The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 26: Embarrassment
Chapter 26: Humiliation
Madam Sterling didn’t stay long. Before leaving, she had a few more words for Rachel Royce. The message was clear: Rachel was to live here properly now that she was a married woman and shouldn’t always be running back to her family home.
Tristan Sterling went upstairs to his study.
Rachel Royce returned to her room, sat on the sofa, and called Florence Preston.
When Florence Preston answered, she asked, "Rachel, when are you coming back today?"
Rachel Royce replied, "Miss Preston, I have to stay here for the time being."
Florence Preston was taken aback for a moment. "What’s wrong?"
Rachel Royce said, "Madam Sterling told me to stay home and focus on my pregnancy."
Florence Preston instantly understood the situation and knew there wasn’t much she could say.
"Are you still going to the yoga studio today?"
"Yes, I have a session scheduled from six to eight."
"Okay, then. Do you want to go early? I can bring you dinner."
"Okay."
She hung up the phone.
Rachel Royce glanced at the time. She could take a nap and still have plenty of time to get ready before leaving.
After waking up and getting ready to leave, she happened to run into the man of the house coming downstairs.
She looked at him and asked, "Are you going out?"
Tristan Sterling’s gaze landed on Rachel Royce, as indifferent as ever. His tone was flat. "What is it?"
Accustomed to his coldness, Rachel Royce held no expectations. "I’m going out too. My car is at my family’s house. Can you drop me off at the subway station?"
「Twenty minutes later.」
Rachel Royce got out of the man’s car and took the subway downtown.
After meeting up with Florence Preston, Rachel Royce ate the dinner she’d brought while they talked about the day’s events.
Florence Preston sighed softly. "Since Madam Sterling has spoken, you can’t really defy her. Just stay at home for now. It’s only for the next two months, anyway."
Rachel Royce murmured in agreement.
"Your father and I were talking today. He said we should hold the wedding before you go to the United States. We’ll set it for New Year’s Day, have a simple ceremony, and just invite close family from both sides."
The two of them had already gotten their marriage certificate last week.
They were now officially family.
Of course, Rachel Royce had no objections. "That sounds great."
After eating, she rested for half an hour before heading to the yoga studio.
After her workout, Peter Preston came to pick them up. He dropped Rachel Royce off at Silvermist Bay first, and she asked him to bring her car over tomorrow if he had time.
Peter Preston said, "You’re too far along in your pregnancy. It’s not safe for you to drive. I’ll arrange for a driver to take you wherever you need to go."
Florence Preston agreed. "That’s right. Look at how your belly is growing every day. It’s better to have a driver."
Rachel Royce didn’t refuse this time. ’It’s only for two months, so hiring someone should be fine.’
"Alright then. Offer a good salary, and find someone reliable."
It was already nine o’clock when Rachel Royce got home.
Tristan Sterling hadn’t returned yet.
When Lisa Lawson and Frances Wyatt saw her, they still looked displeased, but they weren’t as harsh as before. They even brought a bowl of bird’s nest soup to her room.
After washing up and getting ready, she lay in bed with prenatal learning materials, telling her baby stories and talking to her. ’These might be the only days I get to talk to my child like this.’ The thought that her baby would have to stay with the Sterling Family brought a dull, painful ache to her heart.
The little one seemed to keenly sense her mother’s moods. Whenever Rachel’s emotions swelled, the baby would give her a little kick.
After a while, Rachel Royce lay down to rest.
She had been feeling good lately, and that night, Rachel Royce slept soundly.
Even though her belly was large, the little one was very considerate and never fussed at night. ’She’ll definitely be a good child when she grows up.’
Tristan Sterling didn’t come home that night.
’He really can’t stand being under the same roof as me.’
’But I don’t want to care about it anymore.’
The next day, she contacted Joanna Sutton to ask how she was doing. She had planned to visit her at the hospital yesterday but wasn’t able to make it.
"It’s nothing serious. I can be discharged after my last IV drip."
Her stomach ailment had been quite severe that night, requiring two days of IV drips.
Rachel Royce decided to go see her at the hospital.
Just then, Peter Preston called. He had found a driver, a man who had retired from the military last year and was more than qualified to be a chauffeur.
Peter Preston gave her his contact information.
Rachel Royce immediately contacted the man. He was at Peter Preston’s company at the moment and needed to go to Rosewood Estate to pick up the car, which would take about an hour.
"Contact me half an hour before you arrive," she said.
’I can walk out slowly, treat it as a little stroll.’
The man agreed.
「At ten-thirty.」
Rachel Royce walked to the entrance of the villa.
The car arrived just in time.
The car pulled up in front of her, and the driver got out, walking toward the passenger side. He was about six feet tall with a buzz cut, well-defined features, and an upright posture. You could tell at a glance he was a former soldier, with an air of masculine integrity.
Rachel Royce got into the car.
Zachary Dudley handed her his file. "Miss Royce, please take a look."
Rachel Royce looked at his personal file. His name was Zachary Dudley, twenty-eight years old, and he had joined the military at eighteen.
’Since Peter Preston arranged it, he must be reliable.’
"How much did my cousin offer you for a salary?"
Zachary Dudley answered, "Twenty thousand a month."
Rachel Royce said, "You’re aware that I only need to hire you temporarily, right?"
"Yes, I am."
"So, where are you living now?"
Zachary Dudley replied, "On Ardmore Street. It’s a drive of forty-something minutes to get over here."
"In a rented place?"
"I’m temporarily staying with relatives. I plan on finding a place nearby."
’Renting a place around here isn’t cheap.’
As they passed a residential complex, Rachel Royce said, "I’ll add an extra six thousand to your salary. See if you can find a suitable place to rent around here. Consider it a housing allowance."
"Thank you, Miss Royce. I’ll find a place as soon as possible."
Zachary Dudley drove her to the hospital where Joanna Sutton was staying.
She got out of the car.
Rachel Royce headed into the hospital. As she walked into the inpatient wing’s lobby, she ran right into Suzanne Sullivan.
Suzanne Sullivan saw her too. Their eyes met, and he simply nodded with a faint smile.
Rachel Royce had no intention of greeting him.
’It was hard to have any favorable feelings for the brother of the woman who had stolen her husband.’
Suzanne Sullivan was the first to walk away.
As Rachel Royce started to walk forward, she froze. Tristan Sterling was striding toward her, carrying a woman in his arms. The woman’s arms were wrapped around his neck, her head resting limply on his shoulder.
’It looked like Claire Ainsworth was sick. So Tristan hadn’t come home last night because he was keeping a vigil at the hospital.’
Suzanne Sullivan strode back to them. "Let me take her."
Claire Ainsworth refused.
Tristan Sterling showed no intention of letting her go. "Let’s get to the car first," he said.
Suzanne Sullivan didn’t insist.
Tristan Sterling carried Claire Ainsworth toward the main entrance, walking right past Rachel Royce without a sideways glance, as if she were a complete stranger.
Even though Rachel Royce no longer held any expectations, at that moment, she felt nothing but humiliation.
Suzanne Sullivan saw the fleeting helplessness and pallor on her face.
Rachel Royce quickly composed herself, sniffled, and started walking toward the elevators.
Suzanne Sullivan remained standing where he was, and Rachel Royce walked straight past him.
After a moment of silence, he turned and strode out of the hospital.
