The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 55: Full-Time Dad

Chapter 55: Full-Time Dad

Before they went inside,

Joanna Sutton reminded Ian Quinn not to say the wrong thing.

Ian Quinn said, "It’s not like I have a big mouth."

"Hmph, you might as well have one!"

"..."

Upon arriving at the Royce family home,

Wendy Royce and Florence Preston quickly welcomed them inside.

Julian Jennings had brought gifts with him.

"Why did you buy so much? I told you just coming for dinner was enough."

"I couldn’t possibly come empty-handed. Please, Mr. Royce, there’s no need to be so formal."

Wendy Royce took the gifts. "Please, come in. Have a seat. Dinner will be ready soon."

There were still a couple of dishes being prepared.

Peter Preston went to the kitchen to help.

Rachel Royce greeted everyone.

Joanna Sutton walked over, pulled Rachel Royce down to sit with her, and said, "You look like you’re recovering well. You’re positively glowing! Were the things I sent you helpful?"

"Yes, they’re great."

"Good, as long as they’re helpful."

"..."

They all chatted on the sofa.

When dinner was served, everyone sat down at the table.

Wendy Royce poured wine for each of them, then raised his glass in a toast. "It’s my Rachel’s good fortune to have friends like you. I want to thank all of you for taking such good care of her. And I’m especially grateful to you, Professor Jennings. Thank you for giving her this opportunity."

Julian Jennings quickly stood up. "Please, Mr. Royce, you don’t have to be so formal. This was all Rachel’s own doing—she’s more than qualified. I simply made the introduction."

"I still must thank you. I hope you’ll continue to look after her. This drink is for you."

Julian Jennings didn’t argue further and drank the wine.

Wendy Royce then toasted Ian Quinn and Thomas Sterling one by one.

Once Wendy Royce got happy, he couldn’t hold himself back.

Florence Preston didn’t try to stop him. It was a rare, joyous occasion, so she joined in and had a few glasses as well.

Rachel Royce raised her glass of juice to toast with them.

’During her most difficult days, when she needed care the most, she still had people who loved her by her side. It was their concern that gave her the courage to embrace her future again.’

「Nine p.m.」

Julian Jennings and the others began to say their goodbyes. Since they had all been drinking, they called for designated drivers.

Rachel Royce bid them farewell.

Peter Preston saw them to the elevator.

Thomas Sterling said, "You can go back inside, Peter!"

"Get home safe."

"..."

The elevator doors slid shut.

Peter Preston turned and walked away.

「In the blink of an eye, the day of her departure arrived.」

Peter Preston went into Rachel Royce’s room and gave her a bank card. "Take care of yourself over there."

Rachel Royce politely refused. "Dad already gave me ten million. That’s more than enough. Your company is at a critical stage and needs the money, you don’t have to give me any."

"The company has enough capital now, so you don’t have to worry. What Dad gave you is from him. This is from me."

Rachel Royce didn’t insist on refusing any longer. She accepted it and said, "Thank you, brother."

Since Tristan Sterling still hadn’t returned, Rachel Royce asked Peter Preston to find a lawyer to coordinate with Tristan’s side when the time came.

"I know."

As always, Florence Preston had Rachel Royce bundled up snugly.

"Mom, I’m waddling like a duck in all these layers."

Florence Preston adjusted her hat. "Then waddle like a duck. It’s better than getting sick and suffering from it for the rest of your life."

Rachel Royce bore the weight of this overwhelming affection.

Peter Preston and Wendy Royce each pushed two large suitcases out the door.

On the way to the airport,

Wendy Royce couldn’t help but cry.

Florence Preston said, "It’s not like she’s never coming back. Why are you crying?"

Rachel comforted him, "Dad, I’m just going away to study. I’ll come back during the holidays whenever I have time."

"I know, I know. I just can’t bear to see you go."

"..."

It took a long time for Wendy Royce to calm down.

When they arrived at the airport,

Julian Jennings was waiting for them outside the terminal.

Thomas Sterling and Ian Quinn had also come to see her off.

When it was time to board,

Rachel Royce waved goodbye to them.

Florence Preston helped her walk toward the gate.

At one o’clock, the flight to San Francisco took off on time.

Rachel Royce sat in a business-class window seat, watching the city shrink below. She tightly clutched a necklace in her hand; inside its locket was a photo of Melissa from her one-month celebration.

This journey meant it would be incredibly difficult for her to see her child again.

"Baby, Mommy’s so sorry."

Rachel Royce repeated the words silently in her heart as it ached with wave after wave of pain.

「Meanwhile.」

Inside a Bentley on the way back from the airport to the villa,

little Melissa suddenly burst into tears, crying hysterically.

Tristan Sterling held her, but nothing he did could soothe her.

Her crying only stopped when she finally exhausted herself and fell asleep.

Tristan Sterling held the child in his arms, carefully wiping her tear-stained cheeks. He gently patted her back, his eyes filled with a tender ache for his daughter.

*

「Five years later.」

Cedarwood Group Headquarters.

Inside the spacious President’s office,

a little girl’s toys and belongings were visible everywhere. Everything was a soft, delicate pink. The walls were covered in stickers, and a child’s painting of a bear hung on one wall.

A child’s chair was set up in front of the main desk.

An exquisite, doll-like little girl sat obediently in the chair, swinging her short legs. Her hair was tied up in two cute buns, wrapped with strands of pearls, and a sapphire-encrusted barrette was pinned in her hair.

Her soft little fingers swiped across a tablet as she played Sudoku, quiet and focused.

A handsome, tall man stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows. He wore a white shirt and black straight-leg trousers, highlighting his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Exuding a noble air, he stood with one hand in his pocket while taking a business call.

His expression was stern and cold.

After hanging up,

he turned to look at his daughter sitting at the desk, and his eyes instantly softened with paternal affection. He walked over, and seeing that his daughter had already reached level 100, a smile touched his lips. He stroked her little head with his large hand and said softly, "You’re amazing, Melissa."

Melissa Sterling looked up at her father. Beneath her long lashes, her big eyes seemed to hold an entire galaxy. "Daddy, I want to paint."

Her voice was soft and sweet, like cotton candy.

Tristan Sterling picked his daughter up. "Let’s give your eyes a rest. You can paint later. Are you hungry?"

Melissa Sterling nodded.

Tristan Sterling had some snacks sent over and ate a little with his daughter.

This was because whenever Melissa Sterling was eating, she would insist on sharing her food with her daddy.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

Mark Chapman pushed the door open and walked in.

Nowadays, walking into the President’s office meant being hit by the sweet, milky scent of a small child. Looking at the flamboyant and colorful office, Mark Chapman was already used to it.

Ever since the President started bringing the young lady to work, his cold, severe aura had softened considerably, making him less intimidating than before.

Mark Chapman walked forward and handed over an invitation. "This is the invitation to next week’s financial summit."

Tristan Sterling took it, glanced at it, and handed it back. "Make the arrangements."

"Yes, sir."

Mark Chapman then added, "There’s a gentleman here to see you. He claims to be Rachel Royce’s attorney. He’s downstairs right now."

’Five years had passed. The name Rachel Royce now seemed so distant. The President had suddenly gained a daughter, and remembering how he had despised Rachel Royce when she was pregnant, everything became self-evident.’

’It was just that the President, who had so despised Rachel Royce, was exceptionally doting toward his daughter.’

’The aloof, serious, and unsmiling President had become a full-time dad. It was something he would never have even dared to imagine before.’

At these words, Tristan Sterling’s brows knitted together, and his handsome face turned cold and grim.

"Send him up."

"Yes, sir."

Tristan Sterling had the nanny come in and take Melissa Sterling out to play.

Mark Chapman led the lawyer into the President’s office.

Upon seeing Tristan Sterling, the lawyer couldn’t help but tense up.