The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 60: She Did It On Purpose

Chapter 60: She Did It On Purpose

A startled cry.

Claire Ainsworth lost her footing and collapsed to the ground.

Everyone was stunned.

Tristan Sterling strode over, knelt down to help Claire Ainsworth up, and checked on her.

Claire Ainsworth’s eyes immediately reddened. Looking at Tristan Sterling, she said pitifully, "Tristan, my face hurts so much."

The side of Claire Ainsworth’s face where she’d been hit was already red and swollen.

A crowd quickly gathered around them.

President Hale shouted for the staff to hurry and get a doctor.

Rachel Royce and Julian Jennings quickly made their way around the crowd.

Tristan Sterling picked Claire Ainsworth up in his arms and rose to his feet. Rachel Royce spoke up, "President Sterling, I’m prepared to cover this young lady’s medical expenses and compensation for her distress."

President Hale quickly interjected, "This is my fault. I never should have suggested a match. President Sterling, Evelynn didn’t do it on purpose."

After all, he was the one who suggested they team up. Now that someone was injured, he was in an awkward position.

Simon Shaw spoke up on Rachel Royce’s behalf. "Tristan, injuries are inevitable in a match. Let’s get Claire to the infirmary first."

Tristan Sterling’s dark eyes were fixed on Rachel Royce. Without a word, he strode away, still carrying Claire Ainsworth.

The match had just begun.

And an accident had already happened.

There was no way the match could continue now.

As Simon Shaw went to follow, he glanced back at Rachel Royce, but with no chance to say anything, he turned and hurried after them.

President Hale excused himself to Rachel Royce and followed to see how things were.

’Can’t afford to offend them.’

Joanna Sutton watched them leave and snorted coldly. "So delicate. She should just stay home and be a pretty little doll."

She then looked at Rachel Royce and asked, "You really didn’t do it on purpose?"

Rachel Royce’s lips curved into a slight smile. "Would I have done it so brazenly? Maybe she let herself get hit on purpose."

Claire Ainsworth had a chance to return that shot, but the ball would have just hit the net. At the very least, she could have blocked it with her racket and avoided getting hit in the face. But instead, she just froze and let the ball fly right at her.

It was hard not to suspect she had done it deliberately.

She thought about the hostility Claire Ainsworth had shown her earlier.

A cold, sarcastic smile touched her lips.

Thomas Sterling spoke up. "It looked pretty intentional to me."

Ian Quinn added with a smile, "Don’t tell me she wants Tristan Sterling to hold a grudge against you, Rachel. But they probably didn’t recognize you, right? I mean, look at Simon Shaw—his eyes were practically glued to you."

Rachel Royce looked nothing like she did five years ago.

Even he, who had seen Rachel Royce once or twice over the past five years, had trouble connecting the woman he saw last night with the person she used to be.

Joanna Sutton caught on and chimed in, "That really does sound like something Claire Ainsworth would pull."

Julian Jennings looked at Rachel Royce. "Should we go see how she is?" he asked.

Rachel Royce said, "I’ll go take a look."

"I’ll go with you," Thomas Sterling said.

"There’s no need," Rachel Royce replied. "I can go by myself."

Rachel Royce handed him her racket and headed off the court.

「Inside the infirmary.」

The doctor examined Claire Ainsworth’s injury. It wasn’t serious; a few days of ointment would be enough, and it wouldn’t leave a scar.

Tristan Sterling was on the balcony, taking a call. His voice was laced with anxiety as he said, "I’ll be right back."

He hung up.

Tristan Sterling returned to the room. After getting an update on the situation, he said a few words to Claire Ainsworth and asked Simon Shaw to take good care of her.

Claire Ainsworth immediately reached out and grabbed Tristan Sterling’s hand. "Tristan, you’re leaving?"

Tristan Sterling said, "Melissa is sick, so I have to go. I’ll have Mason take you home. Get some rest."

Claire Ainsworth’s fingers stiffened. ’A wave of resentment washed over her.’

’Every time Melissa Sterling calls, he drops everything and goes running back. All he thinks about now is that child. Because of her, we spend less and less time alone together.’

’And I don’t even dare to show the slightest hint of dissatisfaction.’

’I never would have thought Tristan Sterling could love the daughter of that ugly woman so much.’

"All right, then," she said, her expression changing. "You should go back and look after the child. I’ll visit Melissa another day."

Tristan Sterling grunted in acknowledgment.

At the infirmary door.

President Hale and a few others were waiting by the door when Rachel Royce approached.

"President Hale."

President Hale turned to her.

At that moment, Tristan Sterling walked out of the infirmary.

"President Sterling, is Miss Ainsworth all right?" President Hale asked with concern.

Rachel Royce looked at Tristan Sterling.

The man’s gaze fell upon her.

Rachel Royce met his gaze, her posture calm and composed. "I am very sorry," she said.

Tristan Sterling’s dark eyes bore into her. His voice was deep and unreadable as he said, "Miss Evelynn, your tennis skills are quite impressive."

Rachel Royce didn’t respond.

The man said nothing more. After bidding farewell to President Hale, he strode away.

President Hale and Vice President Wyatt hurried after him to see him off.

Rachel Royce stood where she was, watching them leave.

Just then, a voice called out, "Miss Evelynn."

Rachel Royce turned to see Simon Shaw. A faint smile touched her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

"It’s nothing serious, Miss Evelynn. You don’t need to worry."

Rachel Royce replied, "In that case, I’m relieved. And thank you, sir, for helping to smooth things over earlier."

Simon Shaw replied graciously, "Sporting events always carry some risk. Tristan isn’t an unreasonable person."

Rachel Royce noted the fawning look in his eyes. ’She hadn’t forgotten how Simon Shaw used to defend Claire Ainsworth while targeting her in the past.’

’And as for whether Tristan Sterling was a reasonable person where Claire Ainsworth was concerned, she knew the answer to that all too well.’

"Thank you. Since everything’s fine, I’ll be going now."

Simon Shaw quickly said, "Miss Evelynn, since you’re the editor-in-chief of the Financial Weekly, perhaps we’ll see each other again. Why don’t we exchange contact information?"

Rachel Royce stopped in her tracks. "I’m sorry, it’s not a good time for me to be adding Mr. Shaw’s contact information."

Seeing she didn’t have her phone with her, Simon Shaw gave an awkward laugh. "Well, perhaps we can exchange them the next time we meet. By the way, my name is Simon Shaw."

Rachel Royce hummed in response, then turned and walked away.

From inside the infirmary room, Claire Ainsworth heard the conversation between Simon Shaw and the woman.

’In all these years, she had never seen Simon Shaw be so forward with any woman other than herself.’

Her already sour expression darkened further.

When Simon Shaw returned to the room, one of their friends teased him, "Are you sure she doesn’t have a boyfriend? That Julian Jennings fellow seemed pretty attentive to her."

"But this Miss Evelynn is certainly beautiful. I’ve never seen her before."

"..."

The men in their circle had seen their fair share of beautiful women, but someone like Evelynn—with her cool, glamorous looks that held an undercurrent of both innocence and allure—was the kind of woman who effortlessly captured a man’s attention.

Nancy Willow, who was keeping Claire Ainsworth company, remarked coldly, "If you ask me, she looks like she’s had work done. And who knows if her breasts are real."

"..."

On her way back to the tennis court, Rachel Royce ran into President Hale and Vice President Wyatt, who were returning after seeing Tristan Sterling off.

When President Hale saw Rachel Royce, he walked over and said, "I know you didn’t do it on purpose, Evelynn. President Sterling won’t hold it against you. As it happens, there’s an exclusive interview scheduled for next week. You can use that opportunity to properly thank him."