Chapter 92 lissa Insists on Staying
lissa carried a bag to the bed and set it down. "Aunt Evelynn," she said, "this is a little cake I made for you."
Rachel was delighted. "For !"
lissa nodded happily. "Go on and try it, Aunt Evelynn."
An indescribable emotion washed over Rachel. She hadn’t spent a single day with her in five years, yet her daughter was so affectionate. She was moved, but more than that, she felt a profound sense of guilt.
Swallowing the bittersweet feeling, she reached for the bag and took out the cake, which was packed in a box. Its lopsided shape was clearly a child’s handiwork.
She opened the lid, picked up the spoon, and took a bite. The taste was sweet but not too rich, and it was quite good. "It’s delicious. You’re a great baker, lissa."
Rachel’s praise made lissa grin, revealing her sweet dimples.
Rachel offered lissa a spoonful, and lissa leaned in to take a bite. They looked at each other and smiled, the air around them filled with a sweet warmth.
For a mont, she completely forgot there was another man standing in the room.
The man quietly watched the warm, harmonious scene. His gaze was dark and inscrutable, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
Then, his phone began to vibrate.
Rachel’s expression faltered, and she looked up at the man.
Tristan Sterling stepped out of the room to take the call.
Rachel watched him leave, trying to compose herself.
’He probably won’t get too suspicious, right?’
But she wasn’t confident in that thought at all.
When Tristan Sterling returned from his call, he said to lissa, "lissa, it’s ti for us to go."
lissa imdiately protested. "No! Aunt Evelynn is sick and all by herself. I want to stay with Aunt Evelynn."
Rachel tried to persuade her. "lissa, your aunt is fine. Go ho with your dad. I’ll play with you again when I’m all better."
But this ti, lissa wouldn’t even listen to her. She was determined to stay at the hospital and even hurried her father to leave.
"I’ll be good, I promise! You can just co get when you’re done with work, Daddy. Go on, go get your work done!"
Tristan Sterling looked at Rachel. "Then I’ll have to trouble you to watch her, Miss Evelynn."
Since Tristan Sterling had put it that way, Rachel couldn’t object and agreed.
Tristan Sterling stepped out and made a call, instructing a bodyguard to co up and stand guard outside the door.
After leaving the hospital and getting into his car, he received a call from Claire Ainsworth.
Rachel was fine to get out of bed and walk around. She was in a private room, so she stayed there with lissa.
lissa had brought her books and a tablet.
The mother and daughter sat on the sofa. Rachel held lissa in her arms, reading a story to her from a book. lissa leaned obediently against her.
Slling her daughter’s sweet scent and seeing the smile on her face, Rachel felt it was all worth it, even if she could only have this fleeting mont of happiness.
「At 6:00 PM.」
Rachel heard from a nurse that Marcus Sheldon had woken up. She let out a huge sigh of relief. Miles Sheldon was in the room with him.
While Rachel and lissa were having dinner, Julian Jennings arrived.
He wasn’t surprised to see lissa; he had guessed she was there from the bodyguard posted outside the door.
Rachel asked, "Have you had dinner, Professor?"
Julian Jennings nodded. "I have."
lissa blinked her big eyes, looking at Julian Jennings with curiosity.
Rachel looked at her. "lissa, say hello to Mr. Jennings."
lissa obediently said, "Hello, Mr. Jennings."
Julian Jennings smiled, pulling up a stool to sit across from them. "Hello, lissa. It’s nice to et you. I’m sorry, I didn’t get you a gift for our first eting."
lissa replied, "I don’t need a gift."
Because lissa was there, Julian Jennings and Rachel stuck to small talk.
Julian Jennings also chatted with lissa for a bit.
A nurse ca in to change Rachel’s dressing.
Rachel’s forehead injury was rather severe and required a few stitches. Worried it would scare lissa, she asked Julian Jennings to take the little girl outside for a mont.
Rachel gave the nurse a aningful look.
The nurse understood and announced that no one else was allowed in the room during the dressing change.
Only then did lissa obediently leave the room.
lissa ca back in after the dressing had been changed.
「Around 8:00 PM.」
Tristan Sterling arrived at the room.
He walked in to find Julian Jennings and lissa having a Sudoku competition. Of course, Rachel was helping lissa, and the atmosphere was warm and cheerful.
"Yay!"
lissa suddenly cried out happily.
"Aunt Evelynn, we won!"
Julian Jennings looked at lissa and said with a smile, "You’re amazing, lissa. I admit defeat."
lissa was beaming, her eyes crinkling into happy slits.
Rachel handed lissa her water bottle, telling her to take a sip. As she looked up, she saw the man at the door. Tristan Sterling strode into the room.
Rachel looked at him. There was sothing obviously wrong with his aura. Her gaze darkened, wondering what was wrong with him now.
"Daddy!"
lissa, oblivious to her father’s mood, called out happily.
Julian Jennings stood and turned to Tristan Sterling. "President Sterling."
Tristan Sterling gave a slight nod, his expression as impassive as ever. He looked at lissa and said, "lissa, it’s ti to go."
lissa still seed reluctant to leave.
Rachel coaxed, "It’s getting late. You should go ho and get so rest, lissa."
lissa was quiet for a mont before lifting her head to look at Rachel. "Then I’ll co back to keep you company tomorrow, Aunt Evelynn."
Rachel humd softly.
Rachel finished packing lissa’s backpack and helped her put it on.
Tristan Sterling bent down and scooped lissa into his arms.
"Goodbye, Aunt Evelynn! Goodbye, Mr. Jennings!" lissa waved to them both.
Julian Jennings waved back. "Goodbye. Be careful on your way out."
Tristan Sterling turned and left with lissa in his arms. The little girl’s eyes remained fixed on Rachel, full of reluctance, only turning her head away once they were out of the room.
After lissa left, Julian Jennings updated her on a few things. He had already contacted the people at Procare and confird the contract would be signed tomorrow. It seed Tristan Sterling hadn’t made a move yet.
"As long as we can get it signed, that’s what matters," Rachel said.
"I’ll ask the doctor later if you can be discharged for an hour tomorrow. It would be best for you to sign it yourself. You should see it through to the end."
*
Tristan Sterling settled lissa into the car, and the vehicle pulled away from the hospital.
"Daddy," lissa said suddenly.
Tristan Sterling looked at his daughter, his voice gentle. "What is it, lissa?"
lissa asked, "Daddy, can you be nice to Aunt Evelynn, like Mr. Jennings is?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)