Chapter 127: Rachel Faulkner’s Purpose
The awkward scene Vivian had imagined never materialized.
When Rachel Faulkner saw Vivian and Julian walk out hand in hand, she beamed. "Julian, Vivian, you two are so close."
"Are you two here on a date tonight?"
"Mm."
Julian Faulkner answered unhurriedly, his tone flat. His gaze swept over to Mason Grant, and he suddenly asked, "Rachel, you too?"
"..."
For a moment, the smile on Rachel Faulkner’s face stiffened slightly.
She composed herself and replied coolly, "Of course not. Mason and I are just friends. We came here today to discuss some business."
’Business matters?’
Vivian found it strange.
’Didn’t Rachel Faulkner join the Faulkner Group? And it was just a nominal position at that. What kind of business could she possibly have with Mason Grant? Vivian couldn’t figure it out.’
But this wasn’t the time or place to ask more questions.
’Rachel Faulkner lives with the Faulkner Family, and Vance Wyatt usually keeps an eye on her every move. I’m sure if she were secretly doing anything to harm the Faulkner Group, Vance would be able to find out.’
"Oh."
Julian Faulkner clearly had no intention of speaking with Rachel Faulkner any further. "It’s getting late," he said. "Vivian and I are getting ready to leave."
"Going home?"
Rachel Faulkner pressed.
Vivian replied with a smile, "We’re stopping by the pet hospital."
The moment the words left her mouth, Vivian regretted them.
Because Rachel Faulkner showed a keen interest in the matter.
Her eyes lit up as she asked, "Is that the pet hospital you opened, Vivian? The one that does cat rescues! I’ve seen it online."
"So many people are praising you. Reducing the city’s stray animal population—it’s such a wonderful, charitable act."
"I’d love to see it too. May I?"
Vivian nodded in agreement.
’After all, it wasn’t an unreasonable request.’
’She could refuse Wendy Wynn, but she couldn’t refuse Rachel Faulkner in the same way.’
And so...
Rachel Faulkner spoke with the server about her private room, and without even eating, followed Vivian to the pet hospital.
「At the Pet Hospital.」
Caleb Quinn had just finished his work and was preparing to head back to Aethelburg University. He had a class the next morning, so he planned to return that night and pull an all-nighter in the library, studying and reviewing his coursework.
Caleb Quinn was just about to leave when Vivian arrived.
"Mr. Lowell."
Caleb Quinn greeted her politely. Hearing the noise, Eleanor Rhodes looked over. The moment she saw Vivian, she broke into a happy smile.
However, in the next instant, when Eleanor Rhodes saw Rachel Faulkner behind Vivian, her smile froze.
Eleanor Rhodes knew a thing or two about Rachel Faulkner.
And to make matters worse, that annoying Mason Grant was right there beside her.
’What’s going on?’
Eleanor Rhodes, on high alert, walked over and asked Vivian, "Tanya, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see the little white cat. Rachel... we just ran into her as we were leaving the Japanese restaurant."
Vivian explained, a bit helplessly, "Rachel heard I was coming here and wanted to see it for herself."
"That’s right."
Rachel Faulkner chimed in from behind her. "You must be Miss Rhodes, right? I saw your mother at the banquet the other day. Mrs. Rhodes maintains herself so well."
"She looks like she’s only in her thirties, so young!"
"..."
Eleanor Rhodes shot Rachel Faulkner a sidelong glance, clearly displeased, even though it was true that her mother looked very young.
’But hearing Rachel Faulkner say it, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Rachel had ulterior motives, like she was trying to cozy up to her!’
"Mm."
Eleanor Rhodes gave a simple acknowledgment. "It’s fine if you want to see the kittens," she said. "Just know that most of the ones we’ve recently brought in are quite young."
"Some of the kittens are a bit feral, so you can only look at them in their cages. You can’t reach in to touch them, to avoid getting hurt. Is that all right?"
Eleanor Rhodes clearly didn’t want Rachel Faulkner getting near the kittens.
Rachel Faulkner didn’t seem to have any objections. After nodding in agreement, she walked deeper into the pet hospital with Vivian and Eleanor.
As soon as they entered the room where the kittens were kept, Vivian heard meowing.
MEW, MEW, MEW. The sound was like the whining of a clingy child, utterly endearing.
Vivian’s eyes immediately fell on the little white cat.
The little white cat was no longer snuggled up asleep with the orange tabby. Instead, it was lying on the nearby litter box, wiggling its body, perhaps trying to get some exercise.
’So cute.’
’Its eyes weren’t even open, yet Vivian felt it already had such delicate features.’
’It’s like having your own child—even if they’re red and wrinkly at birth, you love them all the same, don’t you?’
...
Perhaps Vivian’s gaze was too intense, because Rachel Faulkner, standing beside her, noticed.
Rachel walked straight over to the little white cat’s cage and remarked in surprise, "How is this kitten so tiny? It’s so white, just beautiful."
"Is it... a newborn?"
"Yes." Vivian moved closer, wary that Rachel might do something strange to harm the kitten. "It was born two days ago. Its eyes haven’t even opened."
"Oh, can I adopt it, then? I absolutely love this little kitten!" Rachel Faulkner finished, then turned to look at Vivian with a wide, beaming smile.
?
’Was it her imagination?’
’The smile on Rachel Faulkner’s face right now gave Vivian a... ’
’A dangerous feeling. It felt a bit like a provocation.’
’What was Rachel trying to do?’
’Did she realize how much I like this kitten and is deliberately trying to take it from me?’
’Vivian really didn’t want to suspect Rachel of such things. After all, there was no conflict of interest between them. Rachel had no reason to act this way.’
"Rachel."
Vivian explained patiently, "This kitten is still too small. Generally, it’s best to wait until a kitten is over two months old before adoption."
"This one is like a newborn baby. It needs milk constantly and requires antibodies from its mother. It’s very difficult to keep them alive with artificial feeding."
"So I’m sorry, but it can’t be adopted right now."
Rachel seemed to take this reasonably, nodding as she listened. "Oh, I see. That’s a shame," she said. "I didn’t know any of that, Vivian. I’m sorry."
"However—can I reserve this kitten? Once it’s bigger, maybe I can come and take it home?"
"..."
The smile on Vivian’s face froze.
Seeing this, Eleanor Rhodes interjected, "Rachel, we have quite a few kittens at the hospital right now that are ready for adoption."
"If you really love them, you don’t have to be so fixated on this one."
Eleanor knew.
Vivian had personally saved this kitten from the brink of death. She was extremely fond of it, and Eleanor was almost certain that Vivian planned to take it home herself eventually.
’There was no way she’d let someone else adopt it!’
"Unfortunately, I’m not interested in the other kittens."
Rachel Faulkner glanced at Eleanor Rhodes with a smile. "I hear your adoptions are always based on a feeling of connection. And with this one, I feel a real connection."