Chapter 7: Lingering Concerns
Ivy Morgan had been concerned about Jasper Reed's lack of appetite. With Rachel Foster by her side, they shared a quiet dinner together.
Midway through the meal, Rachel's phone rang—it was her younger brother, Noah Foster. She excused herself and moved to the sofa to take the call.
"Big sister," Noah's deep voice resonated through the phone.
"Noah."
"How have you been lately?"
"I'm doing well," she reassured him. Both Noah and Diana studied in the United States, and Noah studied at Stanford. Unlike Diana, Noah calls infrequently, but Rachel always feels assured about his independence.
"You don't sound well... Can the situation with Jasper and Silverstone be resolved?" Even from afar, Noah was perceptive.
Rachel took a deep breath, leaning back on the sofa. "You don't need to worry. I will handle it."
"I have a week-long break coming up. Can I visit you?"
"No need. Your studies are demanding. Use the break to rest. I can handle my issues." Since their parents' passing, she had been the pillar of strength for her siblings.
"Alright, but if you need me, just call."
"Okay."
"Take care of yourself."
"You too."
After ending the call, Rachel sat in thought. Ivy approached and sat beside her. "You barely ate tonight. Have some more."
Rachel shook her head, hugging Ivy. "I'm not hungry."
Ivy looked at her affectionately. "You've been dealing with so much—Jasper's troubles and managing the company. It's been hard on you."
Rachel smiled softly. "Not at all, I'm not tired."
"When everything is over, you and Jasper should get married. I've always wanted to have that daughter-in-law tea."
Rachel chuckled, resting her head on Ivy's shoulder and slowly closing her eyes.
That night, Rachel dreamt repeatedly of her encounter with Kingsly Scott. Awakening in a cold sweat, she could not return to sleep. She turned on the bedside lamp and reached for her laptop.
She typed "Kingsly Scott" into the search bar and found over a dozen pages of information. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the section listing his spouse—Luna Bennett. She stared at the name long before scrolling through the pages.
She read about his growth, entrepreneurial journey, and private life. Suddenly, she noticed a mention of a car accident six years ago. The details were sparse, but an image showed him in critical condition, his head wrapped in bandages.
Had he been in such a severe accident? Rachel's hands trembled over the keyboard. She gazed at the image, her fingertips growing cold as if her heart had lost its warmth.
But if the accident was so severe, could it be that he didn't recognize her because he had undergone brain surgery?