An Awkward Encounter

Rachel Foster followed Kingsly Scott out of the room with a heart full of hope, unaware that it wasn't just Helen waiting outside.

Noah Foster hadn't expected his sister to emerge from Kingsly Scott's room, furrowing his brow slightly.

Rachel was momentarily stunned. "Noah?"

Noah bowed his head slightly in respect to Kingsly. "Mr. Scott."

Kingsly nodded in acknowledgment and walked straight to the hotel elevator, with Helen quickly following.

The spacious hotel corridor was left with just the siblings. Noah's gaze fell on Rachel's hand, which clutched her chest tightly. "Helen told me to come up to meet someone. I thought it was a friend of Mr. Scott's or something, not my sister."

Rachel only realized her disheveled state when she stepped out of the room. She did not expect her brother to witness such an embarrassing scene.

Holding her chest tightly, she looked at her brother calmly. "Noah, listen to your big sister and give up on the Shallow Bay project."

Noah replied calmly. "I know you've always had my best interests at heart, but I've already told you I'm not giving up on this project. It's the cornerstone of my life's achievements."

Rachel shook her head. "Noah, the risk with this project is immense. If you don't do well, you might..."

"Only in dire straits can one survive. The greatest risks yield the greatest rewards."

"But have you considered why Titans Group would entrust such a big project to someone as inexperienced as you?"

Noah smiled slightly. "I did think it was my luck before, but now I see it's because you helped me."

Rachel was puzzled.

Noah's pupils contracted slightly, looking intently at Rachel. "Isn't it because of your relationship with Mr. Scott that he's favoring me?"

Rachel's body jolted as she realized what her brother was implying, and she was immediately angered and embarrassed. "Noah, do you know what you're saying?"

"Big sister, although Jasper is great, if you choose to be with Mr. Scott, I won't interfere. Rationally, I'd even prefer Mr. Scott as my brother-in-law."

Rachel was so frustrated she held her chest tightly. "I have nothing to do with Kingsly Scott. I came to him only for you."

"Really?" Noah glanced at her sideways, a slight smile on his lips. "You came to see him at a hotel and ended up in his room looking disheveled?"

Rachel was flustered. "It's not what you think, I..." She didn't know how to explain to her brother.

Noah sighed deeply, reaching out to support his slender sister, speaking softly. "Big sister, I don't care about your relationship with Mr. Scott because it's your life, and no one else can interfere. Likewise, my life should be my own decision. Since I've entered Titans Group and been put in this position, I don't want to give up this great opportunity... You also want our Foster family to have a place in the entire city's business world again, right?"

Rachel shook her head, looking sadly at her brother. "Noah, the relationship between me and Kingsly is not what you think. I can only tell you that Kingsly Scott has ulterior motives for putting you in this position."

Noah gently pulled Rachel into a hug. "I believe what you're saying, but you must also trust your brother. He won't be manipulated and won't let anyone harm him."

Kingsly Scott allowed her to speak alone with her brother for ten minutes. Ten minutes later, she could still not stop her brother from attending the press conference, where he officially announced his responsibility for the Shallow Bay project.

In the taxi ride home, she wore the suit jacket Noah had draped over her shoulders, leaning wearily against the seat.

Kingsly had promised not to entangle her further, but she couldn't persuade her brother to leave Titans Group.

She had never doubted her brother's intelligence, but compared to Kingsly Scott's, it seemed...

She had a bad feeling that Kingsly wasn't letting her go; he was setting a larger trap, waiting for her and Noah to fall into it.

Noah didn't understand how dangerous Kingsly Scott was; he was still too inexperienced.

All she could hope for now was that Kingsly was a man of his word; having chosen to release her, he wouldn't use Noah as leverage against her again.

...

As night fell, the vast cityscape of the City was illuminated by twinkling lights, visible through the large blue floor-to-ceiling window. It was rush hour, and the cars on the ground moved slowly, like a river of glowing red arcs.

One could see the bustling scene from the eighty-eighth floor but hear no sound as if isolated from the world.

Kingsly held a glass of red wine, drinking quietly, seemingly lost in thought.

"I knew you'd be here alone again. So, with Shuman not at home, you don't even go back?" The speaker was Leo Thompson, who approached Kingsly with a freshly poured glass of wine.

Kingsly didn't answer Leo, simply taking another sip of his wine.

Leo glanced at Kingsly's expressionless face and said, "I heard from Helen that you spent over two hours alone with Miss Foster in the hotel today, and she came out looking disheveled... So, did you make a move today?"

Kingsly continued to gaze at the distant horizon without speaking.

"Judging by your expression, you didn't make a move, did you?" Leo laughed wickedly. "I told Helen she would lose the bet... If Mr. Scott made a move, it wouldn't just be two hours."

Kingsly spoke calmly. "Isn't Maggie due any day now? Why aren't you with her?"

Leo took a sip of wine and said, "I've been by her side 24/7, and I'm about to go stir-crazy... With Shuman back in the U.S., I told my wife I needed to keep an eye on you for her, so I got a pass."

"Spend more time with her when you can."

Leo nodded, then shook his head. "No, why are you turning the conversation to me... Tell me why you haven't made a move on Miss Foster yet. It's not like you to procrastinate."

"There was a moment today when I almost couldn't control myself."

Leo chuckled. "Miss Foster is quite the enchantress, nearly causing the famously composed Mr. Scott to lose his grip."

Kingsly turned, setting down his wine glass, and sat on the sofa behind him, lighting a cigarette.

Leaning against the sofa with his drink, Leo asked. "Why didn't you follow through?"

Kingsly took a drag, exhaled, and let the smoke obscure his vision, speaking softly. "She insisted she wasn't a woman who would sell herself for money, which reminded me of the past... If I took her just like that, wouldn't I let her off too easily? Maybe I should tear apart her deceitful facade so she can never deceive again."

The night was so quiet that only the chirping of insects could be heard.

The garden lights outside the window cast a gentle glow through the floor-to-ceiling windows, reflecting on the white marble floor. Rachel Foster sat alone on the sofa, hugging a pillow, lost in light and shadow.

Jasper Reed didn't come home for dinner. Ivy Morgan had guessed they might have fought. Still, Rachel told them they disagreed over work matters to avoid worrying the elders.

She had made numerous calls to Jasper throughout the evening. Still, his phone remained unreachable, leaving her with no choice but to wait for him to return.

Tick-tock, tick-tock...

The clock on the wall kept ticking. She couldn't help but glance at the time again just as the servant at the door bowed, "Sir."

Jasper had returned.

Seeing his tall figure enter the hall, she almost immediately dropped the pillow and stood up.

Jasper seemed a bit surprised to find her waiting for him. He gave her a calm look, gestured for the servant to leave, and walked towards her.

Rachel also moved towards him, and they met in the hall's center.

"Are you not asleep yet?" Jasper asked first, his emotions calm and his voice gentle as usual.

Rachel looked deeply at him and said, "I was waiting for you."

"It's late, you should go to bed early."

Feeling a bit wronged, Rachel said, "I called you, but you didn't answer. I was worried about you."

Jasper pressed his phone out of his suit pocket, finding the screen still dark. He shrugged apologetically, "Looks like my phone ran out of battery."

At that moment, Rachel reached out and hugged Jasper.

Her sudden action left Jasper momentarily stunned.

Rachel buried herself tightly in Jasper's warm and broad embrace, her voice tinged with emotion. "Jasper, believe me, there's nothing between Kingsly Scott and me..."

He had already thought it through by the afternoon; he had perhaps been too harsh on her.

Everyone has a past, and since it becomes a memory buried within, it is natural to remember it fondly.

She and Kingsly had once been a couple, and holding onto Kingsly's things might indicate she hadn't entirely forgotten him, but those were all part of her past. He couldn't demand she erase those memories, and since the facts couldn't be changed, why should he let them stand between them, damaging their relationship?

He slowly placed his hand on her back, embracing her.

Her response filled her with joy, and she hugged him even tighter, deeply nestled in his arms, breathing in his pleasant masculine scent, her voice choked. "I promise you, I won't meet him again."

He closed his eyes, content to rest against her slender shoulder, breathing in the light fragrance of her hair. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have doubted you."

She placed her hand on his mouth, shaking her head. "Don't say that... It's my fault for not handling my matters well, leading to your misunderstanding."

"You went to find Kingsly for me, yet I didn't trust you..."

She placed her hand on his handsome face, shook her head again, and gazed at him with deep affection. "I just want you to know, in this lifetime, I only want to be with you."