The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 61: Why Doesn’t Melissa Have a Mom?

Chapter 61: Why Doesn’t Melissa Have a Mommy?

Rachel Royce and the others returned to the golf course.

President Hale apologized to Julian Jennings and Ian Quinn, saying it was his suggestion that had ruined everyone’s fun.

Julian Jennings said, "President Hale, please don’t take it to heart. This has nothing to do with you."

Joanna Sutton chimed in, "We’ll have more fun without them here anyway!"

President Hale smiled. Julian Jennings was indeed much easier to talk to than Tristan Sterling.

’But that was as far as it went. No one who reached their level in this circle was a pushover.’

President Hale and Vice President Wyatt chatted with the group for a few more moments before taking their leave.

Joanna Sutton couldn’t help but worry. "What if that scumbag comes after you to cause trouble, Rachel?"

Five years ago, she had slapped Claire Ainsworth, and Tristan Sterling had retaliated against Easton. The memory was still fresh in her mind.

Rachel Royce replied nonchalantly, "We’ll see if he can blacklist me, then!"

「Afterward.」

Rachel Royce, Julian Jennings, and the others played a few more rounds by themselves.

That evening, Thomas Sterling treated them to dinner.

When she got home that night.

Peter Preston had also just returned.

"Brother, did everything go well today?" Rachel asked.

The two of them chatted as they walked into the house.

「At the Sterling family’s old residence.」

Tristan Sterling got out of the car carrying his child and headed into the house.

Madam Sterling and Sylvia Shannon followed beside them.

Master Sterling and Harrison Sterling were waiting at home.

When the two brothers, Henry Sterling and Richard Sterling, saw them returning from the doorway, they ran over and called out anxiously, "Little sister."

Their little sister had been playing happily with them that afternoon when she suddenly felt unwell. They had all wanted to go with her to the hospital, but their grandmother told them to wait at home.

Madam Sterling stepped forward to comfort the two brothers. "Your little sister is fine now, don’t worry."

The group entered the house.

Harrison Sterling helped Master Sterling, who was leaning on his cane, walk over. His eyes filled with concern, he asked, "Is the child alright?"

Melissa Sterling was nestled listlessly in her father’s arms. Seeing her grandfather and great-grandfather, she called out weakly, "Great-Grandpa, Grandpa."

Master Sterling’s heart ached seeing his weak great-granddaughter.

"Melissa is fine. I’ll take her to her room to rest first."

Perhaps because she was born prematurely and her mother’s condition had been poor during childbirth, coupled with not being breastfed, Melissa had been frail since she was little, with a weak constitution and a sensitive stomach.

She had been raised with meticulous care, but illnesses were still unavoidable. Today, she had eaten a little too much, leading to indigestion that caused gastroenteritis and a fever.

She had to be taken to the hospital for an IV drip and an injection.

Master Sterling said, "Yes, yes, of course. Quickly, take the child to rest."

Tristan Sterling carried his daughter back to her room.

He laid her on the bed and pulled the small blanket over her.

Sylvia Shannon followed them into the room and said, "You should go eat and clean up first. I’ll watch the child."

Tristan Sterling grunted in acknowledgment.

When he returned to the bedroom after cleaning up, he saw Sylvia Shannon and Melissa Sterling chatting about something. Melissa was smiling happily, though her smile lacked energy.

Tristan Sterling walked over and said, "Mom, you should go rest."

Sylvia Shannon looked at her son.

’Ever since her son had a daughter, he seemed to have gained a touch of humanity. Because of the child, he also connected more with the family.’

Melissa was very fond of her great-grandparents, so Tristan often brought her back. Now that Melissa was on summer vacation, she spent most of her time at the old residence, making the house much livelier.

"Alright then."

When Melissa was sick, only Tristan Sterling could take care of her.

Sylvia Shannon said goodbye to her granddaughter.

Melissa Sterling waved to her grandmother. "Good night, Grandma."

Sylvia Shannon stroked her small head. "Good night, sweetie."

Tristan Sterling turned off the main light, switched on the bedside lamp, and lay down beside Melissa, pulling up the covers. Melissa snuggled closer to her father, calling out affectionately, "Daddy."

Tristan Sterling nodded and placed a kiss on his daughter’s forehead. He reached for a book of fairy tales on the nightstand and asked, "What story do you want to hear today?"

Melissa obediently leaned against her daddy, listening to him tell the story.

After one story was finished. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Melissa suddenly said, "Daddy."

Tristan Sterling looked at his daughter, his eyes full of gentleness. "What is it?"

Melissa looked up at her daddy and asked, "Why doesn’t Melissa have a mommy?"

Tristan Sterling’s hand caressed his daughter’s cheek, his eyes darkening.

"My big cousins and little cousins have mommies, and Nina has a mommy too. Today, the other little kids who were sick all had their mommies with them. Only Melissa doesn’t have a mommy." As Melissa spoke, her eyes suddenly turned red.

Before she was three or four, the word "mommy" was foreign to Melissa. Her father and grandparents loved her dearly, and the existence of a mother seemed to have no impact on her.

But as she got older and started kindergarten, the concept of a "mommy" grew stronger and stronger in her mind.

She started noticing the mothers of the children around her. Her older and younger cousins, and Nina, all had fathers and mothers. When she saw them calling out "Mommy" and acting cute with their mothers, she started to feel it—why didn’t *she* have a mommy?

Today at the hospital, another little girl was sick, and both her mother and father were there with her. But she only had a daddy. She had never had a mommy.

People are always most emotionally volatile when they are sick, and children are no exception.

Seeing his daughter’s red-rimmed eyes, Tristan Sterling’s heart sank. He had actually anticipated this question. As a child grows older, it’s natural for them to become curious about certain things.

He stroked his daughter’s small head and said, "Melissa does have a mommy."

Melissa Sterling’s eyes widened. "Then where is she? Why isn’t she here with Melissa?"

"Mommy is in a faraway place. If Melissa is a good girl, Mommy will come back."

Melissa Sterling immediately asked, "Is it because Melissa wasn’t good before? Is that why Mommy doesn’t want Melissa?"

"No."

"..."

Tristan Sterling had to coax her, finally giving her the safety lock that Rachel Royce had left behind. Only after clutching the safety lock in her hand did Melissa gradually quiet down.

’So, she really did have a mommy.’

Tristan Sterling comforted her for a while longer. Holding the safety lock, Melissa obediently drifted off to sleep. The man’s hand continued to pat her back, his movements gentle.

Gazing at his daughter’s innocent face, the man’s eyes darkened as he was lost in thought.

「The next day.」

Melissa’s fever had completely subsided, but she lacked her usual energy and would need to rest for another two days.

Tristan Sterling carried Melissa downstairs. Melissa had a happy look on her little face, and she cheerfully greeted her grandparents.

When Sylvia Shannon went to hug her granddaughter, she saw the safety lock hanging around her neck and froze for a moment.

Yesterday at the hospital.

She had noticed Melissa staring at a family nearby. ’The child was getting older and was gradually developing a sense of self.’

She glanced at her son but didn’t ask any questions.

「Hillcrest Estates.」

Rachel Royce got up early for a run. Thomas Sterling was waiting for her at the door and raised a hand in greeting when he saw her.

When the estates first went on the market, Thomas Sterling had bought a villa here, a decision he had discussed with Peter Preston at the time.

Thomas Sterling lived here now and often came over to Peter Preston’s house for free meals.

The two of them finished their run together.

And just as naturally, Thomas Sterling stayed to freeload breakfast.