The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 14: No Burden in His Presence

Chapter 14: No Burdens Around Him

「The next day.」

Florence Preston accompanied Rachel Royce to the yoga studio.

Remembering that she had run into Claire Ainsworth here yesterday and that Claire also practiced here, Rachel was very resistant to going.

Claire Ainsworth had stolen her husband, yet she was the one who was afraid of a confrontation. She didn’t even dare to call Claire a homewrecker. Rachel didn’t want to see her, but the fee had already been paid, so there was nothing she could do.

Fortunately, she didn’t run into Claire Ainsworth that morning.

By the time she finished, it was already noon.

Florence Preston had brought her a specially prepared lunch: braised beef brisket with tomato, a portion of broccoli stir-fried with meat, and a side of green vegetables—a complete and nutritious meal.

It felt so good to be cherished and cared for like this.

The two went to a restaurant in the mall, where Florence ordered a plate of fried rice.

After they ate their lunch, they took a stroll through the mall. But even when she saw beautiful clothes, Rachel had no desire to buy anything for herself. She bought two winter outfits for Florence Preston, as well as some for her father and brother.

Just as they were about to head back, Rachel Royce received a phone call. It was from Thomas Sterling. Thomas was the youngest son of Tristan Sterling’s uncle, and at 24, he was the same age as her.

They had been in the same class from middle school all the way through high school.

But in her second year of high school, she came down with a serious illness and had to take a year off. When she finally returned, she had gained a full thirty-three pounds and looked completely different.

This drew a lot of strange looks, and nasty rumors even started to spread, saying the "campus belle" had become the "campus pig."

Hearing such things, her mental state completely collapsed, and she even considered dropping out. Later, Thomas Sterling beat one of the culprits so badly he ended up in the hospital.

Because she had taken a year off, she was now a grade below him. Every day after class, he would hang around her classroom door as if on patrol, watching to see if anyone was bad-mouthing her.

Everyone at school knew Thomas Sterling’s family was powerful and influential. Not only was he handsome, but he was also a good student, so basically no one dared to cross him. Even the teachers had to handle him with kid gloves.

He stood up for Rachel, and especially after that male classmate was beaten and hospitalized, she rarely heard any more gossip. Of course, even if people still talked, they definitely did it behind her back.

So during that difficult time, it was he who encouraged her. His words could be harsh, of course, like, "Don’t you have a crush on my cousin? If you don’t study hard and get into a good university... his IQ is 180. He’s not going to like a dumb, clumsy pig."

She had fallen for Tristan Sterling at first sight during her first year of high school when he returned to their alma mater to give a speech for a donation drive. As a top student, she was the one chosen to present him with flowers.

’At that moment, it was as if she were looking at a god. She couldn’t believe such a handsome, perfect man could exist in this world.’

After that, her head was in the clouds, and Thomas Sterling noticed. He teased her about it endlessly. Once she found out the object of her affection was his cousin, she went out of her way to get on his good side, treating him to meals and movies and giving him gifts.

And indeed, it was Thomas’s words that motivated her. She forced herself to get back into the right mindset for studying. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Thomas bombed his college entrance exams and ended up repeating the year in the same class as her.

In the college entrance exams that year, she was the city’s top scorer, and Thomas was second.

The two of them attended the same university but were in different departments.

Later, during their sophomore year, Thomas went to study abroad.

Her own studies were also very demanding, and although they lost touch somewhat, they would still occasionally call each other to chat.

He had only returned to the country last year. Instead of joining his family’s company, he started his own game development studio, which was doing quite well.

Rachel Royce answered the call.

"Hello!"

"Cousin-in-law, I’m in desperate need of rescuing!" His tone was as flippant as ever.

Rachel asked, "What’s wrong?"

It turned out he was supposed to meet with a development company from Germany today to discuss a partnership. Their representatives were about to land, but the translator he had hired had a last-minute emergency.

So, he was asking Rachel to come and help.

Naturally, Rachel didn’t refuse.

Thomas Sterling immediately set off to pick her up.

Florence Preston waited with Rachel.

Florence Preston knew Thomas, too. He had even come over to their house for dinner back in high school and had a great relationship with Rachel. At the time, she thought the two of them made a really good match.

But life is unpredictable, and Rachel had ended up becoming his cousin-in-law, at least in name.

"I haven’t seen Thomas in so many years," Florence Preston remarked with a sigh. "I wonder what he looks like now."

Thomas sped all the way over.

He cut the nearly forty-minute drive down to twenty minutes.

Because he was meeting with business partners, he was dressed formally today. The suit and leather shoes gave him an air of maturity. At six-foot-one, with a lean and lanky build and a boyishly handsome charm, he was the kind of person who would immediately stand out in a crowd.

The men of the Sterling Family were all remarkably good-looking, but if one had to compare, Tristan Sterling was truly in a league of his own.

Upon seeing Florence Preston, Thomas Sterling called out enthusiastically, "Miss Preston, long time no see."

Florence Preston smiled. "Long time no see. Thomas, you’ve really gotten more and more handsome."

Thomas wasn’t the least bit embarrassed by the compliment. "Well, the next time you see me, I’ll definitely be even more handsome."

Florence Preston couldn’t help but laugh. ’What a great kid,’ she thought.

Thomas looked at Rachel and teased, "What, are you saving all this for the New Year’s weigh-in?"

In truth, the two hadn’t seen each other in a long time. They had only met once at a family dinner right after she and Tristan Sterling registered their marriage, which was when Thomas found out she had married his cousin.

She hadn’t seen him at any Sterling Family dinners since then; he was probably busy with his new company.

But even though they hadn’t seen each other in so long, their rapport was still as warm as ever.

Around Thomas, Rachel felt no burdens. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him, wanting to kick him, but unfortunately, that was quite inconvenient at the moment.

Because they were in a hurry, Thomas and Rachel said goodbye to Florence Preston.

Florence Preston told Thomas to come over for dinner sometime when he was free.

"I will, I definitely will!"

The two of them got in the car.

Thomas’s company was located in the Torance New District Science Park, which was quite far from the city center. Considering Rachel was heavily pregnant, Thomas made a point to drive a little slower.

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"Grandma told me you’re having a girl."

Rachel stroked her belly and hummed in agreement.

"It’s like the ancestors’ spirits are really watching over us. She’ll be the only daughter in the Sterling Family for generations. She’s definitely going to be spoiled rotten."

Whether it was the main branch of the Sterling Family or the collateral lines, everyone had only ever had sons, which was why the family tree was so vast.

Other families wished for sons, but the Sterlings only prayed for a daughter. Yet, they were only ever blessed with sons, as if they were under some kind of curse.

She didn’t know if it was just her good luck, but she had somehow managed to conceive a daughter.

It was no wonder the Old Madam had been so overjoyed at the time, giving her a jade bracelet worth over a hundred million.

As for what Thomas said about the child being spoiled rotten, Rachel Royce could only manage a bitter smile. Everyone was looking forward to her daughter’s arrival, except for her own father.

Seeing Rachel fall silent with a strange expression, he asked, "What’s wrong?"

Rachel snapped out of it and shook her head. "It’s nothing."

Thomas looked at her, his eyes deep and searching.

He actually knew that things weren’t easy for Rachel right now. His cousin didn’t like her, and his second aunt’s family refused to accept her. Every member of the Sterling Family could see this clearly.

Everyone treated Rachel with indifference. No matter who in the Sterling Family clan held a birthday party, banquet, or wedding, Rachel was never invited. Only Tristan Sterling would attend, making it seem as if he were still single.

Today, his grandaunt’s family was holding a birthday banquet.

Apparently, Rachel had no idea. No one had told her.

In the eyes of the Sterling Family, she was still just an outsider.

Suddenly, he didn’t know what to say to comfort her. It seemed as if anything he said would be meaningless.

Silence fell inside the car.