The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 153: My Madam Would Like to See You

Chapter 153: My Lady Requests Your Presence

While waiting for the elevator.

The elevator doors opened.

Claire Ainsworth stepped out. Seeing Suzanne Sullivan, she was surprised. "Suzanne, what are you doing here? You didn’t tell me you were coming."

Suzanne Sullivan said, "I came to discuss something with Tristan. How was your first day of work?"

At the mention of this, Claire Ainsworth’s face fell.

Suzanne reached out, tousling her hair. "It’s alright. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t do well. Just learn slowly. But don’t throw a tantrum. During work hours, you’re just an employee."

Claire Ainsworth mumbled, "I know. So where are you guys going now?"

"Out to eat."

"Hmph, and you’re not taking me with you."

"We have work to discuss. I’ll take you next time."

"Alright, then!"

Tristan Sterling said, "Mark Chapman will look for you later. Have him teach you properly how to do the meeting minutes."

Claire Ainsworth looked at Tristan Sterling and nodded. "Okay."

Suzanne gave Claire a few more instructions, then joined Tristan in the elevator to go downstairs and leave.

By the time Tristan Sterling returned to his office, it was already 2:30 in the afternoon.

He took out his phone, dialed a number, and ordered, "Investigate two people."

That evening, Rachel Royce worked overtime, not leaving until nine o’clock.

Just as she was packing up her computer...

Julian Jennings knocked and entered. "All done?"

Rachel Royce hummed in agreement. "All done."

She picked up her bag and walked toward the door.

The two of them went downstairs together, planning to grab a late-night snack.

Her car was subject to driving restrictions today, so Peter Preston had driven her to the company in the morning.

Rachel got into Julian Jennings’s car, and they went to a nearby noodle shop.

"When are you going to the United States next week?" Julian asked.

At the mention of it...

Rachel’s whole mood soured.

Julian glanced at her. "What’s wrong?"

Rachel told him, "I might not be able to go for the time being. Tristan Sterling wants to talk to me in person."

Julian’s eyes darkened. "Well, let’s just see what he has to say then."

"Mmm."

They arrived at a nearby noodle shop.

Rachel ordered a bowl of spicy and sour noodles with pork intestines.

After their late-night meal...

It suddenly started to rain as they left the noodle shop.

The car was parked some distance away from the shop.

"I’ll go get the umbrella from the car. Rachel, you wait here."

Rachel wanted to say it wasn’t necessary; she could just make a run for it through the rain.

But just as she was about to speak...

Julian was already down the steps, jogging through the light rain toward the parking spot.

A few minutes later.

Julian emerged from the sea of lights, holding an umbrella.

Girls passing by couldn’t help but get excited upon seeing Julian, some even kept looking back long after they had walked past.

Julian walked up to Rachel with the umbrella and said, "Let’s go."

Rachel walked down the steps.

Julian tilted the umbrella as much as he could in her direction, a fist’s width of distance between them.

Rachel gazed into the night. "The weather should cool down after this rain."

"Yeah. Time flies. The summer heat is gone in a flash. I remember you were still in the United States this time last year."

They chatted idly, reminiscing.

"Yeah! It’s already been three months since I came back."

’So much has happened in these three months.’

’Everything that happened was completely unexpected.’

’I thought I could divorce Tristan Sterling smoothly. I thought I wouldn’t have the chance to see Melissa. I thought I could bear being separated from my daughter. I thought I could start over quickly.’

’But not a single thing went according to plan.’

’I don’t even dare to think too much about the future now.’ 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Julian glanced at the woman beside him. The streetlights illuminated her profile, and her eyes, no longer as clear as they used to be, seemed to be veiled in a layer of mist.

He looked away, gazing into the distance. "There’s a classic line from Kung Fu Panda."

Rachel looked at him. "What is it?"

Julian said slowly, "You are too concerned with what was and what will be. There is a saying: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

Rachel was taken aback for a moment.

"So don’t get lost in the past or worry about the future. Only today is worth your full dedication. Just be the best version of yourself each day."

Rachel smiled, her eyes curving into crescent moons. "What you say makes a lot of sense, Professor."

Julian smiled back. "I’m just glad it makes you feel better."

Rachel smiled and looked away, her mood genuinely lighter.

The two of them walked along the street.

Due to the rain, the roads were starting to get congested.

The traffic light ahead was red.

The straight-through lane was backed up for some distance.

A Bentley slowly came to a stop.

Inside the car.

A man was on a work call. When he turned his head to look out the window, he immediately spotted the pair walking on the sidewalk.

The woman’s eyes curved with a smile, the glow of the streetlight scattering a soft light within them.

The light turned green.

The cars ahead started to move.

The driver slowly drove forward.

Tristan Sterling retracted his gaze, finished his conversation, and hung up the phone.

Back at the villa.

At this hour...

Melissa was already asleep.

Tristan went to her room, slowed his steps as he approached the edge of the bed, and sat down. He gently took her two small hands, which were lying outside the blanket, and tucked them inside.

He caressed his daughter’s soft cheek, his gaze filled with infinite tenderness.

He didn’t stay for long.

He pulled up her little blanket, placed a final kiss on Melissa’s forehead, then got up and left, turning off the light at the doorway.

As Rachel was getting ready for bed...

Her phone vibrated.

She picked it up, and her expression darkened when she saw the screen.

She had unblocked Tristan Sterling’s number.

She answered the call without a word, and the man on the other end spoke: "Come pick up Melissa for kindergarten tomorrow morning."

"I know." Her voice was tinged with impatience as she hung up.

「The next morning.」

Rachel got ready and left the house.

She called Julian Jennings to let him know she wouldn’t be coming upstairs for breakfast, as she had to go out.

Rachel had stayed at Azure Cove last night.

"Is something urgent?"

Rachel said, "I have to pick up Melissa."

Julian didn’t say anything more. "Be careful on the road."

"Mmm."

After hanging up...

Rachel headed out.

The morning rush hour traffic was bad.

It took nearly fifty minutes to get to Silvermist Bay.

Melissa had eaten breakfast early and was standing eagerly at the main gate with her little backpack on. She had refused to wait inside, insisting on waiting right there.

Tristan Sterling had no choice but to wait with her.

When they finally saw Rachel’s car...

Melissa shouted with joy.

Rachel stopped the car.

She got out.

Melissa ran and threw herself at her.

Rachel didn’t exchange many words with Tristan. She just picked up Melissa, got back in the car, and drove away.

The parent-teacher conference ended at eleven.

Rachel and June Jennings were planning to have lunch together.

Just as they were walking out of the school gate...

A bodyguard walked up to them.

Rachel instantly became wary.

The bodyguard stopped and said to Rachel, "Miss Evelynn, my lady requests your presence."

Rachel frowned, her gaze falling on a black sedan parked not far away. She said coldly, "Sorry, I don’t know any ’lady’ of yours."

With that...

She took June’s hand and started to leave.