”Regina, why aren’t you apologizing to your sister?”
Lionel emphasized his tone. ”If you are not going to apologize, I’ll do it.”
”Don’t say it!” she replied nervously. She fidgeted as if she was afraid of Rachel being mad.
Rachel was confused. ”What exactly is the matter?” she asked.
After Regina hesitated for a bit longer, she lowered her head reluctantly as she confessed her original plan. ”I called them over. I also told them to hide and keep an eye on you two.”
”Keep an eye on us?”
”I was going to let them drug you guys when you two didn’t notice and bring you back secretly.”
”What?!”
”I’m sorry.” Regina’s voice became softer with each word she spoke.
Although she initially wanted to pull such a stunt, she had given up on that thought after spending two days with them.
She realized that merely taking Rachel away would not solve the problem. She couldn’t be in one place forever as she had her own dreams and a whole life ahead of her. It was only a matter of time before she was where she wanted.
Rachel was utterly furious by Regina’s admission.
If it weren’t for Justin, who instantly grabbed her hand under the table, she would have stood up and slammed the table while interrogating Regina the reasons behind her scheme.
Justin gave her a reassuring look as he patted the back of her hand with his palm as a sign of comfort.
Then, he asked Lionel, ”Mr. Hudson, since you are here and we have talked these things out, does this mean that you have decided not to take Rachel back?”
Lionel looked at Rachel with guilt and distress in his eyes. ”You can lead a horse to the water but can’t make it drink. I would be lying if I said I don’t want to take Rachel back with me, but I can’t allow Regina to forcefully take her away like this.”
”I was wrong,” Regina apologized. ”Sis, please don’t be mad at me.”
Rachel was still fuming so couldn’t be bothered to give Regina any response despite knowing that she was being sincere in her apology.
She was starting to have a good impression of Regina within these two days, thinking that she was a motherless child like her. Who knew that she could plot such a thing behind their backs?
”Now that you know she shouldn’t be doing this and we’ve hashed things out, I think it’s time for you to take her and leave,” Rachel said coldly.
”Rachel, there’s another reason why I’m here besides taking Regina back with me, If you don’t mind, I want to visit your mother’s grave,” Lionel said.
Rachel was stunned by his words and her hands that were hidden under the table slowly balled into fists.
She didn’t know what to say.
After a moment, she stood up and said, ”That’s none of my business.”
Justin followed suit and nodded politely toward Lionel. Then, he trailed behind Rachel’s steps.
”Rachel!”
Regina called out timidly, but Rachel kept on walking.
Finally, she turned to look at Lionel and said, ”Rachel’s really mad, Dad.”
”You went too far.”
”But I had already ordered them to stop.”
Regina pouted. ”I’ve already learned from my mistake.”
Lionel sighed and said, ”It’s not your fault. If anyone was to be blamed, it’s me.”
If he hadn’t insisted on returning after hearing that Selena had passed away, it would only take a matter of time for him to learn about Rachel’s identity. Then, he wouldn’t have been lied to for so many years, not knowing that he still had a daughter.
”Dad, she won’t be returning with us, would she?”
”I’m afraid so.”
”She lived such a tough life in Riverdale, though. Why is she still insisting on staying there?”
”You’ll understand when you’re older.”
Lionel held her hand and intended to pull her along but he noticed her leg. ”Does your leg still hurt?” he asked.
Regina shook her head. ”I’m fine.”
She just didn’t want to give up so quickly.
On the other hand, Justin accompanied Rachel up the stairs.
There was a huge balcony on the second floor. Through the balcony, one could see the countless houses’ rooftops of the town.
Various flowers were planted on the balcony, and a swing was placed there. During the peak season of tourism, people would line up at the homestay just to take some pictures. But now, only a few people would come as it was off-season.
”Rachel,” Justin called.
”I’m fine.” Rachel sat on the swing and looked at Justin while she forcefully squeezed a smile on her face. ”I was only mad in the beginning. But after I thought about it, it doesn’t seem out of character for her to plan something like this.”
Regina was a spoiled princess that had everything she wanted. It wouldn’t seem off for her to use some tricks as the only reason she was here in Riverdale was to take Rachel back.
”It’s not that. I wanted to talk to you about your father,” he said.
”My father?”
Rachel’s eyes flashed with a hint of something indescribable as she looked at Justin.
”It seems to me that he had other plans than just coming over and bringing Regina back.”
After all, why would he need to come here personally if he just wanted to take Regina home? He could have just sent a few men to escort her back.
”Didn’t he say he was here to pay a visit to my mother?”
”Well, will you approve of it?”
Rachel was caught off guard when she heard his words.
Even she herself hadn’t properly visited Selena after arriving at Somerset Mountain. During the time Selena was murdered, she was still very young and was brought to Riverdale against her will. If it weren’t for grandma, who told her where Selena was buried, she wouldn’t even have a clue of where to start looking.
That was because finding a tomb deep in the mountains with trees and rivers was not easy.
How would Lionel be able to visit Rachel’s mother if she didn’t lead the way?
Rachel made up her mind and said, ”He can find it himself if he has the heart to do so.”
Justin sighed as he held onto her hands and said, ”I know that you are not the kind of person to make things difficult for others. You might hurt yourself by hurting others.”
”Do you think I’m being unreasonable?”
”No. You just need some time to face this matter.”
”I’m not going to lead the way for him.”
”I know.”
From the way Rachel was acting, he knew that she was still holding a grudge against her biological father.
But even though she was in this state, he still thought she looked cute. Sometimes, being thoughtful was more heartbreaking to see than being a brat. As for causing those troubles, that seemed like a problem for others. What did they have anything to do about it?
Justin shook off his coat, placed it on her, and sat beside her as he embraced her in his arms. ”Then, we shall let them search on their own. What should we do tomorrow?”
”Let’s move the furniture and decorate the room.”
”Okay, whatever you say.”
Every room was occupied when Lionel and his men checked into the homestay.
Because the mayor had personally informed the owner of the homestay of their identities, she was the most well-informed and terrified person regarding this matter.
Early in the morning, she knocked on Rachel’s door nervously, asking if there was any food restriction while preparing breakfast for them.
”Food restrictions?” Rachel was at a loss for words as she didn’t know about Lionel’s food preferences.
Fortunately, Justin had just left his room. He overheard their conversations as he lived right next to Rachel and explained, ”There’s no need to prepare a huge meal. If I’m not mistaken, they won’t eat the food.”
Those people that Justin mentioned were those servants and bodyguards. For safety reasons, they would prepare food themselves when going on a trip. As for the food served to Lionel and Regina, they would need to check it thoroughly.
Only then did the owner of the homestay breathe a sigh of relief. ”I was just wondering if the food would be enough and was going to slaughter another pig for the meal. Does that mean it’s fine now?”
Just as they were speaking, a woman’s voice rang from downstairs. ”Chris!”
Rachel was leaning against the wooden rail when she heard the voice. She turned her head, and her eyes brightened when she saw the familiar figure downstairs.
”Looks like you still have to slaughter that pig in the end,” Justin said.
