The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 111: Soon-to-be Ex-husband

Chapter 111: Soon-to-be Ex-Husband

He then retracted his gaze and drove the car into the villa.

Rachel Royce drove away from the villa with Thomas Sterling.

Thomas Sterling looked at her and asked, "Do you think he knows it’s you?"

Rachel Royce looked calmly at the road ahead. "Since he didn’t say anything, let’s just pretend no one knows."

Even William Jensen was a little suspicious of her today.

Let alone someone as sharp as Tristan Sterling.

’He really does dote on Melissa. At least in his heart, between Melissa and Claire Ainsworth, Melissa is the absolute priority.’

’Melissa likes me now, and he hasn’t tried to stop it. It’s enough for me to be able to see Melissa and spend time with her in the future.’

Thomas Sterling didn’t ask any more questions. In any case, Rachel knew what she was doing.

"So, are you free tomorrow afternoon?" Thomas asked.

Rachel replied, "Barring any surprises, I should be free after two."

Thomas said, "Great. Let’s go skydiving then."

Rachel said, "I don’t think I can. I promised Melissa I’d play with her tomorrow. She wants to fly a kite."

Thomas said, "Then let’s go fly kites at Southmere Park."

"Okay."

「The next day.」

After finishing her work in the morning, Rachel Royce took the initiative to contact Melissa.

She drove to the villa.

Melissa had her little backpack on early, all ready to go.

Tristan Sterling walked Melissa to the villa gate and reminded Rachel, "I’ve packed a box of snacks and fruit for her. Her thermos is filled with the amount of water she should drink today. Don’t let her eat too much, and no ice cream or soft drinks."

Melissa huffed. "Daddy’s mean. He won’t let me have ice cream."

Rachel patted Melissa’s little head to soothe her, taking all of Tristan Sterling’s reminders to heart.

"Bring Melissa back before seven."

Rachel looked up at Tristan Sterling, the gentleness in her eyes fading. "I know," she said coolly.

Afterward, a cheerful Melissa got into Rachel’s car and waved to her father. "Bye-bye, Daddy."

Rachel drove away from the villa with Melissa.

Tristan Sterling stood watching as the car slowly drove away.

Rachel then drove to Thomas Sterling’s company to pick him up.

Melissa was also happy to see Mr. Ford. Thomas Sterling then took the wheel, while Rachel sat in the back with Melissa.

The three of them went to Southmere Park to fly kites.

Melissa was happy all afternoon. She turned to Rachel and said, "Aunt Evelynn, can we come fly kites with Daddy next time?"

Rachel just changed the subject.

When Melissa saw other kids eating ice cream, she wheedled, "Just one, please? I won’t tell Daddy."

Looking at the poor, pleading little girl.

Rachel ultimately had to painfully refuse.

Melissa didn’t get mad at Rachel, but at her dad. "It’s all Daddy’s fault," she grumbled.

Before seven o’clock, Rachel took Melissa back to Silvermist Bay Villa.

Melissa said a reluctant goodbye to Rachel.

By the time Rachel and Thomas Sterling returned to Hillcrest Villa, it was nearly eight o’clock.

When they got home, the two of them entered the living room.

Julian Jennings was there too.

On the way back, she had gotten a call from Peter Preston, so she knew Julian Jennings would be at the Royce Family’s home today.

Mr. and Mrs. Jennings were coming to Kingsland tomorrow, so Julian had come today to pick up June Jennings and Stella. Wendy Royce and Florence Preston had insisted they stay for dinner before leaving.

Julian Jennings had arrived at the Royce residence around three, only to find out that Rachel wasn’t home.

"Professor," Rachel called out.

Julian Jennings offered a slight smile in acknowledgment, his gaze sweeping over the two of them.

Thomas Sterling walked to the sofa, sat down, and greeted Julian Jennings and Peter Preston.

"Rachel, you’re back," June Jennings said. "Where did you guys go this afternoon?"

Rachel replied, "I took my daughter to the park to fly a kite."

Peter Preston and June Jennings knew that Rachel had gone to spend time with Melissa Sterling the day before.

Peter couldn’t help but ask, "You and Thomas took Melissa out by yourselves?"

Rachel hummed in affirmation, then explained, "He must know full well who I am by now. Tristan Sterling probably just couldn’t say no to Melissa."

’Originally, I was thinking about how to have a showdown with Tristan after the divorce, but I’ve been seeing Melissa so much lately that it’s become impossible to hide anymore.’

’I never expected Melissa to like me and rely on me this much. Seeing her drawings especially put my anxious heart completely at ease.’

’As long as Melissa doesn’t hate me...’

’Even if Tristan Sterling knows it’s me, I have nothing to fear.’

June Jennings asked, puzzled, "If he knows it’s you, Rachel, why hasn’t he exposed you?"

Rachel said, "Right now, we’re practically strangers. There’s nothing to expose."

June suddenly said indignantly, "Your soon-to-be ex-husband is even more disgusting than Ivan Alden."

Ivan Alden was June Jennings’s ex-husband.

Julian Jennings and June Jennings didn’t stay for much longer.

「Three days later.」

Rachel accompanied Julian Jennings to a dinner party on a cruise ship. The voyage would last two days and three nights.

The guests at the party that night were all major figures from the domestic and international business worlds.

Julian Jennings and Rachel Royce’s main purpose for attending the dinner was to discuss a potential partnership.

Of course, the other party had sought out Julian Jennings.

The party in question was one of MK Group’s directors, CEO Hector Ainsworth, who was Chairman Ainsworth’s younger brother and Claire Ainsworth’s biological uncle.

Things had not been peaceful within MK Group in recent years. Factions had formed and power struggles were constant. In the midst of this infighting, Suzanne Sullivan had gradually usurped Chairman Ainsworth’s authority. Now, the Chairman was completely unable to control Suzanne, merely maintaining a false sense of harmony on the surface.

Although Suzanne Sullivan had come to the Ainsworth Family with Jane Sullivan as a child, she was not, after all, of Ainsworth blood. Chairman Ainsworth had only ever raised her as a pawn. Now that the pawn had grown too powerful and was out of his control, he couldn’t just stand by and watch her take complete control of MK. He had to seek help from an outside force.

Rowan was one of the primary targets they were trying to win over.

Most importantly, Suzanne Sullivan’s people had interfered with one of his projects a while back. Although they didn’t succeed in the end, it had certainly created a rift between them.

"President Jennings, a pleasure."

Hector Ainsworth shook Julian Jennings’s hand. When he looked at Rachel, his eyes filled with astonishment. Dressed in a long, green slip gown, she was the epitome of elegance and beauty.

"You must be Director Evelynn."

Rachel shook Hector Ainsworth’s hand. "A pleasure."

The two parties chatted for nearly half an hour. As for whether they would cooperate, that would depend on the negotiations over the next two days.

Julian Jennings got a glass of champagne for Rachel.

The two of them stood beside a table. The man was dressed in a black formal suit, his figure tall and straight. His elegant, sharp features were framed by gold-rimmed glasses, giving him a mature and gentle air. Standing together, they were the very picture of a perfect, eye-catching couple—a talented man and a beautiful woman—drawing frequent gazes from those around them.

"Do you think this Hector Ainsworth is worth working with?" Julian Jennings asked.

Rachel took the glass from his hand and was about to answer.

"Watch out."

Julian Jennings reached out, lightly took her by the shoulder, and pulled her to his side, taking two steps back.

Immediately after, a wine glass shattered on the floor.

A staff member, while carrying drinks, had suddenly felt unwell, collapsed against a table, and sent the glasses on it scattering to the ground.

Other staff members quickly came over and helped the person away.

It was a minor incident that no one paid much mind to.

"Are you all right?"

Rachel shook her head. As she did, she glanced up inadvertently and saw a figure standing by the railing on the second floor.

It was Tristan Sterling.

’He’s here too?’