The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 106: Really Slapped Tristan Sterling

Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Really Slapped Tristan Sterling

Chapter 106: She Actually Slapped Tristan Sterling

Rachel Royce stopped short.

’So he’s been waiting here this whole time.’

Tristan Sterling took a final drag from his cigarette and tossed the butt to the ground. He ground it out with the tip of his shoe, then turned his head to the side, looking at the woman who stood frozen in place.

His dark eyes were fathomless.

Rachel Royce felt a palpable sense of danger.

She clutched her purse, lowered her gaze, and walked toward her car. Only then did she realize his car was blocking hers. She couldn’t leave unless he moved first.

Rachel Royce stopped and looked at him. "President Sterling, could you please move your car? I need to leave."

Tristan Sterling stared at her, making no move to get into his car. All he said was, "Since I’m indebted to Miss Evelynn, we should settle things."

Rachel Royce glared at him. "My solution is for you to stay out of my sight. Got it?"

Tristan Sterling suddenly let out a laugh. "Does Miss Evelynn think I’m stalking you? Do I look like I have nothing better to do?"

As he spoke,

he strode toward her. Sensing the dangerous shift in his demeanor, Rachel Royce backed away until her body was pressed against her car. Before she could react, his tall frame loomed over her. He braced one hand on the car’s roof and leaned in low.

The scent of his sophisticated, woody cologne washed over her, mingled with an intensely oppressive aura.

Rachel Royce’s eyes widened as she stared at him, her breath catching in her throat.

She heard his low, mocking voice. "Or perhaps... Miss Evelynn thinks I could actually be interested in you?"

Rachel Royce saw the blatant scorn in his eyes and clenched her fists.

Suddenly.

SLAP!

Rachel Royce raised her hand and slapped him squarely across the face.

Time seemed to freeze, and the air grew icy cold.

Rachel Royce shoved him away. Every nerve on edge, she stared at him, then quickly hurried to the driver’s side, pulled the door open, got in, and locked it.

She stared at her reddened palm. Her hand wouldn’t stop shaking, and her heart was pounding violently.

’I actually slapped Tristan Sterling.’

’I don’t know how he’ll retaliate, but I don’t regret it. I’ve wanted to slap him across the face for a long time.’

After a long moment,

she let her hand fall limply to her side.

She leaned back against the seat.

She wasn’t sure how long she sat there.

It wasn’t until she heard an engine start behind her that she snapped out of it. Looking in the rearview mirror, she saw him drive away.

She waited for about ten more minutes.

Then, Rachel Royce started her car and left the Fitzwilliam estate.

She drove straight home.

By then, Rachel Royce had completely calmed down.

In the blink of an eye,

another week had passed.

The worst of the heatwave was over, and the temperatures in Kingsland began to ease.

During that week,

Rachel Royce’s work went smoothly. Tristan Sterling hadn’t secretly interfered with her projects, which was completely unlike him.

She also received occasional phone calls from her daughter during this time.

One day,

she received a call from her daughter, who told her she was back in Kingsland.

"Daddy said I can meet with you, Aunt Evelynn! When are you free?"

Hearing this,

Rachel Royce was in disbelief. She had no idea what Tristan Sterling was thinking. It was probably because Melissa insisted, and she, too, was desperate to see her daughter.

They ended up setting a date for Saturday.

Melissa was overjoyed and ended the call with Rachel Royce, completely content.

Putting down her phone,

Rachel Royce looked at the calendar on her desk. The court hearing was only a week away, and there was still no word from Tristan Sterling.

’So be it.’

’As long as the hearing proceeds as scheduled, that’s all that matters.’

When she had spoken with Julian Jennings about work earlier that day, he had told her there was a new development in her car accident case from Athera.

Dylan Young from Cedarwood hadn’t known about the car accident beforehand, but because the Procare deal had fallen through, Tristan Sterling had reassigned him to a regional branch office.

As for Victor Yates, he had already fled the country.

Now, no one in the company had any objections to Rachel Royce’s position as director.

"By the way, June hasn’t been bothering your parents, has she?"

Rachel Royce replied, "Of course not. My parents adore Stella. And June has actually lost some weight."

Julian Jennings smiled. "She’s been talking about losing weight for years. Looks like she’s finally taking action."

Rachel Royce smiled without saying anything. ’This must be the power of love,’ she thought.

"She suddenly told me today that she’s thinking of transferring Stella to a school in Kingsland."

After her divorce, June and her daughter had been living with her parents in Portington. They had just come here for the summer.

Rachel Royce was surprised; June hadn’t mentioned anything about it to her.

"June moving in with you and Stella... it’s not just so you can help her with her diet, is it?"

Rachel Royce shrugged, deciding to come clean. "I guess I can’t hide anything from you, Professor. She fell for my brother at first sight."

Even after being burned by love, she still yearned for it. This was because she had grown up surrounded by love, with a family that provided a strong emotional safety net.

Julian Jennings had likely already guessed as much, so he wasn’t surprised. "And what does Peter Preston think of her?"

Rachel Royce sighed. "My brother’s such a tech guy, he probably hasn’t even noticed yet. Anyway, we’ll just have to let nature take its course."

Julian Jennings nodded. "Peter Preston is a dependable man. It would be wonderful if he were interested in June."

"I think there’s a good chance. June is so open and cheerful, and my mom adores her." She couldn’t help but add with a sigh, "It looks like June has finally met her true love."

Julian Jennings looked at Rachel Royce, his gaze deepening. "It’s been five years. You know, you could start a new romantic Chapter in your life, too."

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Rachel Royce met his gaze for a moment before looking down, pursing her lips. "I’m not even divorced yet. Let’s talk about it after it’s finalized."

’Of course, one failed marriage isn’t going to make me swear off marrying ever again.’

Julian Jennings gave a slight nod and didn’t press the issue.

「After work that day」

Julian Jennings went with Rachel Royce back to the Royce home. Wendy Royce and Florence Preston gave him a warm welcome, while June Jennings greeted her brother as if she were the host of the house.

"You really have lost weight."

June said smugly, "Of course! Is there anything I can’t do once I set my mind to it?"

Julian Jennings smiled indulgently. "Yes, yes. No one’s more capable than you."

"Uncle!"

Stella called out as she ran over happily.

Julian Jennings bent down and scooped his niece into his arms.

...

A little later, Thomas Sterling and Peter Preston came home, and the three men greeted one another.

The large group had a lively dinner together around the table.

「On Saturday」

Thomas Sterling asked her to hang out.

Rachel Royce turned him down.

When he learned she was meeting Melissa, Thomas Sterling didn’t press the matter.

No matter how much she hated and resented his cousin,

Melissa was still Rachel’s child.

At seven in the morning,

Melissa called, inviting her to her house. "Aunt Evelynn, where do you live? How about I come pick you up?"

Melissa’s voice was filled with excitement and anticipation.

’Go to the Silvermist Bay Villa?’

Hearing her daughter’s question, Rachel Royce was momentarily at a loss for words.

’She really didn’t want to go back to that place.’

"Aunt Evelynn!" Melissa called out in her sweet little voice.

Rachel Royce snapped out of her daze. "Melissa, how would you like to come to Auntie’s house instead?"

’That way, I can avoid Tristan Sterling.’

But Melissa was insistent. "How about I go to Aunt Evelynn’s house next time? Can you please come to my house today, Aunt Evelynn? Please?"

Rachel Royce sighed in resignation.

In the end, she had no choice but to agree.

She would, however, drive there herself.

Tristan Sterling finished combing Melissa’s hair. She handed the phone back to her father, then happily took his hand to go downstairs for breakfast.

While the father and daughter were eating breakfast,

the doorbell rang.

Lisa Lawson quickly showed their guest into the dining room.

Melissa looked up and saw Claire Ainsworth, a grain of rice stuck to the corner of her mouth. "Miss Claire, what are you doing here?"

Tristan Sterling reached over to wipe the rice from the corner of her mouth, then looked at Claire Ainsworth. "Have you had breakfast?"

Claire Ainsworth smiled gently. "I came to crash your breakfast!"

"Have a seat."

Lisa Lawson quickly set out a bowl and utensils for her, ladling her a serving of millet porridge.

Claire Ainsworth chatted casually with Tristan Sterling. "Why don’t we take Melissa to the stables today? It’s probably been a while since she’s seen her pony, Pearl."

Melissa had a little pony named Pearl, which she kept at Tristan Sterling’s private stables.

It was true that Melissa hadn’t seen her pony in a while, but meeting Aunt Evelynn was more important today.

Melissa said, "Melissa isn’t going to the stables, and neither is Daddy."

The smile on Claire Ainsworth’s lips faltered.

Tristan Sterling said, "When Aunt Evelynn gets here, we can invite her to come to the stables with us."

Hearing this, Claire Ainsworth looked at Tristan Sterling. ’So, Melissa is meeting with Evelynn today.’

Instantly,

her grip on her spoon tightened.

Melissa thought for a moment. The idea of having Aunt Evelynn ride with her sounded fun. "Okay then."

At nearly ten o’clock,

Rachel Royce drove into the Silvermist Bay Villa District. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Returning here felt surreal, as if a lifetime had passed. Every flower, every blade of grass, every tree looked exactly the same.

She parked her car in front of the villa’s gate.

She took a deep breath.

Then she got out of the car and rang the doorbell.

Melissa herself came to open the door.

"Aunt Evelynn!"

Melissa threw her arms around her.

Rachel Royce picked up her daughter. As she walked through the yard, holding Melissa’s hand, she looked up and saw Claire Ainsworth and Tristan Sterling standing at the entrance to the living room.

’Is Claire Ainsworth living here?’

Her expression darkened instantly.

Although she hid her emotions well, Tristan Sterling’s sharp eyes still caught the subtle shift in her expression.