Chapter 235 End The Engagement With Amber
“I loathe it when others threaten me!” Arthur was incensed as he pointed at Rachel’s face and rebuked her by saying, “Do you think that you can walk out of this place unscathed today?”
“Since I even bothered to come all the way here, I’ve naturally made ample preparations. If you dare to lay a hand on me, I won’t be the only one going down—you’ll be affecting all the Burton Pharmaceuticals resources that I own too,” Rachel answered in a bland tone.
“You think that I’ll cower because of that? So what if the entire Burton Pharmaceuticals crumbles?”
“I have the Carters backing me as well. Are you sure you won’t bat an eye when they breathe down your neck?”
Arthur’s expression was stormy. He had nearly forgotten that Rachel was now the president of Carter Enterprise’s adopted daughter. Everyone knew just how much both the president and his wife adored her; in fact, they loved her no less than if she were their own flesh and blood.
“I think you should be able to see that I wouldn’t have returned to this country if it wasn’t for that incident with Hans. Since you want me to leave, the best way would, of course, be to hand me the evidence so I can get this over with. I’ll then glady leave without you needing to remind me about it.” Rachel stood up. “To me, Riverdale is just a place filled with pain. I am not attached to this city.” As she spoke, loud noises could be heard outside the study.
“Young Master, your grandfather is currently in discussion with his guest. You cannot go in.”
“What is he discussing that needs Rachel here? Rachel!”
Rachel’s brows furrowed, and a complicated look came over her face.
Arthur glanced at the locked door. “I can hand the evidence to you, but I need some time to do so. Until then, I hope that you will be able to behave yourself. You must not so much as breathe a word about the past,” he said in a low voice.
“That’s a given.”
Now that she had said those words, the both of them came to a tacit agreement. Rachel then opened the door.
Justin was outside, sitting in his wheelchair. An undercurrent of anxiety could be seen marring his handsome features. The moment he saw her, he immediately pulled her over and checked her from all angles. “Are you all right?”
“You haven’t recovered yet, have you? Who allowed you to come all the way here?” Arthur’s voice could be heard scolding Justin from inside the study.
Justin’s eyes darkened as he immediately pulled Rachel behind him to shield her. Even when confined to a wheelchair, his personality was as forceful as ever. “Grandpa, why did you bring Rachel here?”
“I called her over so that I could have a word with her. Do I need to report something like this to you?”
“If you just wanted to talk to her, couldn’t you have done it over a phone call? Why the racket? Why get the butler to retrieve her?” Justin’s tone was harsh and pressuring.
“What’s with that attitude? What does having a talk with her have to do with you? I should be able to ask her a few questions even if she is an employee under the Burton Group, no? I have made my decision—I will have her transferred to a subsidiary away from the headquarters!” Arthur stated, incensed.
“What?” Justin’s expression turned stormy. “She is under my jurisdiction. Apart from myself, no one is allowed to transfer her anywhere!”
“You wilful child!” Arthur smacked the top of the desk hard. “Do not forget that you are still engaged to Amber. The wedding will be held at the end of the year! Don’t you know when to stop avoiding your responsibilities? Have you not seen what the media has been saying about this?”
Ever since Justin and Rachel announced that Samuel was their son during that press conference, countless speculations and theories had popped up online about their relationship, their hatred for each other, as well as their love. At the same time, the Burton Group had taken advantage of all the publicity to push sales. But now, Arthur actually blamed the media for making up stories out of thin air?
Justin scoffed coldly. “You didn’t voice any objections when the initial marketing plan was unveiled, and now you’re kicking Rachel aside since you think she’s in the way? How does it feel to be as heartless as you are?”
“How dare you… Is this the way to speak to me?”
Justin drew in a deep breath. “You don’t have to worry about my engagement with Amber. I have already gotten someone to handle the paperwork. Once I have recovered, I will announce that the engagement is canceled.”
Arthur was so furious that he shook. “Are you canceling your engagement because of this woman?”
Justin held Rachel’s hand right in front of Arthur. “You heard that right—I want to end my engagement,” he said boldly and honestly as Rachel looked on in shock.
“You insolent thing!”
Justin and Rachel had only just stepped out of the study when an inkstone flew out after them along with Arthur’s furious, breathless yells and the family butler’s soothing tones. The two of them didn’t look back and left the summer villa.
Justin kept holding Rachel’s hand throughout the entire trip back. Although the air conditioning inside the car was on, sweat kept pouring from his hand.
Rachel frowned. “There’s no one around to see us now. It’s okay to let go, right?”
However, Justin gripped her hand tighter. “What did my grandpa say to you?”
“What do you think?”
“He wants you to stay away from me, am I right?” Justin’s expression darkened a little. “You don’t have to care about what he said, and the only one you should listen to is me. If my grandpa’s servants call you over in the future, don’t go. Just tell me and I’ll take care of it. No matter what he says, never agree to whatever deal the old man offers.”
When he noticed that Rachel remained silent, he frowned deeply. “You promised him something, didn’t you?”
A slight pain spread throughout the hand that Justin gripped. Rachel glanced at him. “What deal do you think your grandfather has offered me? What kind of deal do you think could be even more advantageous than us being together? Throwing a hundred million bucks at me?”
“What is a hundred million? As long as you stay with me, the entire Burton Group will be ours in the future,” Justin said.
“That may not be set in stone. We might not be able to stay together until the end. I won’t even have that one hundred million then, never mind the Burton Group. Wouldn’t that be a massive loss for me then?”
“You actually thought about that?” Justin stared at her and squeezed her hand hard. “Don’t you trust me? Alternatively, do you not trust yourself?”
“Ouch,” Rachel gasped under her breath.
Justin immediately loosened his grip. “Where are you hurt?”
Nevertheless, she remained silent.
Soon, night had already fallen. The world outside the car zoomed past them through the windows as they journeyed from the suburbs to the city proper. Six years of experiences zipped around Rachel’s mind; many of the scenes were blurry, blending with each other seamlessly.
“Rachel.”
“Yeah?”
“They said that I was terrible to you back then, but I can’t recall anything.”
“It’s fine if you can’t remember it.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Although Justin’s voice was by her ear, it sounded a little distant. “Ever since I first saw you and found out who you were to me, I felt like you were a significant part of my old memories. While I can’t bring myself to verbally acknowledge it, and while I truly can’t remember it either, my subconsciousness is telling me that you are important to me.”
His life had initially been rigid and unchanging. He had followed the path that had been laid out for him. Under the arrangements that his family made, he would soon marry Amber. And yet, Rachel had to return right at this moment. Those initially lost memories had seemingly begun to slowly peek out from whatever corners they were tucked away in.
He couldn’t remember anything about his time with Rachel in the past, but he could remember his feelings. Evidently, he liked her.
When he still didn’t hear anything from Rachel after a while, Justin turned his head to take a look, only to see her leaning back in the seat with her eyes closed. She had fallen asleep without him noticing, and she looked so serene and at peace.
Justin’s eyes dulled, and he felt a little disappointed. A moment later, he took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
