Royce, here is Miss Melissa’s suitcase."
"Just put it there."
The nanny set down Melissa’s suitcase and left the room.
From beginning to end, Melissa never knew her father had been there.
A brand of baby formula from Zylos that Florence Preston had ordered for Bobby arrived. Since Rachel had nothing to do that afternoon, she went to the store to pick it up. While she was out, she also went to the mall and chose a men’s watch that cost around forty thousand, as well as two tins of tea for the elders.
Looking at the watch Rachel had chosen, Johnson Royce said, "You young people really have good taste. How much was it? I’ll transfer the money to you."
"There’s no need. We’re father and daughter; we don’t need to keep score."
"Alright, then."
After Rachel went upstairs,
Johnson Royce took a picture of the watch and sent it to Alexander Sullivan with a message:
Look at the gift your sister picked out for you. She’s going to Corhaven tomorrow with Stella and some friends, so come pick it up tomorrow afternoon.
Alexander Sullivan was very surprised when he received Johnson Royce’s message and replied:
Dad, what is this...
Johnson Royce replied:
I didn’t say the gift was from you. I just said it was from a friend’s son.
It dawned on Alexander. Even though the gift wasn’t technically for him, he was still very happy and replied:
Okay. Thanks, Dad.
Florence Preston walked over. Seeing him texting, she shot him a glance, picked up an orange from the coffee table, and said, "You’re quite good at putting on a show."
Johnson Royce put down his phone. "What else am I supposed to do?"
Florence couldn’t be bothered to argue. "Last time, I told you to return the card to him. Did you?"
She was referring to the bank card with thirty million on it that Alexander Sullivan had given him before.
Johnson Royce froze for a moment, then said, "I already returned it."
Florence stared at him. "Are you sure you returned it?"
Her gaze made him feel guilty. "I returned it."
Florence pulled the bank card directly from her pocket. "Then what is this?"
She had found it just now while tidying up his study.
Johnson Royce looked at the card, momentarily speechless. He decided to just speak his mind. "Florence, Alexander is my son, after all. He hasn’t had it easy all these years. This is just a small token of his feelings for us. There’s no need to hurt his feelings. It’s fine if we keep it."
"If you want it, you can keep it yourself. In any case, Bobby doesn’t need it," Florence said.
She placed the remaining half of her orange on the coffee table and stood up to leave.
Johnson Royce could only sigh helplessly as he reached for the other half of the orange.
