The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 102: Like Tristan Sterling’s Wife

Chapter 102: Like Tristan Sterling’s Wife

President Hale and Suzanne Sullivan were walking over, engrossed in conversation.

When President Hale saw Rachel, he called out, "Evelynn."

Rachel Royce walked up and said with a polite smile, "President Sullivan, President Hale."

Suzanne Sullivan looked at Rachel and gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

President Hale was surprised. "Evelynn, you know President Sullivan?"

He had been about to introduce Suzanne Sullivan to her.

With a placid expression, Rachel replied, "I’ve met President Sullivan before."

"Oh, I see!"

"I didn’t expect to run into you today, Miss Evelynn. I’d like to have a private chat if you have a moment," Suzanne Sullivan said.

Rachel looked at Suzanne Sullivan, the corners of her lips turned up in a polite smile, but her eyes held no warmth. She did not refuse. "Certainly."

Suzanne Sullivan said his goodbyes to President Hale.

Afterward, Suzanne Sullivan and Rachel sat facing each other in the public lounge on the first floor.

"Are you here to take me to task, President Sullivan?"

’After all, even after he went to such lengths to make amends, she had still slapped Claire Ainsworth. It was just one slap, yet Tristan Sterling and Suzanne Sullivan were being so protective.’

How could Suzanne Sullivan not hear the sarcasm in Rachel’s voice? He simply watched her quietly, his own voice calm as he said, "I’m not here to take you to task."

Rachel said, "Then what would you like to talk about, President Sullivan?"

Suzanne Sullivan fell silent. ’Truthfully, he didn’t know what he wanted to talk to her about either. Looking at her, even knowing she had slapped Claire Ainsworth, he felt no displeasure toward her.’

Seeing Suzanne Sullivan just staring at her without a word, Rachel couldn’t help but frown.

After a brief silence, Rachel said, "If there’s nothing to talk about, President Sullivan, I’ll be going." As she spoke, she began to stand up to leave.

Suzanne Sullivan suddenly said, "You remind me of someone, Miss Evelynn."

Rachel’s body went stiff, and she stared at Suzanne Sullivan.

She heard him slowly say, "Tristan Sterling’s wife."

Rachel’s breath hitched. A flicker of panic crossed her mind, but she maintained a tense, calm expression and said, "I’m sorry, I don’t know Tristan Sterling’s wife."

’Perhaps just now, he had only been suspicious, but now he was certain. No matter how well she concealed the emotion in her eyes, it hadn’t escaped his notice.’

"You have your reasons that are hard to speak of. I can understand that."

A hint of anger appeared on Rachel’s face. "I don’t know what you’re talking about, President Sullivan. Please stop saying such baffling things. I’ll be taking my leave now."

With that, Rachel grabbed her bag and strode away.

Every step she took was exceptionally hurried.

It wasn’t until she was back in her office that an inexpressible panic finally settled in her heart.

’She didn’t know what she had to be afraid of. It wasn’t like she’d done anything wrong.’

「Downstairs.」

Suzanne Sullivan remained on the sofa, motionless. With his eyes downcast, it was impossible to know what he was thinking.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Suzanne Sullivan saw it was a call from Tristan Sterling. They had business to discuss that afternoon, and Tristan was asking when he would arrive.

"I’ll be there in half an hour."

Suzanne Sullivan stood up and left.

Just as he got into his car, Suzanne Sullivan received a call from Claire Ainsworth.

"Claire, what is it?"

Claire Ainsworth immediately launched into a barrage of complaints to Suzanne Sullivan.

She was at the Sterling Family’s Crestwood Resort. And though she couldn’t bring herself to actually like Melissa Sterling, she knew winning the girl’s approval was the only path to Tristan Sterling. He adored his daughter, so much so that he had no plans to remarry for her sake.

But ever since meeting Evelynn, Melissa’s attitude toward her had grown increasingly cold.

Sylvia Shannon had also invited her, so she had wanted to use this opportunity to spend more time with Melissa.

But Melissa simply wouldn’t appreciate her efforts. She wouldn’t eat the snacks Claire specially made for her, and she refused to go out to play. When adults were around, Melissa was polite to her, but in private, she completely ignored her.

’So young and already such a good actress.’

’It just goes to show she’s not my own. You can be as nice as you want, but she’ll never appreciate it. A complete ingrate.’

’She really couldn’t take it anymore.’

She tearfully poured out her grievances to Suzanne Sullivan.

Listening to his sister’s complaints, Suzanne Sullivan said, "Why don’t you come back for now, Claire? Take some time to calm down and think about how you should really get along with Melissa."

Claire Ainsworth choked back a sob. "I’ve been so good to her since she was little, and this Evelynn has only known her for a few days, yet Melissa already likes her so much! I don’t know what kind of spell she’s cast on Melissa."

She was filled with resentment and frustration.

Suzanne Sullivan listened quietly to Claire’s tearful complaints, then soothed her in a gentle voice, "Just come back for now. We can talk more when you’re here."

Suzanne Sullivan comforted her for a while longer until Claire finally calmed down.

After hanging up, Suzanne Sullivan arrived at Cedarwood about forty minutes later.

「Inside the President’s Office.」

Tristan Sterling was on a video call with Melissa, coaxing her to take her afternoon nap.

Suzanne Sullivan walked in, sat on the sofa, picked up a book from the coffee table, and began flipping through it as he waited quietly.

"Daddy, is Aunt Evelynn back in Kingsland yet? I want to go back and see Aunt Evelynn."

She had been having a lot of fun playing with Nina and the others these past few days, but she couldn’t help thinking how nice it would be if Aunt Evelynn were there with her.

Tristan Sterling said, "It’s too hot in Kingsland right now. Daddy has to go there too after I’m done with work, so for now, you just keep playing with Nina and the others."

It was now the hottest part of the year in Kingsland, a time when Melissa would usually be staying at Crestwood Resort.

Hearing her father’s words, Melissa mumbled, "Well, I’m all better now. Can I call Aunt Evelynn?"

Her dad had said that if she called Aunt Evelynn while she was sick, it would make Aunt Evelynn worry.

Melissa didn’t want to worry Aunt Evelynn, so she hadn’t called her this whole time.

"Let Daddy ask Aunt Evelynn if she’s busy lately, and then I’ll let you know, Melissa."

"Okay, then!" Her little face looked a bit unhappy.

"Alright, time for your nap!"

After finally coaxing Melissa to sleep, Tristan Sterling ended the video call.

Tristan Sterling put down his phone, took a sip from his teacup, then stood up, walked around his desk, and sat on the sofa opposite Suzanne Sullivan.

Suzanne Sullivan looked up at him. "Melissa really likes that Evelynn."

Tristan Sterling hummed in agreement.

Suzanne Sullivan put down his book and asked, "Don’t you find it strange? Melissa getting so close to a stranger."

Tristan Sterling lit a cigarette and exhaled a puff of white smoke, his expression unreadable. "Yeah. She liked her from the moment they met."

Suzanne Sullivan looked at him and teased, "Listening to you, one might think you’re jealous."

Tristan Sterling let out a soft laugh. "I might be, a little."

"I never would have pegged you as such a doting father."

"What can I do? You have to spoil your own kid. You should consider having one too. It gets harder when you’re older."

At this, Suzanne Sullivan laughed in exasperation. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Tristan Sterling reached out and stubbed out his cigarette. He raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Nothing. Just concerned about you."

"Save it."

’Suzanne Sullivan had no desire to continue this conversation. Now Tristan even knew how to gloat to him.’

The two of them moved on to business.

"By the way, how are things progressing in Portington?" Tristan Sterling asked.