The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 172: The Demeanor of a Mistress

Chapter 172: The Airs of a Hostess

The float parade came to an end.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Tristan Sterling let go of Rachel Royce’s wrist and set Melissa down.

But Melissa had just seen her dad holding Aunt Evelynn’s hand, so she said happily, "Daddy held Aunt Evelynn’s hand."

Tristan Sterling patted Melissa’s little head and said softly, "Then Daddy will hold Melissa’s hand now."

"Okay."

Tristan Sterling held Melissa’s small hand, and Melissa, in turn, took Rachel Royce’s. She grinned at Rachel Royce, revealing a row of little white teeth.

Seeing her so happy, Rachel Royce felt happy as well.

The two of them walked on, holding Melissa’s hands.

Their striking good looks drew many eyes along the way.

When Melissa saw other children accompanied by their moms and dads, there was no longer any trace of envy in her eyes.

In fact, when people looked at them, her little face was filled with pride.

This lasted until the evening fireworks show.

A staff member took a souvenir photo for them.

Tristan Sterling was holding Melissa, and Melissa said, "Daddy has to hold Aunt Evelynn’s hand."

Rachel Royce was about to say something, but her hand was suddenly gripped by a large, warm one. She glanced sideways at the man, but in the end, said nothing.

The moment the fireworks bloomed in the sky.

The staff member pressed the shutter button, capturing the family of three under the blooming fireworks.

Melissa was exhausted from playing all day. Not long after getting in the car, she leaned against Rachel Royce and fell fast asleep.

Tristan Sterling drove very slowly the whole way.

Rachel Royce held Melissa in her arms, her head turned to the window, silently watching the neon streetscape flashing by.

It was quiet inside the car.

Neither of them spoke again.

Back at the villa.

Parked at the entrance was an exceptionally conspicuous red Ferrari.

The car slowly drove into the underground parking garage.

Tristan Sterling parked the car and said to Rachel Royce, "I’ll carry Melissa."

So, Rachel Royce didn’t move.

The man walked around the front of the car, opened the passenger-side door, and bent down to carefully lift Melissa into his arms.

Melissa rested her head on her father’s shoulder, sleeping so soundly she showed no signs of waking.

Rachel Royce got out of the car after him.

They took the elevator directly to the second floor.

Tristan Sterling carried Melissa back to the bedroom.

Rachel Royce stepped forward to take off Melissa’s shoes. Tristan Sterling gently laid Melissa on the bed, pulled the blanket over her, then stood up and said to Rachel Royce, "Stay with her."

Tristan Sterling left the bedroom, closing the door behind him. Just then, the nanny came over and said, "Sir, Miss Ainsworth is here."

The moment the door closed, Rachel Royce heard the nanny’s voice, and her expression darkened.

She stayed in the room, watching over Melissa.

But her expression grew darker and darker.

Suddenly, she stood up and left the bedroom.

Before she even reached the balcony, she heard Claire Ainsworth’s choked voice from downstairs. "Tristan, I’m sorry. I know I was wrong."

Rachel Royce stood at the second-floor railing and looked down to the living room. She saw Claire Ainsworth hugging Tristan Sterling, her head on his shoulder, eyes red and brimming with tears, choking back wronged sobs.

Claire Ainsworth caught a glimpse of a figure upstairs out of the corner of her eye. She lifted her gaze and saw Rachel Royce standing there.

Unconcealable jealousy and deep hatred immediately surfaced in her tear-filled eyes.

Sensing something, Tristan Sterling looked up and saw Rachel Royce.

Rachel Royce was, at that moment, holding up her phone and recording the scene of the two of them embracing.

As the man’s eyes fell on her, Rachel Royce lowered her phone and slowly walked downstairs.

Claire Ainsworth stared at the woman coming down the stairs. Her posture, her aura, her gaze—she carried herself like the lady of the house.

She clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white.

’This bitch. What right does she have?’

Tristan Sterling watched her quietly.

Rachel Royce came down the stairs and instructed the nanny, "Go upstairs and watch Melissa."

The nanny glanced at Tristan Sterling, then went upstairs.

Rachel Royce walked toward the pair without a sideways glance, then leaned back on the sofa, crossed her long legs, folded her arms, and lifted her chin slightly. Her beautiful eyes, as if tinged with a layer of frost, stared at the two of them.

"Please, continue."

Claire Ainsworth had already pulled back a little from the man’s embrace. Seeing the woman’s arrogant posture, it was as if she were judging them from on high.

’What right did she have to look at them like that?’

’She really wanted nothing more than to go up and tear this bitch apart.’

Claire Ainsworth suppressed the fury in her heart and lifted her gaze to Tristan Sterling.

The man’s expression remained indifferent and cold. He looked at Claire Ainsworth and said, "Claire, you should go home for now."

Claire Ainsworth concealed the unwillingness in her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Rachel Royce’s mocking voice, "What? Since Miss Ainsworth is here, aren’t you going to ask her to stay the night?"

Tristan Sterling’s sharp brows knitted slightly, and his handsome face darkened.

Rachel Royce suddenly picked up her phone and dialed Julian Jennings’s number.

The call connected quickly.

A man’s gentle voice came through the line, "Rachel."

Tristan Sterling stared at the woman’s actions, his gaze growing even colder.

"Professor, do you have Suzanne Sullivan’s contact information?"

"I do. What’s wrong?"

"Can you send it to me? I need to talk to him about something right now."

Julian Jennings didn’t ask any more questions. "Alright."

Claire Ainsworth stared at Rachel Royce, confused. A bad feeling inexplicably rose in her heart. "Why are you looking for my brother?"

Rachel Royce gave her a cold glance, not bothering to answer.

Ignored like that, Claire Ainsworth was absolutely furious. She turned to Tristan Sterling with an aggrieved look.

Tristan Sterling stared at Rachel Royce with heavy eyes, then sat on the sofa opposite her, as if wanting to see what she was up to. Claire Ainsworth remained standing where she was, momentarily unsure whether to leave or sit down.

Rachel Royce received the message from Julian Jennings and immediately dialed the number.

The call was answered quickly.

"Hello, who is this?"

"President Sullivan, it’s me."

"Miss Evelynn, what can I do for you?"

Rachel Royce said, "I’d like to ask you to investigate something for me. Last night, I was drugged and knocked unconscious, and someone had ill intentions toward me. I hope you can find out who was behind this and give me an explanation. Consider it repayment for the favor you owe me."

Hearing Rachel Royce’s words, Claire Ainsworth’s expression suddenly turned ugly. ’When did her brother ever owe this bitch a favor?’

Suzanne Sullivan was silent for a moment before replying, "Alright, I’ll have someone look into it."

"One more thing. Your sister came to someone else’s house in the middle of the night to get cuddly with a married man. It would be a shame if I were in a bad mood one day and decided to expose your sister’s little scandal."

Claire Ainsworth’s eyes widened, and she glared at Rachel Royce with fury.

The man sitting opposite her remained silent, his deep, dark eyes betraying no emotion.

Suzanne Sullivan said, "I’m on my way to pick her up now."

Rachel Royce immediately hung up.

She gave the two of them a cold glance.

As she was about to get up and go upstairs.

The nanny came down from upstairs. Sensing the oppressive atmosphere in the living room, she said cautiously, "Miss Evelynn, Sir, the young miss is awake."