The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 62: Checking Buyer Information

Chapter 62: Investigating the Buyer’s Information

Rachel Royce had to make the final preparations for tomorrow’s financial summit today.

Thomas Sterling didn’t disturb her, spending the day playing video games with Peter Preston at the villa and chatting about work.

Peter Preston suddenly asked, "Are you familiar with a person named Suzanne Sullivan?"

Thomas Sterling, in the middle of his game, paused for a moment before answering, "She’s very close with my cousin. She’s Claire Ainsworth’s sister. You met her five years ago. Why the sudden question?"

Peter Preston said, "Ascendant Tech was acquired by MK Group this year. Regarding the GN collaboration, Prodigy was already in contract negotiations, but Ascendant has extended an olive branch, so now it’s up in the air."

Before Prodigy made its mark, Ascendant Tech was already a leader in the industry. But due to a bottleneck in their R&D and internal leadership issues, the entire company began to stagnate, and even decline.

The company’s acquisition this year caused a huge stir in the industry.

In Peter Preston’s view, this was more of a crisis than an opportunity for Ascendant, especially since MK Group had never ventured into the tech sector before.

But unexpectedly, a month after the acquisition, Ascendant received sufficient funding, achieved a technological breakthrough, and even snatched a project that Prodigy had been pursuing for a long time.

Now, the two companies have their eyes on the same project again.

The competition is fierce.

The intel he’d gathered was that Ascendant was being directly managed by MK Group’s Executive President, Suzanne Sullivan. He also heard that MK Group had been experiencing significant internal turmoil in recent years, with leadership fighting for power and forming factions. The successful acquisition of Ascendant was Suzanne Sullivan’s first step in seizing control.

’Anyone so close to Tristan Sterling is bound to be a formidable figure.’

Thomas Sterling stopped playing and looked at Peter Preston. "Well, it looks like you’ve really met your match this time, Peter."

Peter Preston smiled and said, "After all these years, what kind of storms haven’t I weathered?"

Prodigy’s growth over the past few years has been anything but smooth sailing. It only achieved its current standing after surviving multiple crises.

No matter how powerful the opponent, he would face the challenge head-on.

The two then started talking about Rachel Royce.

Peter Preston told Thomas Sterling that Rachel Royce had already hired a lawyer and was preparing to file for divorce.

Thomas Sterling suddenly felt he couldn’t figure out his cousin. Tristan clearly disliked Rachel, even loathed her, and he was the one who had brought up divorce. Yet, to this day, he still hadn’t divorced her.

’Perhaps he had never truly understood his cousin at all.’

Peter Preston glanced at Thomas Sterling. He had, of course, noticed Thomas’s feelings for Rachel and how good he’d been to her over the years. Thomas had never hidden it from him.

’But even if Rachel and Tristan Sterling divorced, it would be difficult for her and Thomas to be together. After all, her history with Tristan couldn’t be erased. For that reason alone, Thomas’s parents would never allow them to be a couple.’

’Still, who could say what the future holds?’

’The two of them had known each other since they were children, after all.’

’He actually hoped they would get together. Her parents were very fond of Thomas.’

’But looking at Rachel’s current state, she probably wasn’t in the mood to think about romance.’

’Oh, well.’

’Let’s just leave it all to time!’

After Rachel Royce finished her work, she joined them for a few games.

Evelyn Fitzwilliam called Thomas Sterling and insisted he return to the old family residence that evening. It was an invitation he couldn’t refuse, so he didn’t stay at the Royce family’s home for dinner.

Rachel Royce saw him out to his car, knowing he was headed to the old residence.

She handed him a pink bag.

Thomas Sterling took it. "Melissa will love this."

Every year on Melissa’s birthday and other important holidays, Rachel Royce would prepare a gift for Thomas Sterling to give to Melissa. Of course, the gifts were always given in Thomas’s name, so Melissa had no idea she was receiving presents from her mother every year.

Rachel Royce hummed in agreement and reminded him, "Drive safe."

"Okay."

Thomas Sterling drove away.

Rachel Royce stood in place, watching the car until it was out of sight before heading back into the villa.

「Around six o’clock.」

Thomas Sterling returned to the old family residence.

He walked into the living room.

The adults were watching TV while keeping an eye on the children building with Legos.

When Evelyn Fitzwilliam saw Thomas Sterling return, she remarked, "So you do know how to come home."

Melissa saw Mr. Ford, got up, and ran toward him, shouting happily, "Mr. Ford!"

Thomas Sterling bent down, scooped Melissa into his arms, and immediately noticed the safety lock she was wearing around her neck.

He froze for a second, then smiled and asked, "Did Melissa miss Mr. Ford?"

"I missed Mr. Ford."

"Mr. Ford brought you a present. Want to see it?"

Melissa’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "I want to see!"

Thomas Sterling put Melissa down and handed her the bag. Melissa took it and said, "Thank you, Mr. Ford."

At that moment, Tristan Sterling was walking down the stairs. When Melissa saw her father, she ran toward him, and Tristan quickened his pace.

"Daddy, it’s a present for Melissa from Mr. Ford." Melissa showed the bag in her hands to her father.

Tristan Sterling bent down and took the bag from her. His dark eyes stared intently at the gift bag for a moment before he said to Melissa, "Did you thank Mr. Ford?"

"I did."

Tristan Sterling patted Melissa’s head and looked at Thomas Sterling. "That was thoughtful of you, Thomas."

"As long as Melissa’s happy," Thomas Sterling replied.

Tristan Sterling grunted in acknowledgment and said no more.

That evening, after the family had dinner together, Melissa went back to her room, eager to unwrap the gift from Mr. Ford.

Tristan Sterling helped her open it. Inside the exquisitely wrapped box was a music box shaped like a small, pink violin made of crystal, with a little rabbit inside.

Melissa pressed the switch. The pink crystal immediately lit up and began to rotate, the little rabbit bobbed up and down, and a pleasant melody flowed out.

Melissa watched with excitement, her eyes shining. "Daddy, the little rabbit is dancing!"

Watching his daughter’s happy face, Tristan Sterling’s heart warmed. "Does Melissa like it?"

"I love it!"

Tristan Sterling watched with his daughter for a while. When he came out of the bathroom after freshening up, he saw her still staring eagerly at the music box.

He walked over, picked her up, and said, "Alright, let Grandma give you a bath first. You can look at it again later."

Melissa obediently did as she was told.

After handing Melissa over to Sylvia Shannon,

Tristan Sterling returned to the bedroom and looked at the music box on the coffee table. He walked over, picked it up for a closer look, and noticed a line of Italian text engraved on the bottom. It was the brand name and the maker’s serial number. This music box was a custom piece.

He took out his phone and snapped a photo of it.

Then he sent it to Mark Chapman with a message: "Look into the buyer information for this music box."

Mark Chapman received the message. "Yes, sir."

Sylvia Shannon had wanted her granddaughter to sleep with her that night, but Melissa refused. Left with no choice, Sylvia Shannon had to bring her back. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Lying in bed, Melissa gradually fell asleep to the sound of the music box as her father lulled her to sleep.

「Monday.」

Rachel Royce arrived at the financial center by seven o’clock to get an early start on the preparations for her hosting duties that day.