After realizing she was skimming through an equity transfer agreement, Jolly handed it back to Rachel, saying, “I bet he’ll turn you down. He’s a bit of a male chauvinist, so he wouldn’t take back what he has given out.”
Rachel frowned in response. “Charlotte doesn’t need this now, though.”
“I suggest you change it to an entrusted shareholder agreement. That way, he can manage and execute the share rights on behalf of Charlotte as one of her guardians. Apart from the trading rights, everything else is still in his hands.”
Rachel pondered on her suggestion for a while before deciding. “Alright, I’ll do as you say then.”
Likewise, she thought Justin wouldn’t take back the shares. Jolly leaned against the couch and sighed. “Honestly, Chris, I envy you a little now.”
“What’s there to be envious about?”
“That you don’t have any relationship problems.”
Jolly turned and lay on her stomach against the armrest, looking at Rachel with crystal-clear eyes, “Why have you never loved anyone else apart from Justin?”
“Maybe it’s because I don’t live as passionately as you do.”
Rachel took the freshly printed papers from the printer, then replied to Jolly with a smile, “You may be envious of me, but do you know how many are envious of you?”
“Envious of my blindness?”
“Envious of your courage to love and hate, as well as your ability to let something go.”
After securing the document, Rachel grabbed her bag, ready to head out. “Alright, let’s not get envious of whoever. Your mom and dad are landing tomorrow, aren’t they? You’d better think about how you should discuss Leroy with them.”
Though Jolly claimed to still not be on speaking terms with Leroy, based on Rachel’s observation, there had been a few nights where Jolly only came home after midnight, and the clothes she changed out of the next day would either smell like Texan barbecue or Asian hot pot.
Well, she’d be a Dutchman if Jolly said she hadn’t been out with Leroy for late-night suppers. Meanwhile, Justin and the kids had been sitting in the restaurant for a while when Rachel arrived.
“Over here, Mommy!”
Charlotte waved at Rachel as she stood on her chair. However, Justin brought her down and reprimanded her for stepping on the chair with her shoes on.
“My shoes are clean, though!”
“Even if they are, you can’t do that.”
“Hmph!”
The moment Rachel arrived at the table, she found an indignant Charlotte with her arms crossed in front of her chest and head turned away from Justin.
“What’s going on?” Rachel rubbed her fingers against Charlotte’s cheek. “Has someone upset our little princess? Look at your puffy little cheeks.”
“Daddy snapped at me.” The little girl pouted. “Is that so? Why don’t we punish Daddy by not giving him any ice cream later?”
“Okay!”
“I only told her off for stepping on the chair with her shoes on,” said Justin helplessly. “How am I in the wrong now?”
“Why snap at her when you could’ve just told her?”
“I didn’t, I swear.”
“You did!” Charlotte glared at her father. “You were like a big, bad meanie!”
On the other hand, Samuel put all his attention on his juice, looking like he was siding with Charlotte unconditionally. There was no way he was going to stand up for Justin. Alas, nothing Justin said or did would help him clear his name now.
He turned to Charlotte, feeling helpless. “You sure have gotten yourself two great backers.” At that, Charlotte stuck her tongue out at him, looking all smug.
In actuality, Rachel would normally be the one to educate Charlotte on her behavior away from home, and she would be assertive about it most of the time despite wanting to go soft on the little girl. However, it was a special day that day, and she felt bad for Charlotte when she saw her cherubic little face, for the little girl still didn’t know her father would be leaving Riverdale soon.
“Have you ordered anything yet?” Rachel asked.
“I’ve ordered a few,” said Justin as he handed the menu to her. “See if there’s anything you want.”
“I’ll just have a glass of juice.”
Rachel couldn’t be bothered to look through the menu as she pulled out the entrusted shareholder agreement and handed it to Justin. “This is for you.”
He opened the folder and frowned upon seeing its content.
“Don’t turn me down just yet.” Rachel spoke up before he said anything. “I was originally planning to return the shares to you, but I doubt you’ll accept them. As such, I took Jolly on her suggestion and did this. Charlotte’s still little; she can’t make the decisions, and I’m not part of Burton Group, nor do I want to get myself involved with its issues. I still think it’s better if they’re in your hands.”
Moments later, Justin closed the folder and put it aside. “I’ll take it.”
“Isn’t this much simpler?” Rachel smiled. Halfway through their meal, the kids went to the play area to play with the slides, leaving Rachel and Justin at the table.
“When are you heading off?”
“Tomorrow.”
“So soon?”
“The plan was to leave today, but the kids’ new semester only starts tomorrow, right? No harm done staying another day, lest she kicks up a fuss.”
“She’ll kick up a fuss even after you leave tomorrow.”
At the thought of Charlotte’s indignant look, Rachel couldn’t help chuckling. “You’d better be prepared. She’ll definitely call and snap at you after she finds out.”
“If only she’s as sweet-natured as Samuel. Maybe she’ll be an easier child if she grows up with you.”
“Why would you say that?” Rachel glanced at him. “Charlotte’s a sweet child too. She’s just a little more bratty in front of you because she knows you spoil her. She’s an angel outside.”
“Are you sure? I heard from Victor that she already caused a ton of trouble soon after starting school. Victor’s the one who usually settles it for us, seeing that we’re swamped with work when the other parents went to complain to the school.”
“Well, she’s just a kid. It’s fine if she’s a little mischievous.”
The two weren’t quite sure what to make of Charlotte and her ‘glorious’ feat in school.
As night fell, the neon signs lit up one after another, illuminating the city’s nightlife. However, away from the crowded places, the private kitchen in a quiet old alley added a hint of warmth to the liveliness.
Meanwhile, a tall figure stood in front of the window of a hospital ward. Behind him came Edison’s voice. “President Sutton, we’ve already found everything out. Here’s all the information.”
Ryan took the envelope from him and pulled out a fresh piece of letter-sized paper. On it was the detective’s investigation report on Leroy’s background. It was different from the one Justin had gotten way earlier; this one was evidently more interesting.
“It seems that they don’t really think much of him either.”
“Why would they when he’s just an illegitimate son? Otherwise, he wouldn’t have grown up with just his mother, and he wouldn’t have to work as a model later to support them both. However, who’d have thought they could never produce an heir on their side? Now, the old man’s on his last legs due to his serious illness, leaving the woman to take charge of the gang. If they don’t bring him back and turn him into their puppet, the people below won’t listen to her.”
“In other words, they do want him to go back.”
“That’s right, or they wouldn’t send people to protect him. No doubt things will turn chaotic on their side if an opposing gang manages to get to him.”
Ryan fell into deep thought after hearing Edison’s words. “Whether he goes back or not, the situation here will still be in my favor.”
After Edison left, Ryan made an overseas call. “Hello? It’s me.”
His face reflected against the window, and his eyes seemed to be stamped with an inborn aloofness.
