The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 76: A Mother-Daughter Bond

Chapter 76: A Mother and Daughter’s Connection

Tristan Sterling lowered his voice. "If someone doesn’t want to do something, does Melissa still want Daddy to make them say yes?"

Upon hearing this, Melissa Sterling looked up at her father.

"What if she starts to dislike Melissa because of it?"

Melissa lowered her head. After a moment of silence, she said, "Aunt Evelynn would never get annoyed with me."

But her words lacked confidence.

Aunt Evelynn had indeed told her she was busy with work. ’If I insist that Aunt Evelynn spend time with me,’ she thought, ’will she really get upset?’

The thought of Aunt Evelynn being upset and disliking her made Melissa feel an indescribable ache in her heart.

Just then,

Sylvia Shannon’s voice came from outside the door.

"All right, let’s go eat breakfast first."

Melissa followed her father out of the room.

When they got to the dining room,

Melissa saw her grandparents and called out in a sweet voice, "Grandpa, Grandma."

Harrison Sterling stepped forward and scooped up his granddaughter. "How about you stay with Grandpa and Grandma for a couple of days, Melissa?"

*

When Rachel Royce woke up, she felt dizzy and lightheaded. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

She pushed herself up, threw off the covers, and got out of bed. After washing up and getting ready, she drank some hot water, which helped her feel a bit better.

Just then,

the doorbell rang.

Rachel Royce went to answer the door.

Julian Jennings was standing at the door, holding a bag of breakfast.

Last night, Julian had driven her back to her apartment in Azure Cove. He also owned a large flat in the same area.

"Professor."

Julian Jennings held up the bag in his hand. "I brought you some breakfast."

Rachel Royce stepped aside to let Julian in. He went to the dining room, placed the bag on the table, and asked, "How are you feeling now? Any discomfort?"

Rachel Royce replied, "I’m feeling much better now. Thank you for bringing me home last night, Professor."

Julian Jennings’s lips curved into a faint smile as he set out the breakfast. "Let’s eat first, then."

Rachel Royce looked at the lavish breakfast spread. It was five-star hotel quality, and everything was something she loved to eat.

Julian Jennings sat across from her, joining her for breakfast. Only then did he ask, "Were you in a bad mood last night?"

Rachel Royce paused while eating her porridge. She didn’t hide anything from Julian, recounting her encounter with Melissa Sterling at Cedarwood the day before.

Julian Jennings remarked with feeling, "It must truly be a mother and daughter’s connection."

Rachel Royce gave a bitter smile. "I suppose so. Tristan Sterling has raised her very well."

’Even after how he treated me,’ she thought, ’seeing little Melissa now, I suddenly feel like none of what I suffered matters anymore. It’s just the thought of Claire Ainsworth that makes my stomach churn.’

"At least this shows that Tristan Sterling isn’t a completely heartless man."

"That depends on the person. As long as he’s good to Melissa, that’s all that matters."

"..."

After a night to process, Rachel Royce had calmed down.

She was content with just receiving her daughter’s gift and getting to hold her.

After they finished breakfast,

and after Rachel Royce got ready,

Julian Jennings drove her to the office.

Her car was still parked at the bar; she’d have to go get it after work today.

「Over the next few days.」

Rachel Royce threw all her energy into her work. The exclusive interview with Tristan Sterling was published without a hitch, and readership numbers soared to a new high.

Ever since the summit ended,

the name "Evelynn" had started to carry significant weight in the industry. While many admired her skills and knowledge, it was inevitable that some would gossip privately, claiming she had improper relationships with several influential figures.

One evening,

after Rachel Royce had dinner with her family, Florence Preston and Wendy Royce took the child out for a walk in the stroller.

Rachel Royce, Peter Preston, and Thomas Sterling sat in the living room, chatting while the TV played. Peter mentioned a matter concerning his company: Ascendant had snatched the CN project partnership.

It was a significant loss for Prodigy, especially considering the amount of time and money they had invested in the preliminary stages.

Peter Preston remained composed. The loss was still within Prodigy’s manageable limits. "Business competition is just like that," he said. "There’s no such thing as a one hundred percent success rate."

Rachel Royce nodded, though she still felt it was a shame.

However, she heard that Ascendant was backed by the MK Group, and that Suzanne Sullivan had personally overseen the project acquisition. At the mention of Suzanne Sullivan’s name, a clear image of the woman surfaced in her mind.

’I never expected Prodigy to cross paths with her. She’s definitely a formidable competitor.’

Thomas Sterling said, "It looks like Prodigy will inevitably go head-to-head with her in the future. You’ll need to be careful, Peter."

Peter Preston grunted in acknowledgment. "Don’t worry, I know."

As the three of them chatted idly,

Thomas Sterling asked Rachel Royce if she wanted to go paragliding the next day.

Paragliding was Rachel Royce’s favorite sport; she loved the feeling of freedom and openness in the sky.

But she really didn’t have time tomorrow.

"Maybe this weekend," she replied. "I’m meeting with the professor tomorrow to discuss work."

Thomas Sterling pressed his lips together and nodded. "Okay, then."

「The next day.」

Rachel Royce arrived early at the spot where she was meeting Julian Jennings.

She sat on a terrace overlooking a beautiful, azure lake in the distance. The sky was overcast, and a gentle breeze was blowing.

A server brought her a cup of coffee.

Rachel Royce thanked them and took a small sip of her coffee. Her gaze was fixed on the complex data displayed on her laptop screen, her expression focused and earnest.

Just then, she received a phone call.

Rachel Royce spoke with the person on the other end entirely in English, smiling gracefully from time to time as they had a pleasant conversation.

The breeze lifted a few strands of hair at her temple, and she raised a hand to tuck them behind her ear. At that exact moment, a ray of sun broke through the clouds and fell upon her.

In that instant, she seemed to be bathed in a golden glow, from the tips of her hair to the bright, captivating smile on her lips.

Rachel Royce hung up.

She was about to pick up her coffee when something in her peripheral vision caught her attention. She turned her head to look and froze.

The man had an exceptionally well-proportioned figure. He wore a deep blue satin shirt with black straight-leg trousers, which gave him less of a mature, business-like air and more of the casual grace of a young nobleman.

His handsome and distinguished face, however, remained as calm and indifferent as ever.

He was the kind of person who would stand out in any crowd.

As Rachel Royce watched him, the man merely shot her a glance. A server led him in her direction, and he sat down at the next table over, directly facing her.

The table between them was still empty.