Chapter 262: Visiting Rachel Faulkner
Vivian Lowell didn’t find anything wrong with what Julian Faulkner was doing.
’Maybe I’m just a hypocrite!’
’But when you’re dealing with someone like Felix Faulkner, you really can’t be too concerned with morals!’
Thinking this, Vivian Lowell added, "But it doesn’t matter. We’ve already blocked all of Lawyer Donovan’s paths. There’s nothing he can do now."
"Oh, right. I almost forgot. Wasn’t Rachel Faulkner getting really close with Mason Grant before? It seemed like they were just about to get together, right?"
"How is it that Mason Grant had no reaction at all when Rachel was sentenced to death this time?"
Vivian Lowell had almost forgotten all about Mason Grant.
’Mason Grant has always been selfish. He was probably only with Rachel Faulkner because he saw some benefit in her connection to the Faulkner family. Now that she’s in this situation, how could he possibly bother with her?’
"Yeah, he had no reaction."
Just as Vivian Lowell had thought, Julian Faulkner nodded and said, "It’s like he doesn’t even know Rachel Faulkner. He hasn’t done a thing."
’As expected.’
Vivian Lowell didn’t comment further on the matter. After a moment of thought, she asked, "Julian, if... I wanted to go see Rachel Faulkner, would that be possible?"
Julian Faulkner was a little surprised, not quite understanding Vivian’s intentions. He lifted his gaze to look at her seriously and asked, "See her? What are you planning to do?"
"Yes."
Vivian Lowell briefly explained her idea.
People are prone to having a dark side, and someone as selfish as Rachel Faulkner was even more so.
Rachel Faulkner was at a dead end. Felix Faulkner and Lawyer Donovan were the only people she could rely on and trust. So, for that infinitesimally small chance of survival, she wouldn’t betray Felix Faulkner.
But what if Rachel discovered another "hope"?
She might just be willing to talk about the evil things Felix Faulkner has done.
In fact, Vivian Lowell and Julian Faulkner could even make the situation more "vicious."
After they made a conspicuous visit to Rachel Faulkner, they could leak the news to Felix Faulkner, making him think Rachel had betrayed him. What would a panicked Felix Faulkner do then?
That "unbreakable" father-daughter bond would collapse in an instant!
Of course, even if Felix Faulkner didn’t take the bait and did nothing to Rachel, Vivian Lowell and Julian Faulkner could still put on a show to make Rachel think her father was about to move against her!
At that point, whether to save her own life or out of refusal to be a discarded pawn, Rachel would surely do something!
All in all, this attempt was all upside and no downside for Vivian Lowell and Julian Faulkner.
They could even use Lawyer Donovan!
"..."
After listening to Vivian Lowell, Julian Faulkner looked up at her seriously and said, "Your plan... it sounds feasible."
"But she’s on death row. Seeing her will require some advance arrangements."
"Right!"
Vivian Lowell nodded and said, "I only have a rough idea for now. I haven’t figured out the exact details yet. In any case, you can start making the arrangements."
"If we really get the chance to see Rachel Faulkner, we’ll just play it by ear!"
Although Vivian Lowell truly detested Rachel Faulkner, with Felix Faulkner still on the loose, she had little choice.
’To deal with Felix Faulkner, I’ll just have to endure my ’discomfort’ for now!’
「Three days later.」
Julian Faulkner informed Vivian Lowell that they could go see Rachel Faulkner. The visit wouldn’t be long, only an hour, so they would have to keep it brief.
"An hour is enough."
Vivian Lowell replied to Julian on WhatsApp, asking, "So when are we going to see Rachel Faulkner?"
"I’ll come pick you up for lunch in a bit. We can go right after we eat. I have a meeting this afternoon."
Julian Faulkner replied quickly. Vivian Lowell sent back a quick "ok," then glanced at the time. It was already eleven o’clock; they would be leaving soon.
At 12:05, Vivian Lowell saw Julian Faulkner arrive punctually at her office door.
"That was fast."
Vivian Lowell winked at Julian Faulkner and said, "Looks like even our President Faulkner clocks out right on time every once in a while~ How rare. What are we having for lunch?"
"Noodles downstairs? Or should we grab some fast food?"
Vivian Lowell had assumed that since they were going to see Rachel Faulkner, they would just grab a quick bite for lunch and head straight over.
But to her surprise, Julian Faulkner walked to her side with a smile, took her hand, and said seriously, "We’re having Western food."
’Western food?’
About ten minutes later, Vivian Lowell and Julian Faulkner arrived at a nearby restaurant. Seeing the table already set for a candlelit meal, Vivian Lowell pursed her lips in a smile.
"Looks like you’d planned this all along."
Vivian Lowell murmured, "I was thinking we’d just grab something quick and head out, but here you are, as relaxed as ever."
"I wouldn’t exactly call it being relaxed,"
Julian Faulkner explained with a smile, "It’s just that life is short. You have to seize the day, right? I heard the steak at this restaurant is excellent."
"I haven’t had a chance to have a proper meal with you lately, so I took this opportunity at lunch. As for everything else, there’s no rush. It’s an hour’s drive from here to where she is."
"After we eat, we can walk around the mall upstairs, then rest in the car for a bit. Seeing her after a midday nap—wouldn’t that be perfect?"
Vivian Lowell was a little surprised.
She had thought today would be another rushed day, but that wasn’t the case at all.
’From the sound of it, this afternoon won’t be so busy after all.’
’That’s nice, too.’
"Alright, now I’m actually looking forward to it."
Not long after Vivian Lowell spoke, the food began to arrive.
The appetizer was simple: caviar and foie gras. Vivian Lowell chose the caviar, as foie gras was a bit too rich and fatty for her taste.
The soup was cream of mushroom, which was Vivian Lowell’s favorite. Although it was also quite rich, this restaurant’s version had a perfect balance of creamy and mushroom flavors that complemented each other beautifully!
She took a small sip and was utterly satisfied.
A few minutes later, the steaks arrived. Hers was a Beef Wellington, while Julian’s was a sirloin. Both were cooked medium-rare, exceptionally juicy, and incredibly aromatic.
Dessert and salad followed, but Vivian Lowell could barely eat anymore. After managing to finish a piece of tiramisu, she started playing on her phone.
"I’m so full~ The salad’s all yours."
Looking at the green salad, Vivian Lowell truly had no appetite for it.
’Ahem, I’m too full.’
"Then rest for a bit."
Julian Faulkner was still as gentle as ever. After speaking, he began to earnestly eat the salad.
Julian Faulkner ate with great elegance. The way he held his spoon and ate so slowly made him look like a young nobleman.
So noble and untainted by the mortal world, as if he had stepped right out of a storybook.
Seeing Julian like this, Vivian Lowell smiled. It reminded her of the time he had taken her to a small alley to eat duck blood and vermicelli soup.
That version of Julian, so immersed in the common world, had seemed a bit out of place then.
’But no matter what, he was still Julian Faulkner.’
Halfway through his salad, Julian Faulkner finally looked up and asked, puzzled, "Why are you staring at me?"
"Hmm... You look good when you eat."
Vivian Lowell chuckled and handed Julian Faulkner a napkin.
Julian Faulkner took the napkin, wiped his mouth, and then got up to pay the bill.
After their meal, they strolled through the mall for about twenty minutes, until Vivian Lowell no longer felt so full. Only then did they get in the car and set off.
The detention center where Rachel Faulkner was being held was a bit far.
Vivian Lowell woke up from a nap and opened her eyes to find that only forty minutes had passed.
"Are we not there yet?"
Vivian Lowell glanced out the window. The scenery was gradually becoming more desolate. She hadn’t expected that a forty-minute drive from the Faulkner Group headquarters toward the outskirts of Aethelburg would cause the skyscrapers to thin out so drastically.
In the front, Vance Wyatt, who was driving, heard Vivian Lowell’s question. He glanced at the GPS and said, "Almost, Ma’am. We haven’t hit much traffic, so we should be there in about ten more minutes."
"If you’re bored, I could put on some music. Ma’am, what would you like to listen to?"
’What do I want to listen to?’
Vivian Lowell thought for a moment, but couldn’t think of anything specific, so she blurted out, "How about a nocturne! Hehe, I’m a bit old-fashioned. I still like listening to these old songs!"
’Who knows if Vance Wyatt was just trying to suck up today!’
The moment Vivian Lowell said that, Vance Wyatt immediately agreed. "Excellent taste, Ma’am! Old songs are the best! I... to tell you the truth, President Faulkner’s favorite song is this one too!"
Vance Wyatt had originally intended to say that *he* was the one who liked the song most.
After all, it’s not every day you meet a kindred spirit!
But before Vance Wyatt could get the words out, he caught a glimpse of President Faulkner in the rearview mirror, shooting him a less-than-friendly look!
Vance Wyatt panicked instantly!
He didn’t dare to say the words that were on the tip of his tongue, forcing himself to change his sentence to say that Julian Faulkner liked it too!
Julian Faulkner was certainly "shameless" enough to go along with it. Hearing Vance Wyatt’s words, he took Vivian Lowell’s hand, placed it on his own leg, and said, "Yes, this is my favorite song."
"Vivian, I never realized. We even like the same songs."
Vivian Lowell let out a dry laugh, but at least she didn’t call Julian Faulkner out on it.
’I’m not an idiot, after all.’
She could clearly tell that the atmosphere between Julian Faulkner and Vance Wyatt was a little strange!
But...
They didn’t have much time to dwell on it, because Vance Wyatt had changed the song, and not long after it ended, they arrived at their destination.
Gazing up at the grim, towering detention center, Vivian Lowell felt a chill. Vance Wyatt pulled the car to the curb, and all three of them got out.
A security guard at the entrance looked over. Vance Wyatt went to speak with him, explaining that they had an appointment, and the three of them were then allowed to enter.