Chapter 170: Tristan Brought Her Back
Tristan Sterling glanced their way. He said a word to the person he was talking with, as well as Harvey Ainsworth, before walking toward Suzanne Sullivan.
Rachel Royce noticed Tristan Sterling walking toward her and stood up. "Please excuse for a mont."
Suzanne Sullivan humd in acknowledgnt.
Rachel Royce walked straight out of the banquet hall.
Tristan Sterling’s eyes narrowed as he watched her retreating figure.
「At the sa ti.」
Claire Ainsworth noticed Rachel, and a vicious glint flashed through her eyes.
Rachel Royce stepped out of the banquet hall into the much quieter corridor, just wanting to get so fresh air.
She followed the corridor to a quiet terrace. The night breeze was cool against her skin. From there, she had an unobstructed view of Portington’s dazzling, prosperous cityscape at night.
「Just then.」
Her phone started to buzz.
Rachel Royce took her phone from her small purse and answered the call. "lissa."
"Aunt Evelynn, I’m so sorry, I missed your call. I only just saw it now."
Rachel’s mood brightened instantly at the sound of her daughter’s soft voice.
"It’s okay. I was busy this morning and couldn’t be with you, lissa. I’m sorry about that."
lissa quickly said, "I know you’re busy, Aunt Evelynn. I’m not mad at you."
Her daughter’s maturity only filled Rachel Royce with a sense of indescribable guilt.
"I haven’t seen you all day, Aunt Evelynn. When are you coming ho tonight?"
Hearing the tentative note in lissa’s voice, Rachel said, "I’m coming back right now."
’She really didn’t want to stay any longer anyway. With Ian Quinn here, she didn’t need to worry about things.’
lissa’s voice imdiately brightened. "Okay!"
Rachel Royce called Ian Quinn.
The call went through right away.
"Rachel."
Rachel told Ian she was leaving.
"Alright, you head back then. I’ve got things covered here. Be careful on the way ho."
"Okay."
She hung up.
Rachel turned to head back. Suddenly, soone appeared behind her out of nowhere. Before she could get a clear look at them, a hand clamped over her mouth and nose. She struggled frantically, but her vision quickly darkened and her consciousness began to fade.
In less than a minute.
Her body went limp, and she passed out completely.
The man imdiately swept Rachel Royce into his arms and hurried away. But just as he rounded a corner in the corridor, he ca face-to-face with a tall man standing in his path.
The man simply stood there, motionless. His features were cold and severe, and his naturally intimidating presence was enough to make anyone cower.
The instant their eyes t.
The attacker froze, feeling as if an invisible hand were viciously squeezing his throat, making it hard to breathe.
Tristan Sterling looked at the man, his gaze then dropping to the unconscious Rachel in his arms. He stepped forward and took her from the man’s grasp.
The man remained frozen, not daring to resist in the slightest.
He knew who stood before him, and his heart was filled with nothing but boundless terror.
Holding the unconscious woman, Tristan Sterling looked down at the man and said in a glacial tone, "Don’t let see you again."
The man kept his head bowed.
Tristan Sterling turned and walked away, carrying Rachel in his arms.
*
When Rachel Royce groggily awoke, the air was filled with the sweet, clean scent of milk. She felt warm and comfortable, and there seed to be sothing small and soft in her arms. She instinctively pulled it closer, hugging it tight.
Suddenly, Rachel’s mind cleared. She snapped her eyes open to a pitch-black room, but she could clearly feel a small body snuggled in her arms.
As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could make out lissa’s little head resting against her chest.
Her mind was foggy for a mont.
’I rember being drugged...’
’But now I’m here, lying perfectly fine next to lissa.’
Aside from a slight grogginess, her body felt completely fine.
’I don’t know what happened in between...’
’...but I’m sure Tristan Sterling was the one who brought back.’
She decided not to dwell on it for now. Instead, she pulled lissa closer, holding her tight.
「As dawn broke.」
lissa stirred and rubbed her eyes. When she opened them, she saw Aunt Evelynn watching her. "Good morning, Aunt Evelynn," she mumbled sleepily.
Rachel smoothed down her ssy hair and kissed her forehead. "Good morning, sweetheart."
lissa woke up a little more at that, then lifted her head to plant a loud kiss on Rachel’s cheek.
The mother and daughter snuggled affectionately, content to laze in bed with no intention of getting up.
"Aunt Evelynn, you suddenly fainted last night. Daddy carried you back."
Just as she’d thought.
It was Tristan Sterling who brought her back.
’So he saved ?’
’I don’t even have to think to know who was behind last night’s attack.’
’Tristan must have guessed, too.’
「Just then.」
The door clicked open.
Rachel glanced over and saw a man walk in.
Tristan Sterling glanced at her.
"Daddy!"
lissa scrambled up, trotting across the soft duvet to the edge of the bed and holding out her arms for a hug.
Tristan walked over and scooped up his daughter, tossing her into the air a couple of tis. lissa’s delighted laughter echoed through the bedroom.
As the man looked at his daughter, his gentle expression was filled with pure adoration.
Rachel leaned against the headboard, watching the father and daughter play.
"Alright," Tristan said, setting his daughter down. "Ti to wash up and have breakfast."
lissa dove back toward Rachel and snuggled into her arms. "Aunt Evelynn, do we have to get up?" she asked.
Rachel stroked her head. "Why don’t you let Daddy take you to wash up? I’m going to rest a bit more."
’The drug from last night probably hasn’t worn off completely,’ she thought, her head still feeling a bit fuzzy.
"Then I’ll stay with you, Aunt Evelynn."
Tristan took a step closer, his eyes on her. "Are you still not feeling well?"
Rachel glanced at him and said coolly, "I’ll be fine after a little rest."
She had no intention of thanking him.
Tristan didn’t press the issue. "I’ll have soone bring breakfast up," he said.
With that,
the man turned and left the bedroom.
After Tristan left,
Rachel looked at lissa, who was pouting and staring up at her. "What’s the matter, lissa?"
"You and Daddy don’t talk nicely to each other," lissa said.
Rachel stroked her little head. "Aunt Evelynn and your daddy don’t really know each other well."
lissa pouted, feeling a little upset. She flopped down into Rachel’s arms and fell silent.
Rachel stroked her daughter’s soft, long hair, and her heart sank.
The nanny brought breakfast up.
She also brought a bowl of dicinal soup for Rachel. After drinking it, she did feel much clearer.
Just as she and lissa finished getting dressed and were about to head downstairs,
she received a call from Thomas Sterling.
"Thomas?"
"Rachel," Thomas said, "is everything going smoothly over there with you and Ian?"
Rachel replied, "Everything’s fine. We successfully signed the contract yesterday."
"So when are you coming back?"
"We’ll head back the day after tomorrow, after we attend June’s grandfather’s birthday banquet. By the way, how are things with my brother now?"
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