“Let’s eat and try it on later,” Rachel said to Charlotte. “Okay.” After putting the dress back into the bag, Charlotte looked into another package. “Mommy, why did you also buy men’s clothes? Is it for Daddy?”
Silence washed over the room when the words left her lips until Rachel responded with a soft. yeah’. Meeting Justin’s surprised eyes, she explained helplessly, ‘My pajamas are really unsuitable for you, so I bought you some clothes while I was shopping today. Go and change into them.” At the mention of this, Jolly giggled and teased Justin deliberately. “Why? You don’t like it?
Whatever it is, I think you look rather comfortable in Chris’ pajamas.” Chuckling along, Justin placed aside the things he was holding, wiped his hands and quickly went to change in the bedroom.
After he closed the door, his daughter’s childish voice echoed from outside. “I see you’re very concerned about Daddy, Mommy!” “That’s not true, Charlotte, Jolly said. “That’s how you should be to a guest. It’s called courtesy.”
“No, it’s not. I’ve not seen any host buying clothes for their guests.” “You have a sharp tongue for your age, little lass. Be careful that you can’t get married in the future!”
“That’s fine. As long as I can always be with Mommy and Daddy together, I don’t want to get married at all!” Listening to the voices outside, he stared at the bag in his hands while a heartwarming look crept over his expressionless face.
In fact, things were already great as they were now; Rachel didn’t regard him as her enemy and even cared for him kindly. He was already. content and satisfied, and there was nothing else he would ask for. All he hoped was to be able to take care of them a little while he was staying here for the period to make up for his deeds in the past.
It was already late at night, and after Rachel tucked in the children, Jolly was still on the phone in a call. Without even the need to think, she knew who Jolly was on the phone with. “It’s almost 11 p.m. You should let Leroy off,” Rachel said, standing behind the bar counter and pouring a glass of water.
Since Jolly finished dinner, she had been on the phone with Leroy, but he was still working. Later, he needed to start filming, interview and do makeup. Yet, she refused to hang up and went on in a non-stop chatter. Taking a glance at the wall clock, she then. exclaimed, “Gosh, it’s already 11 p.m. You should go to bed, Leroy.”
“No, you sleep first.”
“You first!” A shiver ran down Rachel’s spine and she felt goosebumps all over her skin. ‘Jolly Carter!” Jolly stuck out her tongue at her, but finally, she returned to her room obediently after Rachel gave her a warning glare.
Just when Rachel was about to return to her room, her cell phone rang. “Hello?” Holding her phone, she paced to the balcony. “Are you finished with work?”
Julian’s voice on the other end of the line sounded a little tired. “I just got home after a day of meetings.” “Did you realize anything different at home?”
“Different?” he repeated in astonishment. “What’s different?” Rachel chuckled. “Take a look in your closet.” Sounds of footsteps echoed in the call, and after a while, he said, “All these clothes are…”
“Your present. Take them as your early birthday gift. “Is this considered cutting corners?” Despite what he said, he clearly sounded delighted. “You already prepared all the clothes for the entire winter, and they’re all from the same brand.”
“Why? You don’t like it? If you don’t, I can still return them to the store.” “Of course I like them.” A helpless Julian explained, “But it’s just too much. I can’t wear so many clothes.”
“Back when you were a doctor, you wore the white robe the most, and now that you’re no longer a doctor, you can wear these clothes at your own pace. Also, there will be plenty of occasions when you’ll need these clothes.” Rachel meticulously started checking the clothes she bought. “Basically, I’ve bought a little of both casual and formal wear. Try them on when you have the time. I think I remember your sizes correctly…”
Holding the glass of water in her hands on the balcony, she lost track of time while she was on the phone, and neither did she notice that there was a figure in the living room returning to his own room silently.
The door closed with a soft click and Justin leaned against it to face the full-length mirror in front of him as he stared at the clothes Rachel bought him.
A few hours ago, he was filled with happiness, but now, he couldn’t help but feel upset. Initially, he went out wanting to thank her, but he ran into her on the phone with Julian instead.
So, it really turns out that she just bought me some clothes out of convenience. In the mirror, his aloof eyes were tinged with self-deprecation as he tried his best to suppress the disappointment in his heart. This is already great. I shouldn’t ask for more. At the thought of this, he took a deep breath and walked toward the bathroom.
“So, that’s all. See you tomorrow.”
“Okay, see you.” After hanging up, the water in Rachel’s hands had already turned cold. Taking a sip, she felt the cold in her teeth and trembled. She was actually on the phone with Julian for an hour, which was record-breaking.
On the other side, Julian ran his fingertips over the clothes hangers in the closet after he hung up. Gazing at the clothes which were hanging neatly, he had a long-lost warmth in his eyes.
Even if it was a piece of ice, it would melt if it was held in the palms for a long time. Rachel would be together with him forever, for sure. Suddenly, his phone started ringing and he frowned when he saw who was calling. “Hello?”
“Are you surprised to receive my call?” “Yes, a little. Aren’t you supposed to be busy preparing to leave Riverdale now?”
“Leave?” A snort echoed from the other end of the call. “Do you really not know? I have no idea where Justin is now. Am I going to leave by myself?”
“What do you mean?” “Two days ago, Chris took him away from the summer villa, and I’m a hundred percent sure she’s hiding him at her place now.”
“That’s impossible.” “Impossible? You sure trust her a lot, don’t you? Do you really think that she’ll be sincere with you wholeheartedly? If that’s true, why did she come to the summer villa to spoil my plans?” Ginny sneered. “If you still don’t believe me, I have a voice recording for you.”
On the other end, she stopped speaking, and after a short moment of silence, the static sound of the recording started playing. The sound quality of Rachel’s voice after it was. recorded and played through the phone sounded a little hoarse, but Julian could still tell that it was her tone.
She said, ‘I’ll tell you on his behalf, then. Beware of losing everything.” Slowly, Julian’s hand on the clothes hanger slid down until he grabbed a sleeve and gradually tightened his grip.
From the phone, Ginny’s voice was laced with sarcasm as she said, ‘You heard it, didn’t you? She didn’t try to deny that she was the one who took Justin away, and she’s hiding her ex- husband at home while dating you. Is that reasonable? I think our collaboration isn’t over and we have to continue working together. Are you listening?”
A long moment of silence passed by until he said indifferently, “You’re right. We should continue.”
