The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 32: What’s Your Relationship?

Chapter 32: What Is Your Relationship?

Claire Ainsworth averted her gaze and followed Suzanne Sullivan into the restaurant.

They were there to meet an elder in a private room.

After Rachel Royce and the others finished dinner.

Ian Quinn had already called ahead, so the restaurant manager waived their bill.

As they left the restaurant, snowflakes began to drift from the sky.

"The first snow of the year came earlier than usual," Julian Jennings said.

Rachel Royce held out her hand, catching a snowflake in her palm. It melted the instant it touched her skin. "Yes, it will probably be colder than usual too."

Florence Preston supported Rachel as she walked down the steps, and the three of them headed toward the parking area.

Rachel got into the car and said goodbye to Julian. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

As Julian turned to walk to his own car, he immediately spotted Claire Ainsworth standing not far behind him.

She was wearing a pink fox-fur coat, her long hair cascading down. Standing under the streetlight with snowflakes swirling around her, she was indeed beautiful enough to make one stop and stare.

Julian glanced at her, then quickly looked away and walked straight ahead. As he passed her, Claire suddenly spoke. "I never realized Professor Jennings was so attentive to a pregnant woman. What is your relationship?"

Julian said coolly, "Miss Ainsworth, you’d be better off not focusing your attention on me."

With that, he strode away, pulled open his car door, and drove off.

Claire Ainsworth remained where she was, her gaze fixed on the direction Julian’s car had gone.

Just then, her phone vibrated. She picked it up, glanced at the caller ID, and turned back toward the restaurant. "Hello, brother."

"Why aren’t you back yet?"

Claire’s voice was as normal as ever. "I’m on my way back now."

When Rachel returned to the villa, her heart was filled with a bottomless sense of unease.

’If Tristan Sterling tries to send Miss Preston away, I’ll call the old madam immediately.’

She entered the living room.

Tristan Sterling was sitting on the sofa, watching the international financial news.

Lisa Lawson placed the freshly brewed Calming Tea in front of him, then looked up and saw the two women entering. She said to Tristan, "Young Master, they’re back."

Tristan picked up the teacup and took a small sip.

Rachel walked forward, with Florence Preston supporting her.

When she reached the sofa, Rachel looked at the cold, stern-faced man. Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, she said slowly, "Lisa Lawson threw out the ingredients Miss Preston prepared for me for no reason. If they’re going to act like this, I might as well go back and live with my family."

Lisa Lawson shot Rachel a resentful glare, wanting to retort. But when she saw that Rachel hadn’t mentioned the trip to the hospital, she had the sense to stay quiet. ’Even if she brought it up, the Young Master wouldn’t care,’ she thought, so she said nothing.

Tristan Sterling lifted his gaze to look at the two women.

The silent pressure made Florence Preston’s chest tighten. She took a quiet, deep breath and said, "President Sterling, it’s not that I’m biased against them, but I truly don’t feel at ease leaving Rachel in the care of these two maids. After all, Rachel is carrying a child of the Sterling Family. If something were to happen, it would be difficult for Rachel to answer for it."

Her tone was as diplomatic as possible, avoiding a direct confrontation. After all, a modest family like theirs couldn’t afford to provoke him.

’This is nothing like how a married couple should be, nor how in-laws should act.’

’All I can do now is hope Rachel gives birth quickly and gets a divorce. The Sterling Family is truly out of their league.’

"If anything happens to the child, none of you will escape responsibility."

Rachel froze. She understood in her heart that he wasn’t saying this out of genuine concern for the child, but simply because the Sterling Family needed this heir.

A shiver ran through Lisa Lawson. The Young Master’s words were clearly not just for Rachel and the others.

At that moment, the phone he had placed on the coffee table began to vibrate.

Rachel glanced at it instinctively, and her heart clenched when she saw the caller ID on the screen.

He picked up the phone and said coldly, "All of you, leave."

Rachel said to Florence, "Miss Preston, let’s go."

The two of them walked toward the bedroom.

As they left, they heard the man’s voice soften as he answered the phone.

The voice on the other end said, "Tristan, I miss you so much right now."

Florence’s expression soured as well.

Back in the room, Florence Preston closed the door and tried to suppress her emotions. "So he’s not going to let you go back to your family’s home."

Rachel slowly sat on the edge of the bed. "Lisa Lawson and the others probably won’t dare to try anything against me again."

"He’s from a prestigious family, for goodness’ sake! If word got out that he was so brazenly cheating while his wife is pregnant, I’d like to see what face Tristan Sterling has left."

Rachel quickly stopped her. "That’s enough, Miss Preston. Don’t say any more."

’If the public really found out that Tristan Sterling was cheating on his pregnant wife, ruining his reputation, our family couldn’t possibly bear the consequences.’

Florence knew she had misspoken. Composing herself, she said, "I’ll go get some hot water for you to soak your feet."

"Okay."

Rachel sat on the sofa by the French windows, watching the snowflakes drift down from the sky and wondering if there would be an accumulation by morning.

Just then, she saw a sports car drive out of the garage. It seemed he was going to see Claire Ainsworth.

Rachel silently averted her gaze.

「A few days later.」

Lisa Lawson and Frances Wyatt didn’t cause any more trouble.

Florence Preston started waking up very early every day to prepare breakfast for Rachel, and she would make a portion for Tristan Sterling as well. After all, they were living under his roof. With Rachel’s due date drawing closer, she wasn’t hoping for Tristan to treat Rachel well—she just wanted them to get through this period peacefully.

Rachel arrived at the university around ten o’clock each day.

Mr. Fitzwilliam had been coming to the university every day recently, mainly to have Rachel read the newspaper to him. So, Rachel now had an extra task: to familiarize herself with the relevant news content before reading it to Mr. Fitzwilliam each day.

Julian Jennings looked at his mentor and teased, "Since Rachel is reading the newspaper to you during her work hours, shouldn’t you be paying her salary for this time on my behalf?"

Mr. Fitzwilliam drank his hot tea, then set down the cup. He looked at Julian and huffed, "You’re getting more and more shrewd, aren’t you? Keeping such a clear account with me."

Julian couldn’t help but smile.

Mr. Fitzwilliam looked at Rachel and said, "Soon, even if I want her to read to me, she won’t be able to."

Rachel said, "It’s not like I can only read to you in person. I can still read you the newspaper over the phone, Mr. Fitzwilliam."

"..."

As noon approached, Julian accompanied Mr. Fitzwilliam to the cafeteria for lunch.

Rachel had brought her own lunch. Given her condition, it was inconvenient for her to join them in the cafeteria.

On the way to the cafeteria, Mr. Fitzwilliam and Julian happened to run into Tristan Sterling and the university president, who were accompanied by two other school administrators.

Upon seeing Mr. Fitzwilliam, the group came forward to greet him.

Tristan Sterling respectfully called out, "Grandfather Fitzwilliam."

This was the first time he had seen Mr. Fitzwilliam in person since his last visit to the Fitzwilliam family home.

The collaborative project he was pursuing had been stalled for three days. Tristan had personally negotiated with the relevant leaders, demonstrating his utmost sincerity, and had finally secured their approval.

Mr. Fitzwilliam nodded and grunted in acknowledgment.

Afterward, the group went to the cafeteria to eat together.

Tristan Sterling had come to the university that day to discuss donating a new academic building.

Mr. Fitzwilliam saw that in his contributions to the university and society, Tristan Sterling fulfilled the responsibilities expected of an entrepreneur.

But for such a responsible person to be so disloyal and unrighteous in his marriage—this one point created a huge sense of disappointment in Mr. Fitzwilliam’s perception of him.