The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 58: Chance Encounter

Chapter 58: A Chance Encounter

「The next day.」

Peter Preston had a meeting with a business partner today, so he couldn’t go to the golf course with Rachel Royce.

"It really isn’t easy being the big boss!" Rachel sighed.

Peter smiled. "Go have fun! You should relax a little, too. You’re going to be busy soon enough."

Indeed, Rachel only had these next few days to relax. After that, her work schedule was packed and relentless.

「After lunch.」

After saying goodbye to Wendy Royce and the others, Rachel drove off.

「Forty minutes later.」

Eastwood Preserve Golf Course.

She arrived late. Joanna Sutton and the others were already on the course.

Rachel parked her car, got out, and grabbed her purse and a garment bag.

The weather today was actually quite pleasant, and the sun wasn’t too hot.

Rachel was wearing a purple chiffon dress suit. The ribbon-like ties at her slender neck fluttered gently in the breeze. She had on more casual, everyday makeup today.

She walked toward the reception hall.

Just then, a Rolls-Royce slowly pulled up in front of the reception hall.

An attendant hurried forward and opened the car door.

At the same time, she saw a familiar figure standing by the entrance.

Simon Shaw!

Then, a tall, well-built man stepped out of the car. He was wearing a light-khaki short-sleeved shirt with white casual trousers. His handsome profile was just as distinguished and captivating as it had been five years ago.

A woman emerged from the other side, wearing a light-khaki dress in a matching shade. She walked to the man’s side and naturally looped her arm through his.

Rachel’s hand, holding her bag, couldn’t help but tighten.

She tried to regulate her breathing, force herself to calm down, and walk up the steps as if nothing was wrong.

Simon Shaw greeted the couple, but his peripheral vision caught a graceful figure in purple, and he couldn’t help but glance aside.

That single glance was enough to leave Simon completely stunned.

Rachel kept her eyes fixed straight ahead, walking past the three of them and into the hall without a sidelong glance.

"Mason."

Simon Shaw snapped out of his daze.

Claire Ainsworth smiled and teased, "Haven’t you had your fill of staring at the beauty? She’s long gone, but you’re still looking."

Simon Shaw gave an awkward laugh. "Let’s go inside."

Simon Shaw had organized today’s outing, inviting the two of them and another friend from their circle.

An attendant led Rachel to the locker room to change. She changed into a white athletic set, tied all her hair up, and put on a baseball cap.

As Rachel left the locker room, she ran right into Claire Ainsworth, who was coming in to change.

Upon seeing Rachel, Claire couldn’t help but size her up.

She had always been extremely confident in her looks; in her social circle, she believed no one’s beauty could compare to her own.

And she had always lived amidst the praise others lavished on her appearance.

Although she hadn’t gotten a clear look at Rachel’s face at the entrance earlier, her exceptionally elegant back and tall figure had made Claire subconsciously start comparing herself to the other woman.

Now, seeing her in a baseball cap, she had to admit that the woman before her was very beautiful. The loose athletic wear couldn’t hide her excellent figure, and standing near each other, though only for a moment of comparison, it was obvious Rachel was a few centimeters taller than her.

This made her feel inexplicably uncomfortable.

Rachel walked right past her without a second glance. She had no interest whatsoever in whatever Claire was thinking.

After Rachel was gone, Claire stood rooted to the spot, staring at her retreating back.

Rachel needed to take a shuttle cart to the course.

As she headed for the shuttle stop, she passed through a long corridor and saw a man up ahead, talking on the phone.

The man’s voice was very gentle, and he exuded an air of warmth and friendliness. "Be a good girl and take your nap. Daddy will come pick you up tonight. Listen to Grandma, okay?"

Hearing the man’s words, Rachel felt a sudden pang in her heart. A bitter sting instantly rushed to her eyes, and she couldn’t stop them from turning red.

’He’s on the phone with Melissa.’

’It’s been five years.’

She could only get updates on Melissa through Thomas Sterling. Tristan Sterling loved their daughter very much and had always taken care of her personally, so Melissa was very attached to him.

She was relieved that her child was so cherished by him.

But now, seeing him with Claire Ainsworth in person... he must have already introduced their daughter to Claire. The thought of her child spending time with Claire made her deeply uncomfortable.

Just as she was lost in thought, Tristan Sterling finished his call, turned sideways, and his gaze landed on Rachel.

She sensed the man’s sharp gaze.

’Good thing I’m wearing a hat.’

Rachel subtly composed herself, walked straight past him from behind, and continued toward the hall.

Tristan’s deep, dark eyes followed the woman’s retreating figure.

"Tristan!"

Claire Ainsworth’s voice pulled Tristan out of his thoughts.

Claire had naturally noticed Tristan staring ahead just now. Following his line of sight, she could see the figure disappearing around a corner.

’It’s that woman.’

Her eyes couldn’t help but turn cold.

Rachel got on the shuttle cart and arrived at the course.

Julian Jennings, Ian Quinn, Thomas Sterling, and Joanna Sutton had already played two rounds.

Of course, the result was that Thomas and Joanna had lost both times.

Joanna was fuming. As soon as she saw Rachel, she immediately started complaining, "Rachel, you’re finally here! Some people are just beasts, they only know how to pick on us who don’t know the game. You have to help us win it back! We need to make them treat us to a huge dinner tonight."

Ian Quinn chuckled. "Are you brave enough to curse out your own boss now? And who was it that claimed to be some kind of all-around champion? Now you’re blaming us for not having any class."

Rachel laughed and said, "Ian, a boss should have a boss’s magnanimity."

Ian put an arm around Julian Jennings’s shoulder and said, "I’m just a small-time boss. The real big boss is over here. Thomas’s game is selling like crazy right now, so it’s not too much to ask for him to treat us to dinner after losing, right?"

Thomas Sterling readily agreed, "Alright, my treat tonight."

"See? Now that’s class."

Joanna retorted, "You probably got rich by being a cheapskate!"

"..."

The group started playing freely.

Rachel hadn’t known how to play golf before; she learned during her time in the United States. She was a fast learner, and now her skills were completely on par with a professional player’s.

Rachel and Julian Jennings discussed business as they played.

Rowan was currently in talks for a project and was preparing to have Rachel take it over. Julian had received news today that Cedarwood had also sent people to make contact about it.

For the past few years, the two investment firms had been in fierce competition.