Rachel was always concerned about her friends as she would do everything she could to take care of them.
After Justin left Riverdale, he was most worried that she would be distressed over Jolly and Leroy’s affairs. After all, no one could make any predictions when it came to love, and her concerns might do more harm than good..
They were considered outsiders, after all. All they could do was reduce the criticism against Jolly and Leroy while protecting their privacy.
After the meal was delivered, Justin said to Frankie, “It’s getting late now. Go back and get some rest. You can continue working tomorrow.”
“It’s fine. I still have some documents to go through. I still have to work even if I go home, so I’ll just stay here a while longer.” As soon as Frankie finished speaking, his phone started ringing. He took a glance at it and hung it up. Justin asked, “Was it your wife?”
“Yes.” Frankie scratched his head bashfully. “Go home now and call your wife and daughter. Don’t always hang up on her. Conflicts can easily arise as you’re in a long-distance relationship with her.”
Frankie replied, “It’s fine. She’s an easy-going person. She’s just worried that I can’t get used to life in the north.” Justin uttered, “It must be tough for you to come here with me.”
“What are you talking about, President Burton? I’ve been working for you for years, and you’ve been treating me well.”
Frankie started working for Justin after he graduated, and they had been through thick and thin over the years. Although he was Justin’s subordinate on paper, they were actually best friends. Therefore, even though he was given a better offer by Julian, he steadfastly decided to follow Justin to the north. Just then, Frankie’s phone started ringing again, and Justin urged him to go home.
“I’ll take my leave, then.”
“Alright.”
As soon as Frankie reached the door, Justin suddenly called out to him and said, “Frankie, it won’t take long before we’ll go back to Riverdale, Tell your wife and child to rest assured.”
Frankie was startled for a moment, then his eyes were slightly covered in tears. Solemnly, he said, “I believe you.”
Regardless of what predicaments they faced, he had the confidence that Justin would lead them to solve all the problems. They would definitely go back to Riverdale one day.
After Frankie was gone, Justin removed the wrapper around the pizza. He started having his meal while looking at the photos sent to him by Rachel. The table lamp cast a layer of softness on his usually cold-looking face.
Soon, it was the day of the birthday party on the weekend. In the morning, Rachel urged Jolly to quickly prepared herself outside the bathroom.
“Can I not attend?” “You have to come with me. I’m worried that I’ll come home and find you unconscious after consuming too much alcohol.”
“Do I look like such a fragile person to you?” Jolly’s voice was heard coming from the bathroom. “We broke up a long time ago, and I’ve gotten over it.”
“I’m glad that you’ve gotten over it. I’ve prepared some clothes for you. Get changed and put on some proper makeup.”
“Are you saying that my makeup is usually tacky?”
Ten minutes later, Jolly got changed and came out of the bathroom. Rachel gazed at her with satisfaction. “That’s great. You finally look like a godmother now.”
“Can’t I look like a mother?”
“A mother would never wear a dress and head out with the kids.”
“Why?”
“Have you forgotten what happened after I told you to take care of Samuel for one day when he was two years old? You were wearing a dress that day.”
Jolly’s face fell as she recalled the horrible memory. At that time, Samuel just learned to walk, and Rachel had only started working. She was tormented by Hernandez at work on a daily basis, and Julian happened to be too busy to take care of the kid. That was why she had asked Jolly to look after Samuel.
It was the first time Jolly headed out with a kid on her own, so she had never thought about how difficult it would be. On that day, she still put on her mini skirt and carried Samuel to school. She had even brought Samuel into the laboratory, not knowing what would soon happen to her.
Samuel was still very young at that time, so he was curious about everything he saw. While he kept throwing things to the ground, Jolly had to follow him and pick everything up. Given that she was wearing stilettos and a mini skirt, it was expected that she would fall to the ground. The worst part about it was that she had fallen right in front of her previous schoolmate with her bottom facing the man. It was the most embarrassing day of her life, and she didn’t want to think about it again.
Jolly coughed. “Well, stop talking about it. Anyway, you’ll be responsible for looking after the kids while I look fabulous at the party.”
Rachel replied with a smile, “Sure, you’ll be the fairest of them all.” When they reached the house of Charlotte’s
schoolmate, many cars were already parked in front of the entrance. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw a fair-looking young boy gently pushing the nanny’s hand away and dashing forward. “Charlotte! You’re here as well, Samuel.”
A helpless Samuel shrugged. Rachel thought that Samuel had to come into contact with young kids of the same age more frequently as it would do him no good to always behave maturely. Therefore, she decided to bring him to the party.
Since Freddie was in his own house, he appeared more vigorous than when he was at the school entrance. “My aunt bought me a new game console, Charlotte. Why don’t we play it together?”
“We’ll talk about it later. I need some water now.”
“There’s juice inside.” The young kids then skipped toward the house while Rachel and Jolly followed them.
Jolly took a glance at the exterior of the villa and remarked, “It’s a good house, but the owners are pretty mannerless. They’re not even around to receive the guests. I suppose they’re the nouveau riche.”
“You’re invited to the party, but you still call them the nouveau riche.” “Let’s make a bet. I’m sure the interior design of the house must be extremely gaudy.”
As they spoke, they reached the door of the villa. Just then, Freddie called out, “Mommy, Auntie, Charlotte’s mom is here.”
Jolly immediately kept her mouth shut as the two of them looked up and followed the voice. Freddie’s mother was a young and demure- looking woman. With a smile, she gazed at Rachel and said, “How are you, Charlotte’s mom? I’m Freddie’s mom.”
“Hi. I’m Charlotte’s mom, and she’s her godmother.”
Rachel caught herself as she was unable to speak any further. She was unable to put on a smile as she pursed her lips and subconsciously took a glance at Jolly.
On the other hand, Jolly’s smile froze as well upon seeing the figure standing behind Freddie’s mother.
The last time they met the woman, they were in Sutton Manor. The meet-up turned out to be ugly for everyone while the woman watched on the side and hoped for the situation to exacerbate.
“It’s been a long time.” The woman beside Freddie’s mother soon came to her senses as she examined Rachel and Jolly. “It’s such a small world. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
A puzzled Freddie’s mother asked, “What’s wrong, Estelle? Do you know them?”
Rachel pressed her lips into a line, then said in a tone that was filled with mixed feelings, “We’re just acquaintances; I’ve only met her once,”
“We know each other pretty well, though,” Jolly uttered impassively and flashed a smile at the woman in front of her. Her gaze was filled with contempt. “Am I right, Mrs. Sutton?”
The woman’s expression changed when she heard the other party calling her in such a disdainful way.
Who could have expected Freddie’s aunt to be Estelle, Ryan’s former wife?
They initially thought that they would never meet this woman again as they had nothing to do with each other anymore, but it so happened that they came across her over the weekend.
Is it a coincidence? Rachel balled up her fists.
