"I will not accept President Sullivan’s apology. Whoever did this will be the one to bear the consequences."
"I’ll take my leave now."
With that, Rachel Royce gathered her things and strode away without a backward glance.
Suzanne Sullivan’s gaze followed the woman’s departing figure until she was out of the living room. The inexplicable irritation in his heart grew even stronger.
Seeing Suzanne Sullivan’s foul expression, Ethan Chapman was at a complete loss.
"Pres... President Sullivan."
"Get out."
Ethan Chapman hastily agreed before turning and scurrying away.
After so ti, Suzanne Sullivan cald down and called Julian Jennings.
After he finished the call, the housekeeper brought him a cup of Calming Tea and remarked, "That young lady bears a slight resemblance to the Eldest Miss."
Sipping his tea, Suzanne Sullivan said, "There is a certain resemblance."
Rachel Royce drove away from the villa.
This outco was well within her expectations.
Just then, Rachel Royce’s car phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, Rachel’s mood instantly brightened. She answered the call, and lissa’s voice ca from the other end. "Aunt Evelynn, are you done with work?"
Rachel had told lissa her work schedule.
"Yes. And what are you up to, lissa?"
"I learned a new song today! Can I play it for you, Aunt Evelynn? Please?"
Rachel paused for a mont. ’So lissa didn’t go on the business trip with him.’ At that thought, she breathed a sigh of relief.
’She didn’t care about Claire Ainsworth and Tristan Sterling having ti to themselves; she was just scared of lissa being left alone with Claire.’
"Of course!"
Soon, the gentle lody of a piano piece drifted from the phone. It was a whimsical, child-like tune. Listening to her daughter play, Rachel felt a sense of healing wash over her.
Rachel pulled the car over to the side of the road, quieting her mind to listen.
When the piece was over, lissa’s voice ca through. "Aunt Evelynn."
"You played that wonderfully, lissa. It was beautiful."
lissa was thrilled by Rachel’s praise.
She began to chatter away with Rachel, telling her what she had for lunch, asking what Rachel had eaten, and what foods she liked and disliked.
’Her daughter had the sa tastes as her.’
’She didn’t like apples, and neither did her daughter.’
’She disliked celery, and her daughter did too.’
Children’s conversations were always so simple and innocent.
"Dad went on a business trip, so I’m at Grandma’s house now."
"..."
After they had been chatting for over ten minutes, Sylvia Shannon ca into lissa’s bedroom to bring her an after-dinner snack.
Rachel said, "Alright, lissa, let’s talk again next ti."
After hanging up, Rachel let out a long breath. The exhaustion weighing on her body finally lted away.
Just as she was about to start the car, a call ca in from Julian Jennings.
"Suzanne Sullivan just called . I’m still at the office. Co on back."
"Okay."
Rachel drove to the office.
When she arrived at Julian Jennings’s office, she announced herself.
"President Jennings."
At the office, she always addressed him as President Jennings.
"You haven’t eaten dinner yet, have you?" Julian Jennings said. "I had so food sent up for you. Go ahead and eat."
Rachel agreed softly.
She sat down on a chair and took a sip of soup. Julian Jennings, sitting opposite her, asked, "What all did Suzanne Sullivan say to you?"
"He said he’ll have soone issue a public apology that will be posted online everywhere," Julian said. "He’ll also pay you monetary compensation and consider it a personal favor he owes you. If you ever need his help in the future, he promises he won’t refuse."
For soone of Suzanne Sullivan’s stature, a favor like that carried significant weight.
Rachel’s lips curved into a cold smile. "I have to admit, Claire Ainsworth sure is lucky."
"I think his offer is acceptable," Julian said. "We’ll definitely need Suzanne Sullivan’s help soday. But of course, I’ll respect your decision."
Rachel took a bite of her food.
’She knew, of course, that Claire Ainsworth didn’t just have Suzanne Sullivan behind her; she also had Tristan Sterling’s protection. If she relentlessly pursued payback from Claire, she knew she wouldn’t co out on top in the end.’
’The so-called apology would probably just involve finding a scapegoat.’
Rachel was halfway through her al before she spoke. "Fine. Twenty million in compensation. Have Suzanne Sullivan transfer it directly to Tristan Sterling. And add a note: tell him to save it for his coffin."
Julian understood her aning. "I’ll let him know."
After dinner, Rachel drove ho.
She returned to Hillcrest Villa.
Thomas Sterling was there, too.
"Rachel, you’re back."
Rachel humd in response.
She looked at Peter Preston and asked, "Where are Mom and Dad?"
"They’re out taking Bobby for a stroll."
Rachel sat on the sofa. "So they don’t know about... my situation, do they?"
"No, we didn’t tell them."
"Did you go see Claire Ainsworth today?" Thomas Sterling asked.
Rachel briefly explained the situation to them.
Thomas Sterling’s expression remained grim. "My cousin needs to see her for who she really is."
Rachel let out a cold laugh. "It’s not that Tristan doesn’t know what kind of person Claire Ainsworth is. When you love soone, you love them even if they’re utterly wicked. You stop caring about their character or morals. You might even enable them to do wrong."
Peter Preston also looked troubled. "So you’re just going to let it go like that?"
"It’s over for now," Rachel said. "But I’m definitely not just letting it go."
’She was keeping score.’
Peter Preston said no more. He was right; Suzanne Sullivan had already made a huge concession for Claire Ainsworth’s sake. Pushing the matter further would only be counterproductive.
「The next morning.」
Tristan Sterling received a wire transfer of twenty million from Suzanne Sullivan.
He called him. "What’s this about?"
"Miss Evelynn asked to transfer the compensation directly to you," Suzanne Sullivan said. "She also asked to include a note."
Tristan Sterling had spoken with Suzanne Sullivan yesterday and learned what had happened. Of course, Suzanne had made excuses for Claire Ainsworth, saying, "It’s only because she cares so much about you."
Tristan hadn’t had much of a reaction to Claire’s actions, saying instead, "It’s no big deal if she throws a little tantrum."
"What was the note?"
"To save it for your coffin," Suzanne replied, his tone teasing.
Instead of getting angry, Tristan laughed.
Suzanne added, "She’s the sa Miss Evelynn who spilled coffee all over you last ti, isn’t she? Seems like she really has it in for you. What did you do to offend her? And why does she owe you twenty million?"
"And wasn’t it she who offended ?" Tristan retorted.
Suzanne let out a low chuckle. "I’ve never seen you get so worked up over a woman before," he mused.
"..."
They chatted for a little longer before hanging up.
Afterward, Tristan placed a video call to lissa, who was in the middle of eating breakfast.
He had originally planned to bring lissa with him. Work on this trip wasn’t too demanding, so it would have been a perfect opportunity to take her to the beach. But surprisingly, she hadn’t wanted to co with him this ti.
lissa chattered away to her dad.
She happily recounted her conversation with Rachel from the day before.
"lissa doesn’t like apples or celery, and Aunt Evelynn doesn’t like them either!"
Sylvia Shannon, sitting nearby, overheard lissa’s words. Her dissatisfaction with this Evelynn deepened. ’She’s just saying that to get on lissa’s good side, just pandering to her.’
’I warned her before, but she clearly let it go in one ear and out the other.’
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