Rachel had been tossing and turning since she went to bed as Julian’s words kept echoing int her mind. At midnight, she heard a knock on the door before someone poked their head in. “Charlotte? To her surprise, her daughter wasn’t asleep at this time. “Why haven’t you slept?”
Charlotte stepped aside and revealed another figure behind her. ‘Samuel isn’t either.” As soon as Rachel saw that the children hadn’t slept, she knew something was going on. ‘Jolly Carter. Show yourself.”
The children would be sleeping at this moment if they weren’t entertaining Jolly’s idea, or else they wouldn’t come to Rachel’s room at midnight.
At that, Jolly pushed the door open with a grin on her face. “You got me.” “What are you up to this time? You even brought the kids with you! Don’t you remember they have school tomorrow?”
“Well, they don’t! Tomorrow’s a Saturday. Look at yourself. Your mind is a mess right now, isn’t it?” Jolly urged the kids. “Get on the bed. I don’t want you guys to catch a cold.”
Both kids began running to the bed at her words as each of them clung to a side and tried to get themselves on the bed. Jolly closed the door behind her before she strode for the bed and shared half of the blanket with Rachel. Rachel’s bed wasn’t small, but it wasn’t intended for two adults and another two kids either.
“Scooch over. The cold wave’s coming. We’re sharing to keep warm.” Jolly was having Charlotte in her embrace as a source of warmth while Charlotte was hiding under the blanket, with only her eyes peeking out to urge Rachel to join them.
Rachel lay down in silence. She appreciated Jolly’s kindness for not wanting her to dwell on the negative feelings by keeping her company.
“Do you really think Justin is guilty?” Jolly didn’t bother to beat around the bush. Rachel shot her a look of disapproval. “This isn’t the time for this.” They shouldn’t talk about Justin in Charlotte’s presence.
However, Jolly had nothing to hide. “Children are clever, after all. Hiding the truth from them. will only worsen the situation. Charlotte, am I right?” Charlotte nodded beneath the blanket. “My daddy is not a bad guy.”
Rachel patted Charlotte’s head. “Of course, Daddy isn’t. Mommy knows that.” She believed that Justin wouldn’t do anything to harm Jessica in the first place. However, he had a positive result on his drug test.
Jolly continued, “The public opinion isn’t in his favor as the majority of the netizens are accusing him. Even the Burton Group is in the center of the storm, so it’s understandable for Justin to make the decision to leave Riverdale.”
“We’re certain he is framed, but we don’t know anything about the culprit. Have you ever thought about the reason why Jessica looked for him on the same day? Furthermore, why isn’t she showing up?”
Rachel squinted. “What are you trying to imply?”
“Something doesn’t add up.” “Justin’s attorney is seeking political asylum for him. Julian told us about that.” Pondering for a while, Jolly led the topic on Julian. “Don’t you think Julian has changed at lot?”
“What do you mean?” Rachel scowled.
“He has changed so much since he took over the Burton Group. Not only was Justin forced to resign from the board of directors, he even allowed Robin the jerk to fill the role of president, and lastly, where on earth is Sue?” Her heart skipped at Jolly’s bold hypothesis..
After a minute of silence, Rachel broke the silence by defending Julian. ‘First, Justin resigned from the board of directors of his own will. Second, Robin is the acting president of Burton Group for the time being because Julian doesn’t have a say among the board of directors. Lastly, Sue was sent away because of me. Julian doesn’t want to see Sue making things difficult for me.”
Sue and Rachel had never seen eye to eye. Not only did Sue hinder Justin and Rachel’s relationship, but her buttons were also being pushed when she saw that her son, Julian, had feelings for Rachel. “I met Frankie this afternoon.”
Jolly’s statement had Rachel in a daze. “He’s back?” “He handed me the autopsy report. Do you know Old Mr. Burton was poisoned to death?”
Shocked to learn the truth, Rachel raised herself on her elbows as she sat up. The children were woken from their slumber by Rachel’s commotion. After she settled them back into their sleep, she led Jolly to the living room. “I want to see the results.”
“Wait here.” Before heading to the fridge for two cans of beer, Jolly went into her room to grab the report first and passed it to Rachel. Jolly pulled the ring to open the can while Rachel perused the copy of the autopsy report.
Jolly explained to her when she was digesting the report. “Old Mr. Burton died of cerebral infarction because someone had been poisoning him for a long time. Has anyone else. with the opportunity and the reason to poison him come to your mind now?”
Rachel paled as she recalled. “Sue.” If Julian was only Sue’s son and had no ties with the Burton Family, Rachel wouldn’t ever link Sue to Arthur’s death. However, Julian was Jason’s son, one of the Burtons. Once old Mr. Burton passed away, Julian would no doubt inherit Burton’s property.
“Do you still believe that Julian sending Sue away is a sign of peace?’ Jolly passed her a tin of beer. “Let’s finish this first. Once you’ve calmed down, we’ll plan for the next move.”
People would change from time to time, even if the Julian they once knew was indeed a gentle person who never hesitated in showing his kindness to everyone around him.
However, none of them could be certain if someone could still maintain his conscience when he had stared into the abyss for too long; the abyss would most likely come to haunt the person and make the person one of them. That night was quiet, with the silvery white moonlight sprinkled across the city.
“When will he get convicted?” In a unit of the apartment, Jessica was standing in front of Julian to confront him. Her tone was showing a hint of impatience. “You promised to sentence him!” “The case is still in progress, but it won’t take long. I’ll send you home first.”
“Don’t take me as a fool. I heard your call with another woman. You’re asking her to apply for political asylum for Justin. You’re going to let him leave!” Julian lifted his head, his spectacles reflecting a cold light. “What else did you hear?”
“You’re using me as a scapegoat! You used me to drive a wedge between Rachel and Justin. Now, you’re kicking me away when I’m not useful! You’re not getting what you want easily!” Jessica insisted through gritted teeth, “I’m not going anywhere unless he’s convicted.”
“The evidence isn’t enough to convict him! We can only hope for him to leave Riverdale with a bad reputation for the best. Isn’t it enough for your revenge?”
“I want his life for my brother’s! I want him. dead!” Jessica had an obstinate mind, as she wouldn’t give up her goals until she had Justin dead. Julian lost his temper because she wouldn’t back off. “You’re leaving tomorrow afternoon.. Dakota will come to pick you up at that time. Remember to focus on your studies once you are back there. You shall forget about these and start a new life.”
She wasn’t ready to give up. “You’re kicking me away once I did the dirty things for you? What if I tell Rachel the truth? Do you think she would still stay by your side?”
