Chapter 179

Chapter 179: You Owe Me a Favor

Teacher Chandler said, “Okay p>

This continued until Joanna Sutton came to find Rachel Royce to discuss work.

“Rachel p>

Rachel Royce snapped back to reality and looked at Joanna Sutton. Composing herself, she said, “Joanna, you’re here p>

Seeing that she wasn’t herself, Joanna Sutton asked with concern, “What’s wrong? You look so pale p>

An hour had passed since Teacher Chandler contacted her.

’Tristan Sterling must know by now p>

She recalled the time she and Tristan Sterling had been arguing. Melissa had overheard them and burst into tears, and she remembered Tristan’s reaction.

And the first time Melissa had visited the Royce Family home, she’d cried and fussed at night, and he had rushed over immediately.

Tristan Sterling always seemed incredibly tense whenever Melissa got emotional.

She thought of what Professor Bellamy had told her: even though Melissa was recovering well, it was crucial for her to stay in good spirits.

Melissa’s surgery had been incredibly risky. She had really almost p>

The image of a heartbroken Melissa now loomed large in her mind, and she felt a crushing weight on her heart.

Just as Rachel Royce was about to say something p>

Her phone vibrated.

She saw the caller ID and answered the phone.

“Hello p>

A man’s frigid voice came from the other end of the line. “Come to the hospital p>

Hearing his words, Rachel Royce’s heart sank.

“Where p>

The man gave her the specific address.

She hung up.

Rachel Royce stood up, grabbing her bag as she packed. She said to Joanna Sutton, “Joanna, I have to go to the hospital right now. Just leave the documents. I’ll look at them later today if I have time p>

Seeing her tense expression, Joanna Sutton asked worriedly, “Who’s in the hospital p>

Rachel Royce said, “Melissa p>

「Half an hour later p>

Rachel Royce rushed to the hospital.

Inside the VIP room of the pediatric cardiology department.

Rachel Royce pushed the door open and went inside.

On the hospital bed.

Melissa’s small body lay quietly, an oxygen tube in her nose. Her eyes were closed, and she was already asleep.

Tristan Sterling sat by the bed. When he looked up at the woman who had just entered, his eyes were ice-cold.

Rachel Royce glanced at the man, then lowered her gaze and forced herself to walk toward the bed.

Looking at Melissa’s pale face, her heart ached so much it was hard to breathe.

She looked at Tristan Sterling and asked in a low voice, “How is Melissa now p>

Tristan Sterling’s tone was cold. “She’s stable p>

Rachel Royce let out a breath of relief.

She slowly sat down on the edge of the bed and reached out to hold Melissa’s small hand.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Tristan Sterling worked on his tablet, occasionally taking work-related calls.

Melissa woke up after about an hour.

Rachel Royce caressed her small face and said softly, “Sweetheart, you’re awake p>

In a soft voice, Melissa called out, “Mommy p>

Tristan Sterling finished his call and came back in. He took in the scene before going to get the doctor.

The doctor quickly came and examined Melissa, then removed her nasal cannula. “The young lady is stable now,” he said, “but for the next few days, she must avoid any strenuous exercise or major emotional fluctuations p>

Tristan Sterling grunted in acknowledgment.

Melissa wanted Rachel Royce to hold her.

Rachel Royce picked Melissa up. The little girl rested listlessly on her shoulder. Melissa wasn’t angry at her mom for not agreeing to her request earlier that day.

Tristan Sterling picked up Melissa’s school bag.

Rachel Royce carried Melissa out of the hospital room.

They left the hospital.

Tristan Sterling drove back to Silvermist Bay.

During the drive.

The two adults didn’t speak, and Melissa lay quietly in Rachel Royce’s arms.

When they arrived back at Silvermist Bay.

Tristan Sterling stroked Melissa’s little head. “Daddy still has work to do. I’ll come back tonight to be with you p>

Melissa nodded obediently.

Tristan Sterling straightened up, gave Rachel Royce a single glance, said nothing, and turned to leave the villa.

Rachel Royce stayed in the villa with Melissa.

It was almost dinnertime.

Rachel Royce personally cooked dinner for Melissa.

She called Julian Jennings. “Professor, I’m sorry, but I can’t make it to the concert tonight p>

Julian Jennings didn’t seem surprised at all. “Joanna Sutton told me Melissa was sick p>

Rachel Royce hummed in confirmation.

“Is Melissa okay now p>

“She’s fine now p>

“That’s good. We can go to a concert anytime. You should focus on taking care of Melissa p>

“Okay p>

While Rachel Royce was cooking, Melissa followed her around like a little shadow, helping wash and prepare the vegetables.

「That night p>

Rachel Royce stayed to keep Melissa company.

Around eight o’clock in the evening.

Tristan Sterling returned.

Rachel Royce was sitting with Melissa in the living room, watching cartoons.

“Daddy p>

Tristan Sterling picked Melissa up, and the father and daughter shared an affectionate moment.

Rachel Royce said to Melissa, “Melissa, why don’t you let Daddy keep you company for a bit? Aunt Evelynn still has some work from today to finish p>

Melissa said, “Okay p>

Rachel Royce didn’t spare the man a second glance and turned to go upstairs.

She went back to Melissa’s room.

Around four o’clock that afternoon, she had asked Marcus Sheldon to bring over her laptop and the files she needed to work on.

Just then, her phone vibrated again. Seeing the caller ID, she answered the call. “Hello, David p>

“Evelynn! We haven’t talked in ages. Did you miss me?” David’s tone was as flirtatious as ever.

Rachel Royce laughed and answered honestly, “Nope p>

“Evelynn, you’re breaking my heart! I’ve missed you a lot, you know p>

“Oh, really? Or were you just thinking of me while surrounded by beautiful women p>

David laughed. “Evelynn, are you jealous p>

“If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up p>

David asked, “Of course I have something important to ask you. Evelynn, did you finalize the divorce p>

After a moment of silence, Rachel Royce sidestepped his question. “David, I need to ask you for a favor p>

David raised an eyebrow. “It’s rare for you to ask me for help, Evelynn. I’m honored. Tell me what it is. I’d go through hell and high water for you p>

Rachel Royce smiled faintly. “I need you to help me handle the equity issue with KU p>

She had built KU from the ground up. Now that it had finally achieved stable growth, giving it up felt like handing over a child she had raised with her own hands.

But thinking about how she would be staying in the country in the future, and now had a stable business here that she wanted to develop, she knew her energy was limited. She had to make a choice.

’Tristan Sterling has already gotten involved with KU. It’s time for me to pull out p>

However, Tristan Sterling absolutely could not find out about this. Otherwise, extricating herself wouldn’t be so easy. David was the only one she could ask.

Listening to Rachel Royce, David quickly understood. He had already guessed what Tristan Sterling was up to when he acquired NS.

“Since you’re the one asking, Evelynn, of course I’ll help p>

“Thanks. I’ll be sure to compensate you well afterward p>

David laughed. “Forget the compensation. I’d rather have you owe me a favor, Evelynn p>

“Fine. Consider it a favor I owe you p>

“Deal p>

Rachel Royce had just hung up the phone.

Tristan Sterling walked into the bedroom, carrying a sleeping Melissa.

The man glanced at the woman, then carefully placed Melissa on the bed.