Right as Jolly finished speaking, the sound of a door opening followed by wheels rolling against the floor traveled to their ears.
“Sis,” Regina called out right as she spotted Rachel.
“Sis?” Jolly glanced at Rachel. “Who is she calling?”
Apart from Rachel, she was the only other woman in this space.
“It’s a long story.” Rachel frowned at Jolly’s bewildered gaze.
There really wasn’t a way to keep this story concise, so Rachel just noted a few key points. Jolly was rendered gobsmacked, having a hard time processing the fact that Rachel’s father was still alive and had married into Yatruinia royalty.
“Pinch me, Leroy—ouch!” Jolly glared at the man. “I can’t believe you actually pinched me.”
“Stop acting. I didn’t even use any strength.” He chuckled under his breath while rubbing her arm.
Meanwhile, Regina had arrived at their side. Despite having been yelled at the day before, she acted like nothing ever happened, approaching them shamelessly. “Come and join us for breakfast later, sis.”
“Thanks, but no thanks.” Rachel turned down her offer. “We’re planning to dine outdoors.”
“I’ll join you guys, then!”
“Lady Regina, you mustn’t eat food from outside,” Regina’s butler, Cordelia, reminded at once, making the young woman frown.
“No food from outside?” Shock enveloped Jolly’s face as she mocked, “Just when you thought you’ve seen everything. Say, Chris, does this mean we’ll have to make an appointment before we get to see you, and the food you eat would be royal-banquet-level if you actually move to Yatruinia?”
“Who are you?” Regina sized Jolly up.
“Me?” Jolly got mischievous. “Why don’t you take a guess?”
“Why should I do that?” Regina couldn’t care less about this woman. “I don’t want to know who you are either.”
“Cranky, much? Just when I thought it’d be a good idea for Chris to follow you guys. Looking at your temper, who knows how you might abuse her? Forget about going, Chris. You’re better off living with me. My parents will keep you safe, and my family isn’t any lesser than royalty.”
“What did you say?!” Regina’s face turned awful. “Who are you, and why should my sister stay with you?!”
“She’s my little sister.”
“Little sister?” Rachel’s revelation stumped Regina. “No way! You only have me as a sister! Rachel, I’m your only sister!”
“Not only am I Chris’ little sister, my parents are also her godparents, and the four of us live a pretty sweet life as a family. Sorry, you’re a few years too late now.”
“You can’t do that!” Livid, Regina shot up from her wheelchair, shocking Cordelia.
“Lady Regina.” She hurriedly supported the young woman.
“Are you going to steal my sister from me?!”
“I’m not stealing her from you. You’re the only one here trying to seize her.”
“You—”
“Alright, quit it. It’s way too early for this.” Rachel stood up, having had enough of the fight. “You guys haven’t had anything to eat when you’ve come all the way here, have you? Come on, let’s have breakfast together.”
Leroy tried to smooth things at that. “I’m getting hungry. I’ll go and get Carmen.”
“Sis!” Regina shouted toward Rachel’s back but only got Jolly sticking her tongue out at her in response, rendering the young woman livid with rage.
“Lady Regina, please sit down. Your ankle still hasn’t recovered yet.”
“That woman is about to steal my sister away, and you want me to sit down?!” Regina gritted her teeth and slumped back into her wheelchair. “No, I have to follow them.”
“Lady Regina.”
“Don’t follow me.” She shot Cordelia a warning glare.
She refused to believe Rachel would leave her like that when none of her people attended to her.
After Leroy came back with Carmen, the gang headed to the diner.
As it was still bright and early, the diner was packed with customers, and the smell of pancakes and milkshakes lingered in the air of the street.
“They have green smoothies here,” said Rachel. “Do you guys want to give it a try?”
“A green smoothie? What does that even taste like?”
“Green. Either way, I’m not a fan of it, but he likes it.”
Justin felt helpless at once. “I hate to break it to you, but I don’t like it either. That one time was because you couldn’t stand it, and I didn’t want to be wasteful.”
“Wait a minute.” Jolly gazed dubiously at the former couple. “What’s up with you two?”
Rachel felt heat rushing to her cheeks, and she immediately shoved a forkful of pancake into Jolly’s mouth. “Don’t talk with your mouth full.”
“Mm-mm-hmm…” Jolly swallowed the pancake in her mouth. “I mean, this is great. Personally, I believe people should keep moving forward and not dwell in the past.”
Rachel pretended not to understand what her best friend was saying, but her flushed cheeks were betraying her.
After taking the hot tea from the server, Justin placed it in front of Rachel before adding teaspoons of sugar to it. He moved so proficiently that it looked like the two had been living in this town for years.
“How long do you guys plan on staying here?” Leroy asked.
“We’ll see after some time, I guess. I kind of like it here.”
“What about this one?” Jolly shot a glance at the next table where Regina was sitting. She hadn’t ordered anything but only kept an eagle eye on Jolly. “What are you looking at? I’m not leaving if my sister isn’t leaving.”
“Do you think you have the final say? I bet your butler will drag you onto the plane along with your wheelchair once we head back.”
“You—”
Jolly blew a raspberry at her in response.
“Why argue with a kid?” Leroy asked helplessly. “Cut it out now. Eat your breakfast.”
Just then, Carmen happened to return with a plate of mini muffins. Seeing that Rachel’s table was already taken up by food, she decisively turned to Regina’s table.
“Can I sit here?”
“Whatever.” Regina couldn’t care less about this woman. She wouldn’t be nice to anyone who sided with Jolly.
As if Justin wasn’t already enough, three more people popped up. At this rate, it was impossible for Rachel to follow them.
On the other hand, Carmen was good-natured as she voluntarily pushed her plate toward Regina. “Here, help yourself.”
“I’m not eating it!”
“It’s pretty nice. There are sweet and savory ones.”
“I’m not hungry.”
Much to her disappointment, her stomach growled the next second.
She had just woken up not too long ago and hadn’t had anything to eat, so she was long starving.
Then, there was Carmen and her crystal-clear eyes staring at her with enthusiasm and sincerity.
“Is it really good?” Regina hesitated.
“Yeah, they’re really nice. I’ve already had two.”
“I’ll take one, then. I’ll pay you back later.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s on me.”
As Regina ate the muffin, she noticed Carmen staring at her. “Why are you staring at me?” she asked with displeasure.
“That’s because you look like a doll.” Carmen cupped her cheeks, tilted her head, and looked affectionately at Regina, who was wearing a black bowknot hair clip on her wavy chestnut-brown hair and a white lace dress underneath her waistcoat. The latter was the epitome of a doll.
“You look like a doll!”
“I don’t. You do.”
Well, it wasn’t right for one to bite the hand that fed them. As much as Regina didn’t like people calling her so, she silently swallowed her temper upon noticing Carmen’s abnormal behavior.
“The muffins are getting cold,” she said.
