The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 25: Unfavorable Rumors Spread
Chapter 25: Nasty Rumors Start to Spread
Rachel Royce answered the call. "Grandmother."
Madam Sterling asked, "Rachel, how have you been feeling lately?"
Rachel replied, "I’m doing well."
"Good. I happen to be free tomorrow, so I’ll come see you and take you to the hospital for a check-up."
Rachel froze for a moment.
Since becoming pregnant and moving into Silvermist Bay, Madam Sterling had never once visited her. ’Why the sudden desire to see me and take me for a check-up? It seems she really does value the child in my belly.’
She had no reason to refuse.
"Of course, Grandmother. It’s just that I’ve been staying with my family for the past couple of days. Just let me know what time, and I’ll wait for you at the hospital."
Madam Sterling asked, "Why are you staying with your family?"
’Tristan Sterling clearly hadn’t mentioned the divorce. Of course, it’s not my place to tell Madam Sterling about it.’
She explained, "I just haven’t been home in a while and wanted to visit."
Madam Sterling said, "It’s fine to stay with your family for a day or two, but you should return home as soon as possible to take care of your husband. Rachel, it seems you really haven’t taken my previous words to heart."
Rachel stopped walking and tightened her grip on her phone. After a moment of silence, she said, "Grandmother, I’m sorry, I..."
"Enough. Let’s make it ten o’clock tomorrow morning."
Madam Sterling cut her off.
Rachel didn’t press the matter, simply responding, "Okay."
The call ended.
Rachel put down her phone.
She composed herself before walking toward the apartment building.
「The next day.」
It happened to be the weekend.
Rachel woke up early to get ready.
Peter Preston drove her to Grandview Hospital, a private hospital under The Sterling Group.
She arrived at the hospital twenty minutes early.
Peter had other things to attend to, so after dropping Rachel off and giving her a few reminders, he drove away.
Rachel sat down to rest on a bench in the hospital lobby.
「About half an hour later.」
Madam Sterling arrived at the hospital.
Rachel walked to the entrance and saw Madam Sterling coming in. The matriarch wore a black coat with a pearl necklace, jade earrings, and her graying hair was styled in vintage curls. Her makeup was exquisite, and she carried herself with the same noble and elegant air. It was clear that in her youth, Madam Sterling had been a first-class beauty.
Standing before the matriarch, Rachel felt completely overshadowed.
"Grandmother," Rachel called out.
Madam Sterling looked at Rachel and said, "You’re looking much better than before."
Rachel nodded lightly.
During her days at home, she didn’t have to do anything. Florence Preston arranged everything for her, forbidding her from touching any housework. She was so well taken care of that Florence practically spoon-fed her. Life was relaxing and free from any psychological stress or burdens.
She had even lost five or six pounds from practicing yoga these past few days, but her starting weight was so high that it wasn’t noticeable.
"Let’s go."
Madam Sterling had already made all the arrangements in advance.
Someone was already there to escort them.
Madam Sterling waited in the VIP room, sipping tea and reading a magazine.
「An hour later.」
The head of the obstetrics and gynecology department personally delivered the report to Madam Sterling. The fetus was in excellent condition. Madam Sterling beamed with joy as she looked at the ultrasound photo. "Look at this cute little nose and mouth!"
The chief physician chimed in, "She will definitely be a beautiful baby girl."
"..."
The matriarch was overjoyed, wishing she could hold her great-granddaughter immediately.
Her attitude toward Rachel became exceptionally gentle.
「After the check-up.」
Rachel got into Madam Sterling’s car, ready to return to Silvermist Bay. She had no reason to refuse.
「Inside the car.」
Madam Sterling chatted with her, patiently reminding her, "You and Tristan have a child together now. You have a long future ahead of you. A wife must fulfill her duties. You have to fight for your future; a man won’t wait for you forever."
Rachel listened in silence, obediently agreeing with the madam’s words.
’If this were before I’d seen his intimacy with Claire Ainsworth, I might have still held onto some delusion. They have a child, after all, and I might have wanted to fight to save the marriage. But now, I see the reality of the situation.’
’My marriage to Tristan Sterling is about to end. There is no future for us.’
’Madam Sterling’s attitude has only softened because of the baby. Between the lines, she still just wants me to be a wife who serves her husband well and doesn’t embarrass him in public.’
’I wonder if Madam Sterling insisted on accompanying me to the check-up today because she already knew I had moved out of Silvermist Bay?’ 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
’Are there some unpleasant rumors about Tristan Sterling circulating?’
Although her marriage to Tristan hadn’t been publicly announced, everyone in their social circle knew about it.
’Even if I’m not good enough for Tristan, our marriage is a fact. With me being heavily pregnant, news of him having another woman on the side would surely damage his reputation.’
The car arrived at the Silvermist Bay Villa.
Madam Sterling and Rachel entered the house.
To Rachel’s surprise, Tristan Sterling was actually home. He wasn’t with Claire Ainsworth. The man was sitting on the sofa in light-colored loungewear, reading a book.
When he saw Madam Sterling return with Rachel, his handsome face showed no change in expression.
Madam Sterling walked over and handed him the check-up report. "You should take a look, too."
Rachel, sitting opposite them, watched the matriarch’s actions and couldn’t help but grow tense.
Tristan’s gaze lowered, his dark eyes cold. He put down his book and said, "Lunch is ready. Let’s eat first."
As soon as he spoke, Rachel felt a dull ache in her heart. It was the result she had expected.
Madam Sterling shot him a look but didn’t insist. "Fine. You can look at it later."
「In the dining room.」
Lisa Lawson and Frances Wyatt had prepared a fine lunch and served it on the table.
Madam Sterling looked at the two of them. Sensing the madam’s gaze, they felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.
Then they heard Madam Sterling say, "Taking care of the young madam is your responsibility. I don’t want to hear any more idle gossip. If anything happens to the child in the young madam’s belly, I will hold you two personally responsible."
Lisa Lawson and Frances Wyatt’s faces turned pale. They quickly replied, "Madam Sterling, we will take good care of the young madam. We won’t let anything happen to the young miss."
"..."
Hearing Madam Sterling’s words, Rachel realized, ’It seems Lisa must have been gossiping to the matriarch again.’ This confirmed her suspicions. The scolding served two purposes: it reprimanded the maids on her behalf and also made it clear that she was to stay here.
Tristan Sterling listened to his grandmother’s words in silence.
「After lunch.」
Tristan chatted with Madam Sterling for a while. Rachel went to the restroom, and when she returned, she overheard them mentioning the Cosmocean Holdings project.
The reason Rowan had been one step ahead and secured it was that Mr. Fitzwilliam had pulled some strings for them. Tristan had only just received this news himself.
She had only learned how close the Fitzwilliam and Sterling families were after she married into the family.
"Your Grandfather Fitzwilliam is displeased with you right now. You should tone it down a bit."
The Fitzwilliam Family had a reputation for integrity and strict rules. As an old-money family with a century of history, Mr. Fitzwilliam valued the moral character and family harmony of its members above all else. Indeed, no scandals had ever emerged about any of the Fitzwilliam descendants.
Rachel stood frozen, listening to their conversation.
’It seems my guess was right. Nasty rumors really were spreading, and that’s why Madam Sterling personally brought me back.’
