The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 116: Weighing the Stakes

Chapter 116: Considering the Stakes

Rachel Royce put down her phone, her expression darkening.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Rachel composed herself, then turned to open the door. Seeing the person standing there, she said, "Professor, good morning."

Julian Jennings smiled elegantly. "You look much more refreshed."

Rachel hummed in agreement. "After resting for a full day and night, I’d better be."

"Let’s go down for breakfast."

The two went down to the first-floor restaurant for breakfast.

"Evelynn, Mr. Jennings."

David walked over.

Rachel saw him and greeted him with a smile.

"You don’t mind if I join you for breakfast, do you?"

Rachel raised an eyebrow and smiled. "And if I said I did, would you leave?"

David set down his tray, pulled out a chair, and sat. "Evelynn, don’t say such hurtful things. You’ll make me very sad."

Rachel teased, "You, getting sad over a woman? That’ll be the day."

David laughed. "Don’t have such a deep-seated stereotype of me. I’m trying my best to be a good person."

Rachel raised her glass of juice, smiling with her lips pressed together. "Well, here’s to your success."

David raised his glass and clinked it against hers. "Coming from you, that’s the highest praise I could ask for."

The two of them laughed.

David took a sip of milk, put down his glass, and then raised a hand to greet Tristan Sterling, who was sitting at a window seat not far away.

Tristan Sterling glanced at David before looking away. Claire Ainsworth sat down across from him with her breakfast tray.

When Claire Ainsworth looked at Rachel Royce and Julian Jennings, undisguised hatred filled her eyes.

Rachel, however, acted as if the two of them didn’t exist, not even sparing them a glance.

"What are your plans for today, Evelynn?" David asked.

Rachel replied, "Finishing the work I owe President Jennings, of course."

Julian Jennings just smiled, a corner of his lip twitching upward.

David looked at Julian Jennings and said, "Mr. Jennings, you don’t make it easy to earn your salary, do you!"

Julian Jennings chuckled. "If I made it too easy, Evelynn wouldn’t be happy."

Rachel said, "I wouldn’t be so sure. If President Jennings were to double my annual salary, I’d be more than happy."

Julian Jennings said, "Alright. We’ll sign a new contract when we get back."

David said, "Then what if I offered you an annual salary three times what Mr. Jennings pays, Evelynn? In US Dollars, how about that?"

Rachel looked at him and laughed. "You two better not put me on such a high pedestal. I might start to think the world can’t turn without me."

"..."

The three of them chatted and laughed, the atmosphere harmonious.

Claire Ainsworth and Tristan Sterling ate their breakfast in silence. Claire was clearly upset.

"What’s wrong? Does the food not suit your taste?" Tristan Sterling asked gently.

Claire Ainsworth looked up at Tristan Sterling. "Tristan, don’t you know why I’m in a bad mood?"

Just as Rachel Royce and Julian Jennings finished their breakfast and were about to leave, they saw Claire Ainsworth stand up in a huff.

Tristan Sterling stood up, reached out to stop her, and gently pulled her back down into her seat by the wrist, comforting her in a low voice.

Rachel merely glanced at the intimate pair before bidding David farewell.

David smiled and waved goodbye to her.

Rachel and Julian Jennings left the restaurant.

The two of them took a stroll on the deck, letting the sea breeze wash over them. Gazing at the boundless, azure ocean, their spirits lifted considerably.

She received a call from Thomas Sterling.

They chatted for a few moments.

"By the way, the court hearing is tomorrow, isn’t it?" Thomas Sterling said.

Rachel replied, "A problem’s come up. I’m waiting for a call from my lawyer."

Thomas Sterling was taken aback for a moment, but it also seemed to be within his expectations.

"I see. When are you coming back then?"

"Tomorrow morning."

They didn’t talk for much longer before hanging up.

Only then did Julian Jennings ask, "The hearing won’t proceed as scheduled?"

Rachel leaned against the railing, tilting her head back to look at the sky. She let the sea breeze blow through her long hair, her blue dress fluttering against her slender, pale calves.

Her face, free of makeup, was fair and smooth, glowing in the sunlight.

But her clear eyes had grown dim.

Julian Jennings gazed at her intently.

He heard her say slowly, "Lawyer Walsh called me this morning. He said the court has postponed the hearing. We don’t know the specific reason yet. He’s going to the courthouse today to find out more and will call me back."

Julian Jennings said, "It seems Tristan Sterling has had a word with the court."

Rachel lowered her gaze. "I suppose so. Now I just have to wait and see what Lawyer Walsh says."

Julian Jennings said, "As expected, Tristan Sterling isn’t one to just let you have your way."

"I know."

’If he wanted to divorce me, he would have done it long ago. He wouldn’t have waited until now.’

’A man as arrogant as him would never allow someone else to control his actions.’

’The moment I filed for divorce, I had already prepared myself for a long fight.’

’So when I got the call from Lawyer Walsh this morning, I wasn’t too surprised.’

They sat on the deck for a while.

Meanwhile, on the upper deck, Tristan Sterling was discussing a partnership with a middle-aged man over coffee.

His gaze fell upon the pair leaning against the railing on the deck below, his eyes indifferent.

The weather was getting a little hot, so Julian Jennings decided to head back inside the cabin.

Just then, Hector Ainsworth called, wanting to schedule another meeting with him.

"How did your talk go yesterday?" Rachel asked.

Yesterday, she really didn’t have the energy to care about anything else.

They chatted as they walked downstairs.

Julian Jennings said, "Hector Ainsworth is very sincere. He does have the contract I want, but with the Ainsworth Family’s internal struggles right now, I have to consider the stakes involved."

Rachel smiled. "The fact that you’re even considering it shows that the chips he’s put on the table are tempting enough."

Julian Jennings’s lips curved. "Indeed."

"But there is one thing I’m curious about," Rachel said.

Julian Jennings glanced at her. "What is it?"

"In the Ainsworth Family, Suzanne Sullivan is trying to seize power, while Tristan Sterling dotes on Claire Ainsworth. Who will he end up helping—the Ainsworths, or Suzanne? And with Suzanne being so indulgent toward her sister, isn’t Tristan afraid of hurting Claire?"

Julian Jennings replied, "From what I understand, Tristan Sterling hasn’t gotten involved in the Ainsworth Family’s internal affairs so far. As for whether he will in the future, that’s anyone’s guess."

"In any case, their business has nothing to do with us."

Rachel certainly didn’t want to get involved in their affairs; she was just suddenly curious about the situation.

"Still, you should be cautious about cooperating with the Ainsworth Family," Rachel said.

Julian Jennings hummed in agreement. "Indeed. Do you want to come with me?"

Rachel said, "You should go ahead, Professor. I’d rather wait for Lawyer Walsh’s call."

Julian Jennings nodded. "Alright, then. We’ll talk later."

"Okay."

「After they parted ways.」

Rachel returned to her room.

She really wasn’t in the mood to handle any other work right now.

Around 12:00, Rachel received a call from Lawyer Walsh.

"Lawyer Walsh, what’s the situation?"