Female Novel
Chapter 234
After Rachel left the ward, Justin looked down at the back of his hand. Her warmth still lingeredthere from when she had smacked his hand away.
The sunset outside the window couldn’t have come at a better time, and the evening sun dyed theentire sky lovely warm hues. At that moment, Justin’s lips curved up into a shallow smile. A gentlewarmth settled on his face, warming away the coldness.
People should look ahead, and the past was not important.
Justin wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but Rachel didn’t come back. He was about to pressthe buzzer and ask a nurse about this when Frankie suddenly knocked on the door and entered.“Mr. Burton.”
“Why are you in such a rush?”
Frankie was supposed to deliver some papers, but he had worked up a sweat running here. “I justcame from the parking lot. I saw Miss Hudson being taken away by some people from the villa.”
Justin’s expression changed.
At the same time, Rachel was sitting inside a black Rolls-Royce with a spacious interior. The worldoutside the car zoomed past her.
The sound of a ringing tone reverberated inside the car. She gripped her phone and glanced at theold butler next to her.
“Can I take this phone call?” she asked, neither panicked nor comfortable with the situation.
When he saw the name ‘Julian’ on her phone screen, the butler nodded his head. “You may, MissHudson.”
Rachel answered the call and said, “Hello, Julian. Something has come up at the last moment, so Ican’t go back with you. Sorry about this, but please pick up Charlotte and Samuel for me and sendthem home.”
Julian’s voice drifted over the speakers. There was a hint of anxiety in his voice. “Are you okay?Where are you now?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
Rachel never once mentioned that she had been kidnapped throughout the conversation.An hourlater, the car arrived at the Burtons’ summer villa. Ever since she first stepped into the car, Rachelmore or less knew the reason behind this trip—it certainly was not a simple trip meant for fun. “OldMr. Burton, Miss Hudson is here.” “Come in. “This way, Miss Hudson.” The Burtons’ butler openedthe door to the study and beckoned her inside. Before she entered the room, Rachel glanced at theelectronic password lock through the corner of her eyes. She hadn’t been able to enter this roomprior to this visit. Indeed, it seemed that she could only get an open invitation by getting close toJustin. The moment she stepped inside, she caught sight of an old man with white hair sittingbehind the desk there. He was reading a book, but when he saw Rachel come in, he marked hisplace with a bookmark and set the book aside. He crossed those withered hands of his and placedthem on top of the desk as his heavy gaze settled on her. “Sit.” Rachel sat down across the desk. “Ithas been a while. I heard that your muteness has been cured. Congratulations.” “Your mind is stillas sharp and healthy as ever. I believe the same goes for your physical health?” “Not quite, but itdoesn’t matter. I simply wish for my descendants to surpass their potential and manage the familybusiness well when they inherit it.” “You’re a fortunate man to have so many excellent children andgrandchildren.” It was a normal conversation, but the politeness they employed was like a series ofdancing blades.
Indeed, Arthur was a man who had seen a lot in life. He was solemn and calm as he poured Rachela cup of tea, unfazed. “I heard that you have been caring for Justin recently. I should thank you
properly.”
“It’s fine. It’s my duty, after all.”
“No.” His words took a turn. “Where should I begin with the word ‘duty’? Have you forgotten that youand Justin have divorced? You guys are no longer tied together, you know.”
Rachel showed a small smile. “You’ve misunderstood me. When I said ‘duty’, I meant that it is myduty to repay kindness that’s been shown to me. He did get hurt because of me. So, I shall repaythis debt with kindness as well. Taking care of him until he has recovered is something that I shoulddo.”
“Is that really what you think?”
Arthur pressed a button on the remote under his desk, and the projector behind Rachel lit up.Security camera footage began to play on the projector screen behind her. It was during the day ofthe birthday banquet at the summer villa. Rachel had avoided the guests and crossed the banquethall before heading into the deserted side hall by herself. She had even attempted to open the doorto the study, but she failed in the end, and Justin had discovered her.
“How would you explain this, Miss Hudson?”novelbin
However, being discovered so quickly was within Rachel’s expectations. “You saw it too. I waslooking for something.”
“What were you looking for?”
“Don’t you know what it is?” Rachel looked at Arthur calmly. “If that incident from five years ago hadbeen resolved, I wouldn’t have come back to cause this bit of trouble for you. You have theevidence for Hans’ death, don’t you?”
“It turns out that you actually returned for the evidence. You’re a sentimental one.” Approval flashedacross his eyes. “If it wasn’t for how special you were, then it wouldn’t have been out of the questionfor Justin to marry you.”OVELS “You don’t have to flatter me, for I am an ordinary person. Isn’t thisthe same as the last time you called me here back then? Remember when you wanted to make adeal and get me to leave Justin?” History was a cycle, and it was shocking how similarly eventscould play out. After her forced marriage to Justin back then, Arthur had also brought her over to thestudy and forced her to sign the divorce papers since he felt that she had been affecting Justin toomuch. Today, he was doing the same thing even the tactics he used were the same. The old manreplied, “I do indeed have the evidence. If I hand it over to you, will you immediately leave Justinand never show your face to him again?” The corner of Rachel’s lips quirked up. “You are still thesame as ever with your love for trickery.” “What did you say?” “I don’t have to bring up the numberof cameras and audio recorders hidden around this house, do I?” Rachel surveyed the room, andher gaze promptly landed on the mini camera on the bookshelf across her. “You planned to bait mehere and play the recording to Justin, making him think that I only got close to him because of someulterior motive. You wouldn’t have to give me anything, and you’d get to remove yourself from thepicture easily—just like how it was back then.” Arthur’s expression stiffened. The awkwardness hefelt from having his plans exposed was clearly written on his face, and he gave a dry cough. “You’resmarter than you used to be.” “I do learn from my mistakes. Your family was the one who taught meeverything, after all.” Rachel smiled. “It’s better to be a bit more honest when striking a deal.”Arthur’s expression darkened. After a period of silence, he spoke. “I can give the evidence to you,but I need some time in case you renege on your word,” he said solemnly. “You have time to think itover. You’re not the sole person I’m relying on.” “What do you mean by that?” “Julian told me thatJustin’s amnesia is a kind of retrograde amnesia. His memories are being intermittently cut off, buthe can still remember some things. You probably don’t want him to remember what he hasforgotten, do you?” “How dare you!” Arthur’s expression instantly shifted as he smacked the deskhard and stood up. That was his Achilles heel, and he had no way of hiding it. Rachel had returnedto her home country for some time now. While she hadn’t made any progress in her other pursuits,
she could clearly see how well Arthur had kept Justin’s amnesia under wraps. To the old man, therewas nothing better than having Justin put his rage and hatred behind him and throw himself entirelyinto inheriting the family business. That was why he absolutely didn’t want Justin to recover hismemories. To that end, he was willing to let Amber marry into the Burton Family—after all, shedidn’t want Justin to remember either.