The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 66: When Can I Meet the Pretty Auntie?
Chapter 66: When Can I Meet the Pretty Lady?
Tristan Sterling withdrew his gaze. "Simon Shaw’s poor judgment is his problem, yes. But a woman who fawns all over you can hardly be called a person of character and talent, much less someone worth chasing."
At his words, Rachel Royce’s face instantly turned cold.
’So he wasn’t just mocking and humiliating her; he was dragging Ian Quinn into it, too.’
When Ian Quinn faced off against Tristan Sterling, he didn’t back down an inch, but his presence was clearly overwhelmed by Tristan’s.
"Right. In President Sterling’s eyes, I suppose only someone like Miss Ainsworth has an upright character."
"Ian Quinn! You’re in no position to pass judgment in front of me."
"..."
Ian Quinn’s dark eyes grew cold, and the hand in his pocket clenched tighter and tighter.
For a moment, the atmosphere grew tense and deadlocked.
Julian Jennings was about to say something.
Rachel Royce suddenly stood up, took a step forward, and said to Tristan Sterling, "I’m not quite sure how I’ve offended you, President Sterling. Of course, if you’re upset because I hurt your person the other day, you can hit me back for her—I’ll accept that. But I won’t accept these baseless judgments and insults. Since you don’t understand the word ’respect,’ President Sterling, does that mean I can also say that you’re nothing but a handsome face—arrogant and disrespectful?"
Tristan Sterling stared at Rachel Royce with cold eyes and sneered, "Whether or not you earn my respect depends on your own capabilities."
Rachel Royce felt her breath catch in her throat.
"President Sterling, don’t you think you’ve gone a little too far?" Julian Jennings spoke up, his expression serious.
Tristan Sterling glanced sideways at Julian Jennings. Without a word of response, he coldly averted his gaze, turned, and strode away.
Simon Shaw glanced at Rachel Royce, then hurried to catch up with Tristan Sterling.
Watching him walk away, Rachel Royce let out an exasperated laugh. She suddenly couldn’t fathom why she had ever fallen in love with such a man—and loved him for so many years.
Ian Quinn’s expression was grim as well.
Julian Jennings reminded him, "Watch your words in the future."
Just then, a staff member brought over a bandage.
Rachel Royce applied it to her heel.
"Go get ready now!"
Rachel Royce murmured her assent.
Simon Shaw followed Tristan Sterling away from the scene. He looked at Tristan Sterling and asked, "Tristan, do you have a problem with Evelynn? Is it because she hurt Claire?"
Tristan Sterling shot him a look but didn’t answer the question. Instead, he said sternly, "She’s not interested in you. Can’t you see that?"
"I..."
Of course, Simon Shaw could tell. He had dated plenty of women over the years and had seen his fair share of beauties, but there was an irresistible charm about Evelynn that sparked an impulsive feeling he had never experienced before.
Seeing Tristan Sterling’s grave expression, he lowered his gaze and didn’t dare say anything more.
That night, Rachel Royce returned to her hotel.
Her good mood had been completely ruined by Tristan Sterling. She was still fuming and had no desire to work.
After washing up, she sat at the bar with a glass of red wine, gazing out at the city lights.
She opened her phone.
She saw a message from Lawyer Walsh.
She had been so busy with work these past few days that she hadn’t had any time to check her messages.
Lawyer Walsh had prepared the legal complaint and sent it over for her review.
After reading it, Rachel Royce sent a message back: File it with the court.
’All she wanted now was to sever all ties with him as quickly and completely as possible.’
「Two more busy days went by.」
Rachel Royce reviewed reports, submitted one of her own, published the weekly journal, and on Saturday at 8 p.m., she had a live financial news broadcast during prime time.
Of course, for Rachel Royce, this kind of workload was perfectly manageable.
After finishing her call with Florence Preston, Rachel Royce got ready to head into the studio.
「Silvermist Bay Villa」
Lisa Lawson helped Melissa Sterling wash up and get ready, changing her into a cute pair of Strawberry Bear pajamas.
"Daddy!"
"Whoa, slow down, you little rascal," Lisa Lawson said, following close behind to keep her safe.
Tristan Sterling was sitting on the sofa, watching the news.
Clutching her little rabbit doll, Melissa Sterling leaped into her father’s arms. Tristan Sterling lifted her onto his lap, reached for the sippy cup of milk on the coffee table, and handed it to her. "Drink your milk like a good girl," he said.
Melissa Sterling held the cup, snuggling obediently against her father’s chest as she sipped from the straw.
Tristan Sterling held his daughter just like that.
The eight o’clock news began right on schedule.
When Melissa Sterling saw the person on TV, she immediately lifted her little head, looked at her father, and exclaimed excitedly, "It’s the pretty lady!"
Tristan Sterling glanced from the woman hosting the program on TV down to his daughter. Melissa Sterling had always had an excellent memory.
She had only caught a glimpse of Evelynn on video the other day, but little Melissa had remembered her.
But aside from her own family, he had never seen her get so excited about an outsider before.
Tristan Sterling stroked his daughter’s head. "What’s all the excitement about?"
Melissa Sterling’s eyes were glued to Rachel Royce on the television screen.
He watched his daughter’s focused expression.
Little Melissa usually only got this engrossed—even forgetting to drink her milk—when she saw a favorite character in one of her cartoons.
Tristan Sterling asked his daughter, "Melissa, you like her?"
Melissa Sterling turned and looked up at her father. "The pretty lady looks really nice, just like Miss Lucy. Daddy, do you know her?"
The "Miss Lucy" she mentioned was Lucy Hughes, the wife of Franklin Fitzwilliam and mother to Nina Fitzwilliam.
"Does Melissa want to meet her?"
Melissa Sterling looked at her father, her eyes big and bright, and said, "Melissa wants to meet the pretty lady."
Tristan Sterling never refused his daughter’s requests. Whatever she wanted, she got; he granted her every wish. When a cartoon she liked didn’t have a new season, Tristan had arranged for the production company to be acquired the very next day, ordering the team to expedite a sequel.
She liked dolphins and whales, so he built her a private ocean park.
He would buy an entire mountain to plant her favorite flowers and raise the butterflies she loved.
...
And this was just a simple request to meet someone.
"If Melissa wants to see her, Daddy will take you."
Melissa clapped happily, then stood up, wrapped her arms around her father’s neck, and gave him a loud SMOOCH on the cheek, her breath smelling sweet like milk. "Thank you, Daddy! Melissa loves Daddy the most!"
For the remaining half hour of the live broadcast,
Melissa sat with her father and watched the news. Of course, she didn’t understand any of the content. She just stared at Rachel Royce on the screen, clutching her sippy cup, her eyes never blinking.
When the broadcast ended,
Tristan Sterling saw his daughter still staring at the screen. "Alright, it’s over now. Want to watch cartoons?"
Melissa Sterling suddenly asked, "Daddy, when can Melissa meet the pretty lady?"
Tristan Sterling stroked her little head, his voice gentle and doting. "In a couple of days."
Melissa Sterling pouted and blinked her big eyes. "Can’t it be tomorrow?"
