Rachel Foster stirred awake in the expansive bed of the hotel, her eyes still heavy with sleep.
"Miss Foster, you're awake?"
She slowly sat up, looking confusedly at the server standing by the bed. "Where am I?"
The server smiled. "This is the Crescent Moon Hotel."
Rachel suddenly became fully alert, glancing around the room.
The server asked, "Did you sleep well last night, Miss Foster?"
Rachel paused, pulling back the covers to check herself. Her pajamas were intact, indicating she hadn't been dreaming. She vaguely remembered what Kingsly had said to her last night, but how did she fall asleep?
The server answered her unspoken question. "Mr. Scott specifically asked me to use a rose scent that aids sleep, saying he wanted you to rest well."
Is that so? No wonder she slept so soundly and felt so refreshed upon waking.
"When did Mr. Scott leave last night?" she asked.
The server smiled. "Mr. Scott left after you fell asleep. He instructed us to let you sleep until you woke up naturally. It's now cleaning time, so I knocked and disturbed you."
"Oh..." Rachel rubbed her forehead. "What time is it now?"
"It's already nine o'clock, Miss Foster."
"Nine?"
Rachel exclaimed, jumping out of bed. The court session starts at nine...
--
Just as Rachel finished dressing, her phone rang from inside her bag. Seeing the name displayed on the screen, her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Jasper?"
"It's me."
Rachel was overjoyed, not having heard his familiar and pleasant voice for days. "Where are you? At the courthouse? I'm on my way..."
Jasper chuckled. "Silly... I'm right near you."
"Right near?"
"Open the door and see."
Baffled, Rachel walked to the door and opened it. In the next instant, she saw Jasper standing at the doorway, and she froze.
"Rachel."
Jasper smiled at her, looking a bit thinner but spirited. He opened his arms, waiting for her embrace.
Rachel stared dazedly at Jasper, her eyes gradually reddening, before rushing into his arms, holding him tightly.
Jasper also wrapped his arms tightly around her, contentedly closing his eyes.
"I missed you so much..." Rachel's voice was choked as she leaned against Jasper, breathing in his comforting scent.
Jasper gently rubbed Rachel's slightly trembling shoulders, kissing her cheek. "Me too. The days without seeing you were unbearable."
After a long while, Rachel slowly lifted her eyes from Jasper's embrace, gazing deeply into his with tear-stained eyes. "Am I dreaming right now?"
Jasper shook his head with a smile, holding her close. "You're not dreaming. The court has withdrawn the charges against me."
Rachel's eyes widened in disbelief.
Jasper smiled again. "I owe my safe return to you. Thank you for all the trouble you've gone through for me these days... Money is nothing, but I'm sorry for making you humble yourself to seek help from Kingsly Scott." Jasper pulled Rachel back into his arms, holding her tightly and resting contentedly on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'll never let you suffer again."
"Huh?..." Rachel was a bit confused by what Jasper said.
In the car, Rachel Foster learned that Kingsly Scott had fulfilled his promise. That morning, he provided the court with financial records from Titans Group that were favorable to Jasper Reed, leading to the dismissal of the charges against him. As for why Jasper found her at the hotel, Kingsly instructed Helen to inform the Reed family that Rachel had fainted from exhaustion while discussing Jasper's case with him, and thus, Kingsly arranged for her to rest at the hotel."I'm sorry for the hardship you've endured for me these past days," Jasper said, taking Rachel's hand and affectionately kissing its back as he drove.
Rachel turned to look at Jasper, smiling slightly. "There's no need for such words between us."
Jasper held Rachel's hand tightly, keeping his eyes on the road, and said gently, "You probably haven't slept well these days. Why don't you rest for a while? I'm right here with you."
Rachel nodded, slowly closing her eyes, but the image of Kingsly Scott's handsome face appeared in her mind.
She hadn't expected him to ultimately help Jasper. Although he had stated that he wanted Silverstone's shares in "Westwood Heights," which was the condition she initially offered to persuade him to help Jasper, he hadn't agreed then because he didn't need the money. He made things seem logical and avoided further speculation about their relationship.
So, when he invited her to the hotel last night, he never intended anything else; he just wanted her to get a good night's sleep.
He, indeed, was a good person.
The man she remembered was also this helpful and kind. He hadn't changed over the years. No wonder fate allowed him to forget her; he was so good that she wasn't worthy of him.
Later that afternoon, Jasper met with several directors while Rachel sat alone in the office, contemplating. Finally, she decided to call Kingsly Scott.
She just wanted to thank him.
The call went through several layers, from the switchboard to the secretary's office, until Helen answered, "Hello, Miss Foster."
"Helen, is Mr. Scott available?"
"Mr. Scott is currently in a meeting."
"Then I'll call back later."
"Do you have a message, Miss Foster?"
"I wanted to personally thank Mr. Scott for what he did for Jasper."
Helen replied courteously, "Miss Foster, Mr. Scott anticipated your call. He said there was no need to thank him—it was just a small effort. However, he admires your dedication to your loved one and hopes to be friends with you."
"Alright."
After ending the call, Rachel sat at her desk in a daze, her heart inexplicably warm.
At the same time, Helen approached the floor-to-ceiling window, standing behind Kingsly Scott, the tall, imposing figure dressed impeccably and with his hands in his pockets. Respectfully, she said, "Mr. Scott, I conveyed your message..."
"Good."
Helen turned to leave but hesitated with a question, returning to ask, "Mr. Scott, I don't understand why you chose to help Silverstone. Is it because of Miss Foster?"
Kingsly raised the corners of his mouth, his expression inscrutable, and replied lightly, "Yes, for her."
At three in the afternoon, a cobalt blue Ferrari pulled into the underground garage of Titans Group. Kingsly Scott leaned back in his seat, not in a hurry to get out.Sitting in the passenger seat, Luna Bennett softly asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Kingsly stepped out of the car, gentlemanly opening the door for Luna.
Luna linked her arm with Kingsly's as they went upstairs. "Since you've been back, it seems like you've had something on your mind."
Kingsly smiled at her. "Oh? Even you can read my thoughts now."
Kingsly's thoughts were hard to read, but she could catch a hint or two after three years together.
Looking at the documents about Silverstone Holdings on the desk, Luna casually picked them up for a glance. "I heard you helped Jasper Reed, the head of Silverstone Holdings?"
He didn't answer.
She turned to him. "Was it because of Jasper's girlfriend? Mr. Grant said she's come to you several times."
"You have quite a few informants."
She smiled proudly. "Come on, I've already turned a blind eye to you and Natalie Lewis."
He chuckled. "Just playing along, as you know."
"Helping Rachel Foster is just playing along, too?"
After a moment, Kingsly said, "I thought you didn't care which woman I was with."
"It's not that I don't care; I can't control it. I won't mention Natalie Lewis, but Rachel Foster has a boyfriend. If rumors start about you two, where does that leave me and Jasper?"
"Don't worry, I'm not interested in her."
"Then why..."
"Rachel Foster is my ex-girlfriend." Kingsly walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, hands in his pockets, gazing at the sky outside.
Luna was surprised. "She is..."
"A person's appearance can change over time, but their nature doesn't." He had to admit Rachel was more beautiful than before. Even dressed in simple sportswear at the golf course that day, she had attracted the attention of many men around.
Luna's expression gradually dimmed, remaining silent before managing a bitter smile. "No wonder you seem preoccupied."
Kingsly shook his head. "My thoughts have nothing to do with her; I've been thinking about us."
"Hmm?"
Kingsly gently embraced Luna's waist. "Once I settle this matter, let's have a child."
Luna remained silent, resting her forehead on Kingsly's shoulder. Her eyelashes brush against the dark shirt beneath his suit, and she was lost in thought.
Against the bright blue backdrop of the window, Kingsly's eyes were deep and dark, like an unfathomable abyss, yet also filled with infinite tenderness, quietly flowing like a serene stream—calm, silent, with a fleeting intensity like a stampede.
His thoughts were a mystery to all.
That night, Rachel Foster tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
In the middle of the night, she got out of bed and pulled a cardboard box from under it.
Kneeling beside the box, she anxiously rummaged through its contents until she found an old USB drive.
Seeing the drive, she sighed in relief, leaning back against the wall in exhaustion.
She stared at the thin layer of dust on the drive for a long time, gradually losing herself in thought.