Regardless of what Justin thought, he had indeed taken care of her a lot in the past two days.
Thank you.
At night, Rachel couldn’t concentrate on her book with the sound of water splashing in the bathroom.
After a certain period of time, the sound of water ceased abruptly. She immediately came to her senses, then closed the book and set it aside before quickly pulling up the quilt and lying down. She turned her back so that it was facing the direction of the bathroom, and she made sure to only occupy a small part of her side of the bed.
After the door opened, there was a slight rustling sound of the covers being lifted behind her.
“Are you asleep?”
Rachel shut her eyes even tighter. In the next second, a huge hand passed through the gap between her neck and the pillow, then she was pulled into his arms. His body temperature was abnormally high after the shower, much like a steamer that was exuding heat.
Rachel opened her eyes in a panic before she heard his voice from above her head. “Go to sleep.”
The sound of even breathing swept past the wisps of hair next to her ears, and the man’s chin was pressed against the top of her head. Rachel felt like a small bun being pressed into the steamer. The heat was making her panic, but somehow, she felt at ease, and she slowly began to relax.
After Rachel spent a few days at home resting, her foot injury was almost healed. This afternoon, she was alone in the garden tending to the flowers and plants when Mrs. Duncan hurriedly opened the door and came out. “Mrs. Burton, quickly change your clothes. Old Mr. Burton wants to see you.”
The scissors in Rachel’s hand trembled slightly, and she abruptly cut off a rose stem, whereupon a large, vivid rose fell onto the grass. Did he say why he’s looking for me?
“How would I know that? Anyway, he’s asking for you. Quickly go back and change your clothes. It will take quite a while to get to the summer villa from here,” Mrs. Duncan urged. Rachel could only set down her things and go back to change her clothes.
“I’ll call you a cab.”
That’s fine. I’ll drive there.
After Rachel drove off, Mrs. Duncan’s expression changed immediately. “Damn. When Young Master
Justin is home, she pretends that it hurts everywhere, yet now she can drive on her own.”
On the road leading to the outskirts of the city, Rachel looked at the three recommended paths on the navigation system. Her finger hovered for a while as she hesitated, then she deliberately chose the third route.
Janice mentioned that there was the least traffic surveillance on that road, especially since there was no time to repair it after the heavy rain some time ago, so there were many blind spots.
The sky was gradually getting dark. Justin was attending a liquor party at the famous Gathering Night Club in Riverdale.
He took over the Burton Group at such a young age, so if he simply relied on his brain and placed himself on a high horse as the rumors claimed, it would simply be impossible to carry out certain businesses.
Frankie answered a call outside the private room and came back to whisper in Justin’s ear. “Mr. Burton, Old Mr. Burton called on Mrs. Burton again.”
Justin frowned, then calmly clinked glasses with Spencer, who was next to him. After taking a sip of the wine, he used the excuse of needing to go to the bathroom to leave the room with Frankie.
“When did this happen?”
“It should be in the afternoon. Someone from the summer villa called and said that Mrs. Burton had already arrived.”
Justin’s eyes darkened a little, and he was seemingly deep in thought.
“Mr. Burton, I don’t think there’s much to worry about. Old Mr. Burton doesn’t have any grudge against Mrs. Burton. Maybe he just called her over to lecture her a little. It should be fine.”
“Where’s Tina?”
Frankie was startled. “Do you think this may be related to Tina again?”
“I don’t just think so I’m sure of it.” With that, Justin strode out of the clubhouse without any hesitation.
“Mr. Burton, what about Mr. Campbell,”
“You keep an eye on him.”
Meanwhile, a butler was bringing Rachel into the meeting room where she went last time. When she walked in, Arthur was drinking tea. There was a middle-aged woman in the room who was standing aside in a straight suit, probably to serve drinks.
“Old Mr. Burton, Miss Hudson is here.” The butler stood at the door and waited until he got a neutral response before signaling for Rachel to go in.
“Have a seat.” Although Arthur was getting older, when he spoke, he was still full of life.
Rachel nodded and cautiously sat down.
“Just answer whatever I ask you.” Arthur glanced at her; his bleary eyes contained a hint of coldness, and he made no attempt to hide his dissatisfaction toward Rachel.
Rachel visibly hesitated. At this moment, the middle-aged woman standing next to the old man spoke. “Miss Hudson, don’t worry. I’ll translate for you.” It turned out that she was a sign language interpreter.
Go on and ask, then.
“You married into the Burton Family because of your father’s coercion, right?”
Yes.
“Jefferey must have also used this to force you to do a lot of other things,” Arthur said while taking a sip of tea. “I heard that you were hospitalized some time ago.”
Rachel’s heart skipped a beat. Yes.
Rachel discreetly clasped her hands together. I was not in good health, so I was hospitalized to recuperate for a while. There was no special reason.
“Is that so?” Arthur asked in a rhetorical tone that indicated he was obviously not convinced. “Do you think that because you and Justin are living together far away from me, I’d be too dim-witted from old age to know anything?”
I didn’t mean that. It was really because my health wasn’t good.
Rachel wanted to explain more, but Arthur seemed to have run out of patience. He tapped his crutches against the ground, then said coldly, “Go to the ancestral hall and pay your respects.”
Startled, Rachel looked toward the hall in disbelief.
Because the family banquet was held in the summer villa every year, the Burton Family’s ancestral hall was built there as well. The style of the courtyard house was somewhat incompatible with the European-style buildings in the distance. However, the fact that the Burton Residence survived the fire that year already proved the family’s wisdom and luck.
“Mrs. Burton, we’re here.”
As she looked at the gate of the ancestral hall in front of her, Rachel clenched her fists, then stepped in. With a creak, the door behind her was closed, and she was the only one left in the ancestral hall, which was lit only by the swaying candlelight. The moment she looked up, she saw the plaques of the Burtons’ ancestors. She shivered involuntarily as she felt a gust of cold wind.
After walking one round, Rachel hesitated as she stared at the yellow futon placed before the plaques, then she finally went to kneel down and pay her respects. To every ancestor of the Burton Family, I have no intention of offending and disturbing. I’m sorry. She didn’t believe in Gods and spirits, but Nancy had taught her to be respectful since she was a child.
The sky outside was completely dark now.
“Miss, Old Mr. Burton asked Rachel to pay her respects at the ancestral hall.”
Upon hearing this, Tina immediately turned around from the balcony. She looked far into the northwest direction, where the ancestral hall was situated, while sneering, “That place is so eerie. It must be enough to frighten that mute.”
“But I saw that she didn’t talk much with Old Mr. Burton after she arrived. I don’t know what made the old man unhappy, but he straightaway punished her and sent her to the ancestral hall.”
“What other reason can there be? She’s not even a pleasant sight, and her very presence is an eyesore. It would be fine if that mute knew her place, but she’s actually affecting the company’s personnel transfer, so how could Grandpa possibly keep her?” After saying that, Tina glanced toward the southeast direction. “Let’s just wait. I’m guessing my cousin is probably arriving soon.”
“Young Master is coming? He can’t possibly care so much for her, right?”
“You all think that Justin is haughty, indifferent, unscrupulous, and doesn’t treat people like human beings, right?”
Her subordinate looked sullen and dared not say anything.
Tina let out a cold laugh. “In fact, he’s the most indecisive member of the entire Burton Family!”
