The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 148: Do You Want a Divorce or Not?

Chapter 148: Do You Want a Divorce or Not?

Tristan Sterling said, "I’ll give you two choices right now. Either take good care of Melissa and fulfill your responsibilities as a mother—if you want a lawsuit, I can play along—or you can go back to the United States right now and never return. Melissa can pretend she never had a mother."

CRASH!

Rachel Royce violently smashed the red wine bottle from the coffee table onto the floor. The wine stained the cuff of the man’s pants as her furious voice cut through the air, "Tristan Sterling, don’t you go too far!"

Tristan Sterling’s expression was impassive, his jet-black eyes like a bottomless pool that no light could penetrate. He calmly lifted his gaze to the woman who had lost control before him.

He reached out, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it. Taking a deep drag, he exhaled, the curling smoke enveloping him.

A cold, ruthless indifference seemed to emanate from his very bones. He looked up at the woman. "You can have your tantrum, but know your limits."

Rachel Royce stared at the man, her chest heaving violently. She suddenly let out a cold laugh, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Tristan Sterling, do you actually love Melissa? Or have you only ever loved yourself from the very beginning?"

Tristan Sterling said, "I will not abandon Melissa, nor will I let her suffer the slightest grievance."

"Is that so? Then are you planning on not marrying Claire Ainsworth? Are you going to let her be your mistress forever?" Rachel Royce retorted coldly.

Tristan Sterling looked at her, his dark eyes growing even colder. "Her affairs are none of your concern."

Rachel Royce’s knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists. The pressure building in her chest was becoming unbearable. She took a deep breath and said, "Fine. If that’s how it is, and you want what’s best for Melissa, then you can publicly announce our marriage. If you’re not willing, then I’ll do it."

’Everyone in our circle knows about Claire Ainsworth and Tristan Sterling.’

’The eldest daughter of the Ainsworth Family being a homewrecker, Tristan Sterling having an affair while married... Once this gets out, it will be a huge blow to Cedarwood. For a family like the Sterlings, who value their reputation above all, the impact will be devastating.’

’The dirty secrets of the rich and powerful—if they’re not exposed, no one ever knows the true measure of their filth. They always appear so glamorous and untouchable. But once they are brought to judgment, everything they’ve hidden will become a sharp knife, plunging deep into their hearts.’

’The Ainsworth Family certainly won’t sit back and watch as Claire gets labeled a homewrecker.’

Tristan Sterling’s dark eyes narrowed slightly. A ripple of emotion finally disturbed their calm depths. "Are you threatening me?"

Rachel Royce let out a derisive laugh. "So this can actually threaten you? How rare. I thought you really could control everything."

Tristan Sterling stared at her, then said, "Fine. If we’re going public, then you’ll move in here starting tomorrow."

Rachel Royce’s face fell.

Watching her expression change, Tristan Sterling’s thin lips curved into a slight smile. "What, you don’t want to? You want to go public with me, but you don’t want to live with me. What kind of relationship is that, then?"

Rachel Royce frowned deeply. "Tristan Sterling, we’re in the middle of a divorce lawsuit."

"That’s right. And while suing for divorce, you still want to go public with our relationship. So, do you actually want a divorce, or not?"

"You..."

Furious, Rachel Royce stormed out of the villa.

The moment she walked out the villa’s main gate, she felt like she was about to explode. Her breathing became rapid and shallow.

"Rachel!"

Thomas Sterling’s voice called out.

Rachel Royce snapped back to her senses. Turning around, she saw Thomas Sterling hurrying towards her, with Ian Quinn following behind.

Thomas Sterling walked up to Rachel Royce, and seeing her pale face, asked with concern, "Are you not feeling well?"

Rachel Royce gently shook her head.

"Then what did you two talk about?" Thomas Sterling asked.

Rachel Royce lowered her gaze, not wanting to say anything.

Thomas Sterling didn’t press her.

Ian Quinn came over and asked, "Rachel, are you okay?"

"I’m fine."

"You probably haven’t had dinner yet, right? Do you want to come to my place for a bite to eat?"

Rachel Royce said, "Thank you, Ian, but I don’t feel like eating anything right now. I just want to go home."

Ian Quinn nodded. "Then get some good rest when you get back."

Afterwards, Thomas Sterling brought the car around. After saying goodbye to Ian Quinn, he drove Rachel Royce away from the villa complex.

「On the way.」

Rachel Royce leaned listlessly against the back of her seat, her head turned to gaze at the scenery outside the window. Her face was numb, completely devoid of expression.

Thomas Sterling glanced at her, worried. He didn’t need to ask to know that her talk with Tristan Sterling hadn’t gone well.

He didn’t say anything to disturb her, driving in silence the whole way.

Rachel Royce didn’t go back to the Royce Family home.

Instead, she went back to Azure Cove.

’In my current state, going home would only make my family worry.’

After getting out of the car.

"Rachel, are you really okay? How about I stay with you tonight?"

Rachel Royce curved her lips into a smile. "Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I just want to be alone and clear my head. Don’t worry."

Thomas Sterling felt it wasn’t right to insist. "Alright then. Rachel, you’ve had a long day. Get some rest early tonight. Everything will be okay."

Rachel Royce hummed in agreement and turned to walk into the residential complex.

Thomas Sterling stood where he was, watching Rachel Royce’s lonely figure retreat. For a fleeting moment, he had the urge to rush forward and pull her into a tight embrace.

Until.

Rachel Royce’s figure completely disappeared from sight.

Only then did Thomas Sterling pull his gaze away and get back in the car.

Rachel Royce returned home.

She just sat alone in silence on the living room sofa.

The lights in the room were off.

As the last sliver of light on the horizon sank into the night, the living room was plunged into complete darkness.

She just sat there, all alone in the quiet.

Until the sound of a video call came from her phone.

Rachel Royce glanced at her phone, then got up to turn on the lights. The living room was instantly illuminated. She answered the video call.

Melissa’s beautiful and adorable little face appeared on the screen.

"Aunt Evelynn!"

Melissa’s bright, cheerful voice came through, like a beam of light piercing Rachel Royce’s heart, scattering the gloom and gradually lifting her heavy mood.

Melissa showed Rachel Royce her homework for her to check.

Rachel Royce looked at Melissa’s homework; it was all done very well.

After they were done with the homework.

Melissa told her about what happened at kindergarten that day.

Her little mouth moved nonstop, as if she had an endless supply of things to say.

Rachel Royce listened patiently and attentively, responding to Melissa’s every word.

Half an hour passed without them noticing.

Just then.

The sound of a door opening came from Melissa’s end, and Sylvia Shannon’s gentle voice could be heard. "Melissa, your father is here."

Melissa looked towards the door, then turned her gaze back to the screen and said expectantly, "Aunt Evelynn, do you want to talk to Dad?"

Rachel Royce gave a faint smile. "No, that’s okay. Melissa, let’s talk again tomorrow!"

"Oh, okay then!" A flicker of disappointment showed in Melissa’s eyes, but she didn’t insist. "Goodbye then, Aunt Evelynn."

"Goodbye, Melissa."

After hanging up.

With Melissa’s voice gone, Rachel Royce felt as if she had been plunged back into a vast, empty void.

An endless chill washed over her.

An infinite sense of grievance and pain threatened to engulf her. She tilted her head back to look at the ceiling as tears streamed uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes.

「At the same time.」

「Outside.」

Julian Jennings’s tall figure stood silently by the door.

His long fingers rested on the doorbell but never pressed down, as if he were hesitating whether to ring it or not.