Before Rachel could say anything, Jolly rolled her eyes at Justin. “I invited him to this trip. What if both of us defenseless women bump into someone or get into trouble up on the mountains? We'll need a man to help us.”
Immediately, Justin frowned. “Am I not one?”
“Well, who knew you were coming?”
Trying to mediate the dispute between them, Rachel cut in, “Alright, you guys. It’s getting late. Let’s go quickly while the weather’s not hot.” As she spoke, she walked toward Julian. “Hurry up and come down, Samuel. You’re too heavy.”
“He’s not.” Julian grinned as he handed her a bottle of water. “Here, drink some water.”
“Aww… Juice made out of love?” Jolly jeered, “Only Rachel gets a drink and I don’t.”
Glancing at her, Julian replied, “I have more in my car. I’ll get some for you.”
While the three joked around intimately, Justin stood behind and watched. His face turned dark as he felt left out.
“It’s fine. I don’t deserve it. I’ve already gotten used to it abroad.”
Suddenly, a sigh sounded beside them. “Ugh…”
Arms crossed like a little adult, Charlotte shook her head at Justin. “Daddy, I already told you to bring some breakfast, but you refused to listen. Look at that. Somebody else has taken the chance!”
He tensed. “If such trivial matters could win her favor, it need not wait till today.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll help you.” She patted his hand. “Watch me and Samuel later.”
When they reached the entrance to the mountain, Jolly parted ways with the others at the intersection to take the cable car while the rest walked up the mountain.
With that, Jolly went away light-heartedly in her eye-catching wide-brimmed sun hat. Rachel sighed in relief as she didn’t want to be caught walking with Jolly who dressed up as if she was going on holiday to the Maldives. How embarrassing.
“Let’s go!” Rachel beckoned the others.
On cue, the three adults and two children followed the trail and walked up the mountain.
Along the way, Julian chatted with Rachel. “The hospital seminar this time seems to be pretty long. You’ve been back for quite some time already.”
“They offered me a permanent position here, but I’m still considering it.”
“Tran-Q is the most prestigious surgical hospital here. Besides, there are very few cases abroad. I think staying here would suit you best if you’re committed to doing clinical research.”
“I’m not worried about that.”
“Then, what is it?”
Julian didn’t reply to her question but asked her in response, “Are you planning to stay here, or will you be returning to Montenegro?”
Hearing this, she was dumbfounded for a moment. All of a sudden, he grabbed onto her. “Hey, careful!” As a result, she narrowly avoided a rock that rolled down from the mountain. The rock hit the spot where she was earlier and rolled to the side of the trail.
Right then, they were standing so close together that she was almost in his arms already. Shocked, her face turned pale.
Watching the both of them, Justin frowned even more. Hastily, he stepped forward and pulled Rachel over. When he did that, she stumbled.
Fortunately, Julian noticed it and pulled her other hand at once. Taking her other arm, Julian looked at Justin with a cold expression. “Justin, what are you trying to do?”
“Shouldn’t I be the one asking what you’re trying to do?”
Julian, who was usually gentle and calm, exploded. “Do I have to discuss with you before I do anything? Don’t forget that there’s nothing between you and Rae anymore! ”
“So what? She’s Charlotte’s mother. How could you behave like that in front of Charlotte?”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: My mute bride novel (Rachel and Justin)