The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 80: Melissa Throws a Tantrum

Chapter 80: Melissa’s Tantrum

Julian Jennings didn’t say anything more. "Alright, then."

He hung up.

Rachel Royce looked at Thomas Sterling and said, "Take me back."

Thomas Sterling said, "We came all this way. It wouldn’t hurt to look around a bit before we head back."

Just as Julian Jennings was about to turn and leave, he happened to run into a group of people walking toward him.

Tristan Sterling was holding Melissa in his arms. Sylvia Shannon and Claire Ainsworth were beside him, chatting and laughing. The scene truly made them look like one big, happy family.

Julian Jennings had a good idea of what was going on.

Claire Ainsworth noticed Julian Jennings. The moment she saw him, she froze. He was as refined and devastatingly handsome as ever.

Julian Jennings nonchalantly averted his gaze and turned to walk away.

Tristan Sterling watched the man’s departing figure.

The car was already waiting outside.

Tristan Sterling first settled Melissa into her child safety seat and buckled her in.

Tristan Sterling turned to Claire Ainsworth and said gently, "I’m going to take Melissa home first. You be careful on your way back."

A look of disappointment flickered in Claire Ainsworth’s eyes. She looked at Tristan Sterling, her expression full of grievance.

Now, because of Melissa Sterling, he didn’t even have time to take her home. She couldn’t fully vent her frustration and hurt to him like she used to.

Sylvia Shannon walked over and said, "Tristan, I’ll look after Melissa. You can go ahead and take Claire home."

Tristan Sterling looked at Claire Ainsworth and was about to nod when Melissa Sterling suddenly called out, "Daddy."

Tristan Sterling turned around, reached out to ruffle Melissa Sterling’s hair, and said softly, "Daddy’s going to take Miss Claire home first."

Melissa Sterling said, "You promised to watch cartoons with me when we get home."

Tristan Sterling replied, "Daddy will watch with you when I get back."

Melissa Sterling’s little face puffed up. "No!"

In the end, Tristan Sterling had no choice but to give in.

Claire Ainsworth ended up getting into her own car and driving home alone.

’After all this time, being so good to Melissa Sterling, I’m still losing out to a woman the girl just met. Because of that woman, Tristan Sterling still has no intention of making a commitment to me.’

On the way home, a fire of resentment burned in Claire Ainsworth’s chest, with no outlet for release.

That night.

As Tristan Sterling was tucking Melissa Sterling in, she suddenly asked, "Daddy, are you going to marry Miss Claire in the future?"

Tristan Sterling looked at his daughter, paused for a moment, and said, "Why do you ask all of a sudden?"

Melissa Sterling clutched the small blanket with both hands, her little face etched with grievance. "If you marry Miss Claire, what about my mommy? Does that mean I’ll never have a mommy again?"

Tristan Sterling turned to the side, placed the storybook in his hand on the nightstand, and then gently patted Melissa. "There, there," he soothed. "Don’t overthink things, Melissa. Daddy will always be with you."

Melissa Sterling’s little eyes, now red-rimmed, suddenly looked up at her father. "You’re so nice to Miss Claire, and she’s always by your side. Is it because you weren’t nice to Mommy that she’s not here with you?"

Melissa was already more sensitive and clever than other children her age, and as she grew older, she was beginning to understand more things.

Hearing his daughter’s words, Tristan Sterling’s hand froze mid-pat.

It took him a long while to coax Melissa to sleep. Seeing the tear tracks at the corners of her eyes, he gently wiped them away.

The last time Melissa was sick, she had asked about her mother, but she hadn’t been this upset for so long.

Tristan Sterling tucked her in, then quietly left the bedroom.

「Monday.」

Rachel Royce received a call from Lawyer Walsh, who gave her a detailed update. The court had officially begun processing the case.

Rachel asked, "Have you heard anything back from Tristan Sterling’s side?"

Lawyer Walsh replied, "Not yet."

Rachel hummed in acknowledgment. "Alright, I understand. Contact me if anything comes up."

"Understood."

She put down her phone.

Rachel Royce pinched the bridge of her nose.

’I wonder what Tristan Sterling is thinking.’

Just then, a knock came at her office door.

"Come in."

Her assistant entered and said respectfully, "President Royce, the meeting is about to start."

She would be handling work at Rowan for the next few days, and there was a senior management meeting scheduled for Monday.

「Cedarwood Group.」

Mark Chapman entered the office and reported, "Rachel Royce’s lawyer has submitted the relevant documents to the court. The hearing will be within thirty days."

"She returned to the country at the end of last month. Her other personal information is confidential, so we haven’t been able to find anything yet."

This revelation shocked Mark Chapman all over again.

’I thought Rachel Royce just had a child out of wedlock,’ he thought. ’I never imagined she and the President were actually married.’

’She was gone for five years, and President Sterling never divorced her. But now, she’s the one filing for divorce—by lawsuit, no less. That lawyer who came to the company last time must have been the one she hired.’

Tristan Sterling listened to Mark Chapman’s report while handling documents, his handsome, stern face making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

Mark Chapman continued his report, "This Miss Evelynn holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Stanford University. She was invited back to the country for a position and previously attended Portington University..."

Her entire academic history was based in Portington.

At this, Tristan Sterling finally reacted, looking up at Mark Chapman.

Mark Chapman stepped forward and handed him the file.

Tristan Sterling’s dark eyes scanned the personal information they had gathered. Suddenly, he scoffed, "Her accent doesn’t sound like she’s from Portington."

Hearing this, Mark Chapman agreed. "It really doesn’t. It’s much more like a native of Kingsland. She probably just went to school there."

Tristan Sterling handed the file back to him. "Alright, you can go."

Mark Chapman wanted to ask something, but in the end, he didn’t dare. It was better not to pry into President Sterling’s private affairs.

’Still,’ he mused, ’a man like President Sterling would never tolerate being put on the defensive, the one being sued.’

’This divorce lawsuit probably won’t proceed so smoothly.’

’It’s only been five years.’

’Rachel Royce has certainly gotten bolder.’

’I might not approve of her character, but there’s no denying her professional ability. To dare to oppose President Sterling now, she must think she’s grown some wings.’

Rachel Royce was in meetings all morning.

After they ended, she went to Julian Jennings’s office to discuss work matters with him.

The main topic was the project negotiations in Athera.

Rachel Royce had been parachuted into the position of Investment Director. Although her resume was stellar, she was still young and beautiful, which led some to have their reservations. Even though she had previously secured the United States deal for Rowan while abroad, there were still people in the domestic office who grumbled about her.

Julian Jennings couldn’t protect her completely; she needed to prove herself.

This upcoming project negotiation was her best chance to do just that.

Cedarwood was also pursuing this project. Their person in charge was the second-in-command of the investment department, another formidable figure.

Rachel Royce had already discussed it thoroughly with Julian Jennings, and she was very confident about the project.

"Alright, then I’ll head to Athera on Friday."