The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 52: The Entire Sterling Family is Cold-Blooded
Chapter 52: The Entire Sterling Family is Cold-Blooded
In the blink of an eye, it was New Year’s Eve.
Florence Preston started preparing ingredients for the New Year’s Eve dinner early in the morning, while Wendy Royce and Peter Preston helped clean the house.
That day, Thomas Sterling came to visit, carrying gifts.
He also brought presents and nutritional supplements from Mr. Fitzwilliam.
Florence Preston and Wendy Royce came forward to take the gifts and greet him warmly.
"Rachel is in her room right now. You can go see her."
"Okay."
Thomas Sterling knocked and entered the bedroom. Rachel Royce was leaning against the headboard, knitting a scarf. It had a cute strawberry pattern and looked fuzzy, soft, and warm.
But from its small size, it was clearly meant for a child.
Lately, she had been knitting scarves at home whenever she had nothing else to do.
Rachel Royce looked up at the person who had come in. "You’re here."
Thomas Sterling had called Rachel ahead of his visit.
Thomas Sterling closed the door and walked over. Seeing her rosy complexion, it was obvious she was being well taken care of. "So you’re just knitting at home when you’re free."
Rachel hummed in agreement. "This postpartum confinement is really boring. I have to find something to pass the time."
Thomas Sterling sat on the sofa, making small talk with Rachel.
"Did my cousin bring up the divorce with you?" Thomas Sterling couldn’t help but ask.
Rachel’s hands paused. She hummed affirmatively. "The divorce agreement has been signed."
Thomas Sterling lowered his gaze, his fingers tightening. "Didn’t he give you any compensation?"
Rachel chuckled softly and shook her head. "Even if he were willing to give it, I wouldn’t take it."
Taking something that doesn’t belong to you will ultimately come at a price. She didn’t want to owe him a single thing.
In the end, Thomas Sterling said no more.
Thomas Sterling stayed for lunch.
Before he left, Rachel gave him a bag. Inside were two finished scarves and a small hat she had knitted, as well as a safety lock she had bought previously and the Golden Bracelet from Joanna Sutton.
"She doesn’t lack for anything, I know, but please find a chance to give these to the baby, Thomas."
Thomas Sterling took it. "Alright."
New Year’s Eve, a time for joyous reunions.
The Sterling family’s ancestral home.
The arrival of a new life made it even livelier, seemingly unaffected by the absence of the child’s mother.
Thomas Sterling stood on the second floor, his expression indifferent as he watched the lively laughter downstairs.
Just then, Tristan Sterling looked up at him.
Their eyes met for a moment.
Thomas Sterling averted his gaze and turned to leave.
The second-floor living room was exceptionally quiet. The sounds of celebration from downstairs were faint as he sat playing a game.
Just then, a set of footsteps approached.
He put down his phone and glanced up at the approaching person, then looked away again, showing no intention of greeting them.
Tristan Sterling sat in the armchair nearby and looked at him. "What are you thinking about?"
Thomas Sterling didn’t answer. He passed over the bag, which now only contained the hat and scarves, and said coldly, "Rachel asked me to give this to Melissa. She knitted it herself. As for you, cousin, throw it away or do whatever you want with it. I don’t care."
Tristan Sterling reached out and took it. He pulled out the scarf and hat to look at them before putting them back. Ignoring Thomas’s current attitude, he asked, "How is she now?"
Thomas Sterling didn’t look at him, his fingers resuming their game. "It’s rare for you to remember to care about someone, cousin. She’s doing very well at home. There are people who will love and take good care of her."
Tristan Sterling looked at him, his expression stern and his voice growing serious. "Thomas, do you hate me?"
Thomas’s hands, which had been playing the game, paused. He looked up at Tristan and replied, "I wouldn’t say I hate you. I just think you’re too cold-blooded." He then looked away, a scornful smile on his face. "Actually, it’s not just you. The entire Sterling Family is cold-blooded."
Tristan’s expression remained unchanged as he listened. "So, because of her, you can pass that kind of judgment on your own family, on your own grandparents and elders?" he said in a low voice.
Thomas Sterling stared at him, his eyes wide.
Tristan continued, "You can fight for her and feel it’s an injustice, but the Sterling Family is not an outlet for your emotions. You’re a Sterling, too."
"You’re not a child anymore. You’ve started your own company and you’re a boss now. You should stop being so emotional in your words and actions."
Thomas Sterling’s fingers tightened. He slowly lowered his gaze, his face tense as he fell silent.
The atmosphere grew silent.
Just then, a servant came upstairs. "Second Young Master, Third Young Master, dinner is served."
Tristan Sterling uncrossed his long legs and handed the bag to the servant. "Put this in my room."
The servant accepted it with both hands and replied, "Yes, sir."
The servant left.
Tristan Sterling saw that Thomas Sterling was still sitting motionless and prompted, "What are you still sitting there for?"
Thomas Sterling pocketed his phone and stood up.
The two of them went down to the dining room, one after the other.
The dining table was laden with steaming dishes, and everyone wore a smile.
Little Melissa was in Master Sterling’s arms. The usually stern patriarch’s wrinkled face was now full of a loving smile.
Madam Sterling was teasing the baby with a toy, and the child giggled a few times.
Everyone else laughed along.
Perhaps sensing that it was a festive day for reunion, little Melissa had been well-behaved all day. She hadn’t cried or fussed, and she smiled happily at anyone who played with her.
The baby’s smile was infectious.
"Let me hold her."
Madam Sterling wanted to hold the baby.
Master Sterling refused. "Didn’t you just hold her?"
Madam Sterling shot the old man a glare and said to little Melissa, "Melissa, do you want Great-Grandma to hold you?"
Tristan Sterling walked over. "Grandfather, let me take her. We should eat first."
"Alright, let’s eat first."
Tristan Sterling took little Melissa. She smiled at her father, and Tristan stroked her small cheek dotingly.
He then carefully placed her in the stroller he had positioned next to him.
Having eaten her fill, little Melissa lay there quietly and fell asleep after a short while.
At the Royce residence.
The family was eating their New Year’s Eve dinner.
Though there were only four of them, being together as a family was its own kind of reunion.
Wendy Royce gave Rachel a bank card containing ten million yuan—the money from selling the company, which had arrived before the New Year.
Wendy Royce had received 150 million in total. Most of it was to be invested in Peter Preston’s company, while he and Florence Preston kept over twenty million for their retirement.
"You’ll be going abroad to study soon, so think of this as an advance from your dad. Take care of yourself when you’re overseas."
Rachel accepted it. "Thank you, Dad."
After the New Year’s Eve dinner, the family sat in front of the TV, watching the Spring Festival Gala.
Rachel’s phone was buzzing nonstop.
After attending Wendy Royce and Florence Preston’s wedding, Ian Quinn had created a group chat with the six of them in it.
Right now, it was filled with people showing off their New Year’s Eve dinners, sending New Year’s greetings, and exchanging a constant stream of large red envelopes.
Rachel had already claimed nearly a seven-figure sum from the red envelopes.
She sent out red envelopes in the group as well, giving back everything she’d claimed. Of course, she still couldn’t compete with the wealthy tycoons like Joanna Sutton and Ian Quinn.
Peter Preston also sent out quite a few red envelopes in the group.
Rachel received a separate New Year’s red envelope from Thomas Sterling.
Rachel sent a message: Happy New Year.
Thomas Sterling: Happy New Year.
