The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 51: Rachel Royce Signed

Chapter 51: Rachel Royce Signs

Peter Preston pulled the car over.

Wendy Royce wheeled Rachel Royce down the steps.

When they reached the car,

Peter Preston bent down and lifted Rachel Royce right into his arms. Florence Preston helped from the side, carefully settling Rachel inside the car.

After their car drove away,

the driver got into his own car.

He took out his phone and called Tristan Sterling.

"President Sterling, your wife has been taken home by her family."

On the other end of the line,

Tristan Sterling was sitting on the sofa, his gaze fixed on the newly asleep baby in the crib. The baby’s tiny hand clutched his pinky finger, and he held perfectly still. The child was changing day by day, growing more beautiful with each passing one.

Hearing the driver’s report,

Tristan Sterling said nothing and hung up.

Back home, Rachel Royce was well cared for by Florence Preston, and her condition improved greatly.

Seeing how Florence had been working from dawn to dusk to care for her, looking so worn out with dark circles clearly visible under her eyes, Rachel felt a pang of guilt.

"Miss Preston, you’ve worked so hard for me lately."

"What are you talking about? We’re family. There’s no ’hard work’ between us."

Rachel Royce suddenly reached out and hugged her, burying her face in her embrace and calling out, "Mom."

Florence Preston’s eyes instantly reddened. She stroked Rachel Royce’s head and said with a choked voice, "Good girl."

The New Year was at the end of the month.

The entire city was decorated with lanterns and colorful banners.

Rachel Royce learned that Peter Preston was suing the people who had cyberbullied her. It was also the first time Wendy Royce and Florence Preston heard about it. No wonder Rachel had gone into premature labor. The couple was furious.

Wendy Royce couldn’t stop himself from swearing, "That Tristan Sterling is a real piece of work."

No matter how angry he had been before, he had never cursed at him, but this time, he truly couldn’t hold back.

He even felt the urge to return the money to him immediately and get custody of the child. As the maternal grandfather, he had only caught a glimpse of the baby at the hospital that day; he hadn’t even had a chance to hold her.

But these were just words spoken in anger.

Even if they returned the money, they wouldn’t be able to get the child back.

Florence Preston was calmer and managed to talk him down.

"The lawsuit is proceeding smoothly. Their side has contacted me to discuss compensation. Rachel, what are your thoughts?"

Peter Preston hadn’t expected it to go so smoothly.

Rachel Royce said, "This has something to do with Claire Ainsworth, doesn’t it?"

Judging from that photo taken of her, a stranger wouldn’t have recognized her, let alone taken her picture. The only person she could think of was Claire Ainsworth.

Peter Preston said, "She didn’t post anything online herself. It was her friends."

Rachel Royce let out a sarcastic laugh. "So in the end, it has nothing to do with Claire Ainsworth."

’That’s why it’s all going so smoothly.’

"Then just let them pay the compensation!"

In the end, the person who should be punished wouldn’t be. The true culprit behind this whole incident was Tristan Sterling. Even if Claire Ainsworth’s friends were punished, what was the point?

Peter Preston knew it too. The other party’s attitude made it impossible to pursue the matter further, like punching cotton.

The cyberbullies got off scot-free, without having to take any real responsibility.

Tristan Sterling remained aloof, completely indifferent.

At this thought,

Peter Preston couldn’t help but clench his fists.

For a moment, the atmosphere at the dinner table grew somber.

Rachel Royce quickly changed the subject, asking, "By the way, Brother, how is the collaboration with Thomas’s company going?"

Peter Preston replied, "We’ve signed the contract. The actual collaboration will start after the New Year."

Rachel Royce hummed in acknowledgment.

New Year’s Eve was just four days away.

Florence Preston and Wendy Royce started preparing for the holiday. Today, they went to the mall together, and Peter Preston went to his company, leaving Rachel Royce home alone.

Heavy snow was falling outside.

Inside, the heating was on full blast. Rachel Royce was curled up on the sofa watching TV. She took out her phone and made a call.

The moment the call connected,

Rachel Royce heard a baby crying on the other end. Instantly, her heart clenched. She had been trying her best not to think about her child, but every night, she would lose control, staring at the baby’s photos and crying silently. Now, hearing her baby’s cries so clearly, a dull ache pulsed through her heart.

For a moment,

she didn’t hear Tristan Sterling’s voice.

"Rachel Royce!"

The man’s voice was a few shades heavier.

Rachel Royce snapped back to her senses. She steadied her breathing and said, "Have someone send the divorce papers over soon. I can’t go out, and the New Year holiday is about to start."

The baby’s cries on the other end continued, mixed with the sound of the nanny trying to soothe her.

"I’ll have someone mail them."

"Okay."

After hanging up,

Rachel Royce put down her phone as tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She wiped them away, but more fell. She wiped them again, and they fell again. The quiet living room was filled with only the sound of her sobs, until finally, she couldn’t hold back any longer and hugged her knees, crying her heart out.

By the time Wendy Royce and Florence Preston returned at noon,

Rachel Royce had already composed herself and was resting in bed.

Florence Preston washed and sliced some fruit and brought it to her room, along with some of her favorite chestnut cakes, which were still warm.

"They’re fresh from the oven. Eat them now before they get cold."

Rachel Royce hummed. "Okay, thanks, Mom."

Florence Preston smiled, then turned and left the room to make lunch in the kitchen.

Joanna Sutton had started her vacation early. After finishing her work, she came to visit Rachel Royce, bringing plenty of New Year’s gifts. She was heading back to Portington the next day to celebrate the holiday.

Julian Jennings and Ian Quinn came to see her that day as well. Julian Jennings was also from Portington, so he would be returning with Joanna Sutton.

After dinner,

the friends said their goodbyes and left.

"Rachel, see you after the New Year."

"Yeah, see you after the New Year."

"..."

「Two days later.」

Rachel Royce received the divorce papers sent by Tristan Sterling.

Looking at the divorce agreement, Rachel Royce signed her name. ’Let this mistaken intersection of our lives end here,’ she thought.

After signing, she handed the papers back to the person who delivered them.

Tristan Sterling soon received the signed agreement from Rachel Royce. He stared at the papers.

Just then,

the nanny entered the study.

"Sir, the young miss is crying again."

Lately, for some reason, the baby was always crying. No one else could soothe her; only Tristan Sterling could calm her down by holding her.

Tristan Sterling put down the divorce papers and strode out of the study.

The baby’s crib had been set up in Tristan Sterling’s bedroom.

Returning to his room,

he found that the once cold and minimalist space was now filled with baby supplies.

Sylvia Shannon was trying to soothe the baby, but the child was wailing inconsolably in her arms.

Tristan Sterling strode forward and took the baby from her. "Let me."

From his earlier awkward stiffness, the man could now hold his child with practiced ease.

Tristan Sterling held the baby, letting her rest against his shoulder. He gently patted her back, cooing, "Don’t cry, Melissa. Daddy’s here."

"..."

The baby cried in Tristan Sterling’s arms for a little while longer before her sobs gradually subsided.

Once the baby quieted down,

Tristan Sterling sat on the sofa with her, wiped her face with a baby wipe, took the bottle from the nanny, checked the temperature, and began to feed her.

The baby’s two soft little hands rested obediently on the bottle, her eyes still red-rimmed, looking pitiful and wronged.

Tristan Sterling watched his child, his eyes filled with a father’s tender love.

Sylvia Shannon sat to one side, watching them. She sighed and said, "The baby is still most attached to you."

’Who would have thought her cold, emotionless son could be such a good father?’