Chapter 280: An Inseparable Part

Tristan Sterling met Alexander’s scrutinizing gaze and let out a low laugh. "Right now, all I want is to live a peaceful life with her and watch Melissa grow up. Besides, she has you for a brother now. What else could I possibly do?" Alexander Sullivan’s expression grew serious as he stood up, his face stern. "You’d better mean it." And with that, he left the villa.

「That night.」

Melissa came back to the master bedroom to sleep with her mommy and daddy. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Melissa rolled into her daddy’s arms, then tumbled over to her mommy’s. A moment later, she was dancing on the bed for them, romping around for quite a while before finally falling asleep.

After Melissa fell asleep, the bedroom fell silent. They both took out their phones and tablets, attending to their own matters.

"What are your plans for Melissa’s birthday?" Tristan suddenly asked, looking at her.

Melissa’s birthday this year fell on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.

’This would be the first birthday and New Year she’d ever celebrated with Melissa. Thinking back just six months, it felt like a dream. She never would have imagined she’d be able to spend the New Year and her birthday with Melissa this year.’

"I’ll leave it up to you." "Okay. We should invite more of your friends this year. I’ll discuss the details with you as we get closer." Before they knew it, Melissa’s kindergarten had started its winter break, and she went to stay at the Sterling family estate.

Rachel Royce’s work for the year was wrapping up.

The TC project was massive. Julian Jennings would personally take over after the New Year, with her serving as his deputy. Her work for the start of the coming year was already set.

「Cedarwood.」

The President’s Office had hired a new assistant, a 26-year-old named Bianca Lowe.

Tristan Sterling personally conducted the final interview. The candidate was a Stanford graduate with a master’s in finance. She had worked in the field on Wall Street, achieving outstanding results and even completing an M&A deal. For someone her age, her resume marked her as absolutely top-tier talent.

So, in terms of both her education and experience, she was a perfect fit for Tristan Sterling’s hiring criteria.

There was one more thing.

Bianca Lowe was Jason Sinclair’s cousin and the daughter of Sylvia Shannon’s best friend.

Of course, Tristan Sterling never hired based on connections, only on ability.

After half an hour, Bianca Lowe passed Tristan Sterling’s interview.

"Take her to complete the onboarding procedures," Tristan Sterling instructed Mark Chapman.

Bianca Lowe’s demeanor was confident yet humble. "Thank you for this opportunity, President Sterling. I will strive to do my job well and live up to your expectations." For a moment, Tristan Sterling was reminded of when he had personally interviewed Rachel Royce five years ago. Although her resume back then couldn’t compare to Bianca Lowe’s, her professional expertise had still earned his approval.

’The moment she passed the interview, the desire in Rachel’s eyes had been all too obvious.’

’Later on, she had simply focused on her work, dutifully completing her tasks each day without ever overstepping her bounds. In fact, her performance was always outstanding.’

’At the time, he’d believed she could control those inappropriate ambitions and would be content to stay in her place. He had even been willing to mentor her.’

’But in the end, he had overestimated human nature and human greed. He had been utterly disappointed in her.’

’Looking back on it now...’

’Did he regret what he did back then?’

’Probably not. Even if he could do it all over again, he still wouldn’t have accepted a woman who showed up pregnant on his doorstep.’

’Of course, the way Rachel had so decisively left and stayed away for five years had caught him by surprise. In that moment, he realized his understanding of her had been incomplete.’

’And he had overestimated himself as well.’

’Melissa had been an accident, but now she was an inseparable part of his life.’

’Of course, he had come to embrace the unexpected.’

’For instance, divorcing Rachel was impossible now. How could he possibly allow her to marry another man and have children?’