Chapter 259. Old Friends Return
Chapter 259. Old Friends Return
After several tense days -Emma’s fever, Mira’s situation, and those suspicious people who kept lurking around Wulfhart- Jacintha had almost forgotten what it felt like to let out a long, slow breath.
She had just coaxed Emma to sleep and was sitting on the chaise by the window, feeding Jack a plate of fruit, when her phone rang.
The moment she saw the name on the screen, her eyes lit up.
It was Carol.
Jacintha answered, but before she could say a word, Carol’s voice came through, quick and bright as always.
“Jacintha, I’m outside your gate. Don’t tell me Wulfhart’s people won’t let me in.”
Jacintha laughed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“If I’d told you, it wouldn’t have been a surprise.” Carol gave a little huff, then her voice lifted with excitement. “I brought good news. Really, really good news.”
Before Jacintha could ask more, she heard a man’s voice in the background, very low, as if he were reminding Carol to stay still while the estate guards checked them.
She paused, slightly taken aback. “Who did you come with?”
“My brother,” Carol replied casually.
“Albert came too? When did he get back to Averlin?” Jacintha sat up straighter.
“Just yesterday. When he heard I wanted to come see you, he insisted on coming along. He said he missed Jack very much, and he wanted to meet your daughter too.”
“Wait there a minute,” Jacintha said. “I’m coming to the gate to get you and Albert.”
She had barely hung up before she scooped Emma into her arms and hurried outside, but Raphael, who had been sitting on the sofa nearby, rose at once. One hand came to her waist, while the other effortlessly took Emma from her arms.
“Slow down,” he said, frowning. “You’re carrying Emma. Don’t rush like that.”
Jacintha turned to look at him, the corner of her mouth lifting. “Carol’s here. I have to go greet her myself. It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen her.”
“I know.” There was a faint edge of jealousy in Raphael’s voice. “Look how happy you are.”
The hand at her waist did not loosen in the slightest, as though making it very clear that its owner was not pleased to see his mate so openly delighted by someone else. Jacintha looked at the way Raphael held on to her so brazenly and found it more amusing than anything else. She said nothing, only brushed the back of his hand lightly with her fingers before walking out with him.
Carol was standing in the main hall.
The instant she saw Jacintha, her face broke into a radiant smile. Carol looked just as she always had-her long hair tied high, her fair face bright, her eyes lively and quick. The only difference was that now there was a far more mature air about her, along with the unmistakable briskness of someone who had truly stepped into the professional creative world.
“Jacintha!”
Carol practically threw herself forward and wrapped her in a tight hug. Jacintha laughed and hugged her back. The two girls held each other for a long moment, and when Carol finally pulled away, her eyes were already red with emotion.
“Oh my God, I missed you so much I could die. It’s been almost a year since we last saw each other. Don’t tell me you got married and forgot all about your best friend.”
“Not even a little, idiot.” Jacintha flicked Carol lightly on the forehead. “I was busy filming for a while, and lately a few things happened at home, so I haven’t had time to make plans with you. But weren’t you busy with work too, our brilliant artist?”
Carol tilted her chin up proudly. “Haha, of course I had to work hard. Otherwise, how could I possibly deserve to be friends with the famous movie star Jacintha Wilson?”
Jacintha burst out laughing. Truly, only a best friend could make someone as reserved as she was laugh so hard she lost all sense of composure.
Then Jacintha looked at the man standing behind Carol.
“Albert. It’s been a long time.”
Albert was dressed in a pale gray shirt and a simple black coat that day. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with an air about him that was clean, calm, and steady. His face looked far more refined than before, yet the most unforgettable thing about him was still his eyes. They were the kind of eyes that were gentle, deep, and naturally made people feel they could trust him. But when they lingered on someone for too long, it felt as though that person might lose their way in a labyrinth with no escape.
Albert looked at Jacintha, the corner of his mouth lifting as well. “It’s been a long time.”
Jacintha looked up at him, her eyes shining with unmistakable, heartfelt joy. “How long are you staying in Averlin?”
Albert nodded. “Probably a few months. I’m treating this as a rare vacation.”
Before Jacintha could say anything else, Raphael walked over and stopped right beside her. Emma was in his arms, the little girl’s bright blue eyes wide as she stared at the people in front of her. Raphael did not say much. He simply rested his free hand against Jacintha’s back with easy familiarity, the gesture both protective and quietly reminding the man before him that Jacintha was his wife.
Albert’s gaze lingered on that hand for a second before he calmly looked at Raphael. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Carol’s brother, and a friend of Jacintha’s.”
Raphael replied flatly, “Yeah.”
He did not look the least bit interested in talking to Albert. Albert, however, acted as though he had not noticed Raphael’s coldness and naturally shifted his gaze to Emma instead.
“She looks so much like you. Like a tiny little copy of you.”
At that, Jacintha’s smile only brightened. Just then, Emma suddenly leaned forward and stretched out both her arms as if asking Albert to hold her.
Albert took her into his arms just as naturally, and Emma immediately kissed his cheek before breaking into a happy little giggle. The sight made both Jacintha and Carol laugh without stopping.
Only Raphael did not.
His face darkened into something almost frightening, and he stared at Albert as though he were looking at a man about to steal his wife and child away.
There was clearly something off in the air between the two men.