The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 38: Losing Her Temper at Him for the First Time
Chapter 38: The First Time She Lost Her Temper with Him
That day, she received a call from Julian Jennings. He had already spoken with the chairman of Centurion Development, and someone from the company would contact her father’s business today.
Centurion Development was one of the top ten real estate companies in the country, with financial resources comparable to Vanguard’s.
"I’ll take care of this for you, so don’t worry. Just focus on the pregnancy and look after yourself," Julian Jennings said.
Rachel Royce was immensely grateful for all of Julian Jennings’s help. "I really owe you a huge favor, Professor Jennings," she said.
Julian Jennings said nothing more.
They hung up.
Julian Jennings put his phone down.
Ian Quinn, who had just walked in, happened to overhear the call with Rachel Royce. He teased, "Professor Jennings, you really are handsome and kind-hearted. Your students certainly get the star treatment!"
Julian Jennings shot him a look. "I’m responsible for this. I need you to help follow up."
Ian Quinn’s maternal uncle was the chairman of Centurion Development, and Ian himself held shares in the company. He already knew that Vanguard had rejected the acquisition of Wellspring.
Ian Quinn’s curiosity was piqued. "Your responsibility?" he asked, a brow raised. "Don’t tell me this has something to do with Claire Ainsworth?"
Julian Jennings took a sip of his coffee, not denying it.
Ian Quinn put two and two together. Hopping onto the side of Julian Jennings’s desk, he quipped, "Looks like Miss Ainsworth still isn’t over you. She’s got Tristan Sterling right there with her, but she’s still hung up on you. ’The one that got away is always the most alluring,’ right? Hey, do you think Tristan Sterling even knows she used to chase you?"
Julian Jennings tossed a folder at him. Ian Quinn quickly caught it. "If you have time to stand around gossiping, you have time to get some actual work done."
"Seriously, can’t you loosen up a bit? No gossiping allowed? How are you ever going to find a girlfriend if you’re this uptight?" Ian Quinn grumbled.
Julian Jennings: "..."
Rachel heard back from her father. A representative from Centurion Development had contacted him, and they were arranging a meeting at the company tomorrow to discuss the specifics.
Hearing the relief in her father’s voice, Rachel’s worries eased.
However, the subsequent negotiations did not go smoothly.
This was because Cedarwood was intentionally obstructing the deal behind the scenes, forcing Rowan to get involved.
Mr. Royce hadn’t said anything to Rachel, not wanting to worry her. Julian Jennings was also handling things behind the scenes and hadn’t contacted her. The situation had devolved into a tug-of-war between the various parties involved.
Rachel only found out about this because Joanna Sutton accidentally let it slip.
News reports about the situation had also started to surface.
Wellspring, a mid-sized real estate company with assets barely exceeding one hundred million, had somehow sparked a behind-the-scenes struggle between two financial giants, with Centurion Development caught in the middle.
The affair quickly garnered significant attention in business circles.
Everyone was speculating about the underlying cause.
Some even speculated that Cedarwood was using this as an opportunity to retaliate against Rowan for having previously secured the Cosmocean Holdings deal.
In a clash between two financial giants, Wellspring would be the one to suffer the consequences, regardless of the outcome. The fear was that, in the end, no one would dare touch Wellspring.
As Rachel Royce read the news reports, her heart grew heavy.
She had been worried Tristan Sterling would interfere, and it seemed her fears had been realized.
Tristan’s actions were clearly not just about protecting Claire Ainsworth; they were a deliberate attack on her. He truly couldn’t stand to see Claire suffer the slightest wrong and would go to such lengths to defend her.
Rachel stopped reading the news and called Zachary Dudley.
Florence Preston was out at the market.
Rachel got dressed and headed downstairs.
She got in the car.
"To Silvermist Bay," Rachel said.
Then she sent a message to let Florence Preston know.
Not until ten o’clock that night.
Tristan Sterling returned home.
Rachel had been waiting for him in the living room.
When Tristan Sterling saw Rachel, his handsome face was as cold as ever. He clearly had no intention of speaking to her, averting his gaze and striding past.
"Tristan Sterling!" Rachel suddenly called out.
Lisa Lawson and Frances Wyatt, standing nearby, both jumped in surprise.
Rachel had always been so meek and cautious around Tristan Sterling. ’To shout his name like that... Has she lost her mind?’
Tristan Sterling stopped and turned his head to look at her. Rachel walked slowly until she stood before him, meeting his pair of icy eyes. Clenching her fists, she suppressed the panic in her heart and asked, "Why would you do this?"
Tristan Sterling’s face was expressionless, but a clear anger simmered in his eyes. "Rachel Royce, know your place."
His coldness made it impossible for Rachel to restrain her emotions. "If you think I’ve offended Claire Ainsworth, if you think I didn’t listen to you, then come after me! Why are you going after Wellspring?!"
It was the first time she had ever lost her temper with him.
Her eyes grew red with emotion, but the tears welling in them didn’t stir a shred of pity in him—only colder, more ruthless words. "Do you think you’re even worthy of my attention?"
The meaning was clear: to him, she wasn’t even worth a second glance. She was nothing.
As his words fell,
Rachel felt a blow to her heart, as if from a sledgehammer.
Seeing the anguish on her face, Tristan Sterling coldly looked away. "You’d best learn to behave," he warned.
With that,
the man started up the stairs.
A cry of pain came from the woman behind him.
He turned to see her clutching her stomach, her face pale. He couldn’t help but frown.
Seeing this, Lisa Lawson and Frances Wyatt didn’t know whether they should step forward, stealing a glance to gauge Tristan Sterling’s reaction.
Rachel clenched her jaw, her hand trembling as she pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed for an ambulance.
After hanging up,
Rachel didn’t have the strength to look at the motionless man before her. She carefully turned and shuffled toward the sofa, hands clutching her stomach tightly.
Worried that something was seriously wrong, Lisa Lawson looked at Tristan Sterling and said, "Sir, this... is she going to be all right?"
「Fifteen minutes later.」
The wail of an ambulance siren echoed outside the villa.
Lisa Lawson went to open the door.
Zachary Dudley rushed into the house behind the paramedics.
The first thing he saw was the man, standing there completely still, and Rachel leaning against the sofa, her face contorted in pain.
’His own wife was in this much pain, and he just stood there watching. How could a man be so cold and heartless?’
He didn’t have time for another thought. He strode to Rachel’s side. "Miss Royce," he said, his voice laced with worry.
The paramedics quickly prepared a stretcher and carried Rachel out.
As Zachary Dudley hurried to follow, he saw the man turn indifferently and head upstairs.
Rachel was quickly taken to the hospital. After a series of tests, doctors determined there were signs of premature labor, but that her condition had stabilized for the time being.
Lisa Lawson had gone with them to the hospital and reported the situation to Tristan Sterling.
Tristan Sterling hung up.
「The next morning.」
Tristan Sterling received a call from Madam Sterling. "Tristan, Rachel was taken to the hospital. What on earth happened?"
When Rachel was carried onto the ambulance the previous night, neighbors in the villa community had seen it. Assuming she was going into labor, they started to gossip, and word quickly spread, eventually reaching Madam Sterling.
Tristan Sterling only said, "She’s fine now."
