Chapter 96: The Cause of the Accident
For a mont, he didn’t know what to say to comfort her.
Suddenly, Rachel Royce said, "Oh, by the way, Thomas is coming to the hospital later."
Julian Jennings asked, "He knows about your car accident?"
The mont he asked, he rembered. ’Ian Quinn had just asked him about it, too.’
"Yes. You should go out to dinner with him tonight. I’d like to be alone for a while."
Julian Jennings said, "Alright."
Forty-so minutes later.
Thomas Sterling rushed to the hospital. Only after seeing for himself that Rachel Royce was safe and sound did he let out a huge sigh of relief.
"As long as you’re okay."
"Have they found the cause of the accident?"
The police had sent word. The hotel’s surveillance footage confird that soone did tamper with the car. However, the perpetrator was fully prepared and concealed their identity completely, so finding them will take ti.
"Do you need my help?"
Julian Jennings had spoken with Victor Yates today, but that sly old fox was an expert at feigning ignorance. With the culprit still at large, it wasn’t the right ti for a confrontation, so Julian didn’t expose him.
"Actually, Thomas, I do need your help."
Thomas Sterling’s computer skills were formidable. Finding evidence through normal ans would take too long; they needed unconventional thods.
"We can discuss the details over dinner."
Rachel Royce wanted to rest.
So, Thomas Sterling and Julian Jennings didn’t disturb her any longer. After saying their goodbyes, they left the hospital room.
Thomas Sterling got into Julian Jennings’s car, and they left the hospital, heading to a nearby five-star hotel for dinner.
When the two of them arrived at the restaurant, they happened to run into Tristan Sterling and lissa, along with Claire Ainsworth.
lissa looked listless, not as lively as usual. When she saw him, she called out, "Mr. Ford!"
Hearing lissa’s voice, Thomas Sterling turned around. His eyes darkened when he saw the three of them.
He strode forward.
lissa ran toward him.
Thomas Sterling picked lissa up. "You haven’t seen your Mr. Ford in a long ti."
lissa said, "lissa missed Mr. Ford."
"Mr. Ford missed lissa too."
lissa saw Julian Jennings and called out, "Mr. Jennings."
Julian Jennings smiled gently. "Good evening, lissa."
Tristan Sterling and Claire Ainsworth walked over.
Thomas Sterling greeted Tristan Sterling, "Cousin."
He completely ignored Claire Ainsworth, who was standing beside him.
Claire Ainsworth naturally noticed. She knew Thomas Sterling didn’t like her, and she couldn’t be bothered to cozy up to him either. But his blatant disregard and the contemptuous look he always gave her made her furious inside.
Tristan Sterling said, "Hm. What brings you to Athera?"
Thomas Sterling replied, "I had so business to take care of here. I just arrived today. I didn’t expect to run into you, Cousin. Are you here on vacation?"
Tristan Sterling said flatly, "Taking care of sothing."
Thomas Sterling didn’t press further.
They didn’t talk much more.
Thomas Sterling handed lissa back to Tristan Sterling.
The two parties went to their respective tables.
Thomas Sterling asked, "When did lissa et you?"
Julian Jennings took a sip of water and said, "Yesterday."
He briefly explained the situation to Thomas Sterling.
Thomas Sterling remarked, "lissa is a good kid."
His cousin had raised lissa well; that was undeniable.
"Perhaps lissa can sense it, but just can’t put it into words."
Julian Jennings nodded.
The two didn’t continue on that topic.
They moved on to business.
"How can I help?"
After lissa finished eating, she ran over to Thomas Sterling’s table. He lifted her onto the seat beside him.
He glanced in Tristan Sterling and Claire Ainsworth’s direction; their table was quite a distance away.
Claire Ainsworth, watching them, remarked, "Thomas knows full well, yet he’s still so close to Julian Jennings."
Tristan Sterling sipped his red wine, his dark eyes reflecting in the glass, making his expression unreadable.
lissa was chatting with Thomas Sterling. "Today, I heard Aunt Evelynn on the phone," she said, "and the voice on the other end sounded a lot like you, Mr. Ford."
It seed lissa was there when Rachel Royce was on the phone with him.
Thomas Sterling patted lissa’s little head. "Well, what a coincidence."
"Mr. Jennings knows Aunt Evelynn. Does Mr. Ford know Aunt Evelynn too?"
’This little one is a clever little imp.’
Thomas Sterling didn’t answer lissa’s question directly. Instead, he asked, "Does lissa like this Aunt Evelynn a lot?"
lissa nodded. "I do. Aunt Evelynn is very gentle." Then she mumbled, "I was keeping Aunt Evelynn company today, but Daddy took away. He wouldn’t let stay, said I’d get sick in the hospital."
Thomas Sterling comforted her, "Your daddy is just worried about you. Hospitals have a lot of germs, and if lissa gets an infection, she’ll get sick. If lissa gets sick, your great-grandma and great-grandpa, your grandma and grandpa, and your daddy will all be heartbroken."
"I know, but I just miss Aunt Evelynn."
"If you miss her, you can call her or have a video chat."
Coaxed by Thomas Sterling, lissa’s mood brightened considerably.
After Tristan Sterling finished his al, he walked over to their table. Looking at lissa, he said, "lissa, it’s ti to go."
Thomas Sterling said to lissa, "You should go back with your daddy now!"
lissa waved at him. "Bye-bye, Mr. Ford! Bye-bye, Mr. Jennings!"
Thomas Sterling helped lissa get up. Tristan Sterling swooped in, picked her up, gave a brief nod to Thomas and Julian, and left with lissa.
After dinner, Thomas Sterling and Julian Jennings also left the hotel.
They went back to the hospital to keep Rachel Royce company.
After a while, the two of them left.
After another check-up tomorrow, Rachel Royce would be able to go ho and rest properly.
Julian Jennings also went to see Marcus Sheldon. In his current condition, he wouldn’t be leaving the hospital anyti soon.
"I owe you one for this ti. Don’t even think about coming back to work until you’re fully recovered."
It was thanks to Marcus Sheldon’s superb driving skills that a major disaster was averted.
Marcus Sheldon said gratefully, "Thank you, President Jennings."
Julian Jennings instructed Miles Sheldon to take good care of him.
Julian Jennings and Thomas Sterling left the hospital.
「That night.」
Tristan Sterling was putting lissa to sleep, gently patting her back.
lissa leaned against her father’s chest. He heard her murmur, "Daddy."
"Hm?"
lissa lifted her little head to look at her father. "It would be nice if Daddy liked Aunt Evelynn."
Tristan Sterling’s hand, which was patting her, paused. Very gently and patiently, he asked, "Why do you want Daddy to like Aunt Evelynn?"
lissa pouted her little lips and said, "I want Daddy and Aunt Evelynn to be together. That way, lissa can be with Aunt Evelynn every day."
Tristan Sterling’s thumb gently caressed his daughter’s cheek. "Does lissa like Aunt Evelynn so much that you don’t like Daddy anymore?"
lissa imdiately wrapped her arms around her father’s neck. "Of course I like Daddy! lissa likes Daddy the most! lissa will never not like Daddy!"
Tristan Sterling smiled, his large hand ruffling her little head. "And Daddy will only ever love lissa the most."
lissa giggled happily in her father’s arms, montarily forgetting the question she wanted him to answer. As he continued to soothe her, she drifted off to sleep.
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