After Jolly left, Justin was left alone in the yard, and he had completely sobered up. The next day, everyone didn’t get up until noon because of the drinking. It was time to pack up and go back to Riverdale by then.
“I have a terrible headache. I must’ve drank some fake beer last night.” As soon as she woke up, Jolly complained, “Whoever bought the beer must’ve bought fake ones.”
Leroy was helpless. “You didn’t just drink beer. You drank white wine too.” “White wine?” Following Leroy’s gaze toward the yard, Jolly suddenly remembered something..
“Jolly, Leroy, come have breakfast.” Julian brought buns and fritters from the kitchen and waited for the others to join for breakfast. Jolly’s lips twitched awkwardly, and she felt somewhat guilty.
“Cough, cough.” She let out a couple of dry. coughs. “I’m coming. You guys start without me. I’ll wash up first.”
“Go ahead.” At this moment, Charlotte ran out of Justin’s room. “Why isn’t Daddy here?” “He’s not here?” Rachel glanced at Justin’s room. She saw that there was no one on the bed from the door, and even the sheets and bedding were neatly arranged.
Gloria said, “Oh, I forgot to tell you. He left earlier in the morning. No one was awake yet, so he didn’t want to bother anyone, but he sent me a message and asked me to tell everyone.”
Charlotte immediately pouted. “Why is Daddy like this?!” Gloria advised her, “Oh, Charlotte. You can see your daddy when you go back to Riverdale. So it’s understandable that he suddenly has something to go back to deal with, right?”
“It’s understandable.” Charlotte shot Rachel a glance. Her eyes were a little plaintive as she said in her babyish voice, “Daddy must be very sad.” Her voice wasn’t loud, but Rachel still heard it. She deliberately pretended not to hear it, lest the little girl had something to say about the topic again.
During the meal, Julian said, “After we’re done with this meal, we’ll go straight back to Riverdale. You guys can start thinking about seating arrangements.”
Jolly was the most careless as she still hadn’t noticed the tension between Gloria and Victor. “We can follow the same arrangement as when we came here. Chris and I will sit in your car, and we have to take Leroy too. Since the firefighters towed his car away.”
“No way!” Gloria’s face hardened. “I don’t want to be in the same car with him.” “Him?” Jolly was surprised and finally realized that she meant Victor and said, “Oh, why? What’s the matter?”
Rachel was very aware of what was going on and was about to advise them, but Victor’s temper flared again. “I won’t sit in the same car as you either. Do you think you’re the only one with a car? I’ll just sit in Dr. Peters’ car!”
Rachel felt helpless as she saw the beginnings of another fight between the two. “Why don’t we do this? Julian, you fetch Jolly, Leroy, and Victor. I’ll follow Gloria, and I can also bring the two children home.”
Julian hesitated for a moment, but now, it seemed that this was the only way. Jolly shook her head and looked at Gloria and Victor. “You guys are really something. Are you two primary school students in a relationship.. quarreling and creating trouble every day whenever you’re free? They’ve just started dating, yet you two are breaking them apart.”
“That’s enough.” Leroy tugged on her under the table. Jolly’s demeanor after imbibing in liquor was truly something else. She persuaded Justin to get Rachel back last night, but she didn’t remember anything after sobering up, and now she was even taking jabs at Gloria.
After the meal, the two cars left the old town according to Rachel’s arrangement. Gloria was driving fast along the mountain roads, and in the blink of an eye, she was far ahead of Julian’s car.
“Slow down.” Rachel grabbed the handle on the top of her head in anxiety. “Are you a racer?
There are children present.” Gloria slowly released the accelerator as she heard the reminder, but she still looked angry. Rachel said, “I know what you’re angry about. I’m to blame for this. I didn’t clarify matters, but you have to believe that the day will come for you and Victor.”
“Come on. Do you think he has ever thought about having a future with me? But, even if hel has, I won’t be with him if he carries on with that stupid temper of his!”
“You’re speaking out of anger again.”
Rachel was finding this whole situation rather ridiculous. “Then, do you really want to break up with him?” “If we don’t break up now, how long do I have to endure this? Wait until he angers me to my grave?”
This time, Gloria was indeed furious. But, this time, it was indeed a misunderstanding. No one expected that the ring in Victor’s hand was for Julian, which made Rachel feel somewhat embarrassed.
In fact, Gloria wasn’t only angry because of this mess up but also because Rachel agreed to Julian’s proposal. When she thought of Justin’s forced smile, her heart felt congested.
Halfway through the journey, they saw from the rearview mirror that the two children in the back seat were asleep from the rearview mirror. Gloria’s mood had also stabilized a little. “Rachel, are you really going to marry Julian?”
“Isn’t that good?” “Do you really like Julian? I mean romantically. The kind where you’re in love.”
Rachel leaned against the back of her chair. She had actually thought about Gloria’s question before. “Gloria, have you ever thought about what’s the ultimate relationship two people are in when they spend time with each other for a long time?”
“Do you mean familial love?” “Let’s say it was something close to family. Just like Grandma and I, Hans and I, as well as Jolly and I. We’re not related by blood, but we all know that we’re vital to each other, and we can even give up our lives for each other when necessary.” “Do you think you and Julian have such a relationship?””
“He saved me.” Rachel turned and looked quietly at Glorja. “Not only did he allow me to live, but he also cured my muteness and allowed me to speak and be a normal person. I’m very grateful to him.”
“But, that’s gratitude, not love.”
Rachel lowered her head and smiled. “Maybe in your world, gratitude and love can be clearly. distinguished, but in my opinion, if you’re really grateful, then you should provide the other. party with whatever they want. Julian wants me to marry him. This is the only thing I can do to repay him. The most important point is that he knows very well that I may not love him or that I don’t love him that much, but he still proposed, so I’m willing to agree.”
Gloria frowned, but she couldn’t refute Rachel’s statements. They were more mature and experienced people than she was, and they had experienced all the ups and downs of life. As a result, they had a clearer sense of purpose and direction in life than she did. In contrast, her pursuit of the subject of love seemed a bit absurd and idealistic.
“Maybe.” Gloria sighed softly. “Maybe you’re right, but I can’t wish you and Julian happiness.” Rachel expressed her understanding. “It’s okay. I know.”
Gloria still felt sorry for Justin. Others could accuse him of inflicting this upon himself, but she couldn’t do it. Everything she had now was given to her by that man.
When she looked at Rachel, she wanted to speak up for Justin to tell her that Justin was also a meticulous person. As long as it was someone he cared about, he would take care of them with everything he had, just as he had cared for her since she was a child.
But now, it seemed as if everything was settled. Everyone had their own destination, and nothing could go back to the way it was.
