The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 146: She’s Preparing to Divorce Me

Chapter 146: She’s Preparing to Divorce Me

"President Jennings."

Tristan Sterling spoke first, the corners of his lips twisting into a faint, mocking smile.

Julian Jennings stared intently at the other man.

They were about the same height, their eyes meeting on an even level.

"Daddy."

Melissa’s voice broke the tense atmosphere.

Rachel Royce brought Melissa to the door and saw the man standing outside. "Professor."

"Mr. Jennings."

Melissa called out.

Julian Jennings smiled and hummed in acknowledgment. He said to Rachel Royce, "Breakfast is ready."

Rachel Royce nodded and bent down to speak to Melissa. "Melissa, Daddy is going to take you for your check-up today."

Melissa asked, "Is Aunt Evelynn not coming with me?"

Rachel Royce gently turned her down. "Auntie has some very important work to do later, so I can’t go with you."

Although Melissa was a little disappointed, she was a sensible child and didn’t insist.

"Okay, then!"

Tristan Sterling glanced at Rachel Royce and let out a cold, low chuckle.

Then he turned and entered the living room.

Hearing his cold laugh, Rachel Royce wondered, ’What does he mean by that? What is he mocking me for?’

After Tristan Sterling gathered his things, he picked up Melissa and left.

"A kiss, Aunt Evelynn."

Melissa wanted to kiss Rachel Royce.

Rachel Royce stepped forward, and Melissa kissed her on the cheek.

Rachel Royce patted her little head.

Tristan Sterling left, holding Melissa in his arms.

Melissa kept looking back at Rachel Royce, her eyes filled with reluctance to part.

Only when Tristan Sterling carried her into the elevator did Rachel Royce finally let out a breath.

Julian Jennings looked back at Rachel Royce but didn’t ask any questions. "Let’s go."

"Okay."

After tidying up, Rachel Royce closed the door and followed Julian Jennings downstairs.

Melissa was nowhere to be seen.

June Jennings asked in confusion, "Where’s Melissa?"

Rachel Royce explained, "Melissa has a check-up this morning. Tristan Sterling took her."

June Jennings said, "Oh, I see."

After breakfast, June Jennings took Stella to kindergarten.

Rachel Royce had a meeting at the media company today, so Julian Jennings drove her there.

After her morning meeting ended, Rachel Royce returned to her office.

She opened WeChat on her phone, sent a photo to Miles Sheldon, and typed: Find out how much this necklace costs.

Miles Sheldon received the message and replied: Okay.

Rachel Royce thought about Melissa’s check-up. Melissa had always been frail, and Tristan Sterling had raised her with meticulous care. She worried about the results but didn’t want to be the one to call him.

After some hesitation, she ended up calling Tristan Sterling anyway.

The call connected quickly, and a man’s cold voice answered, "Hello."

Rachel Royce asked, "Are Melissa’s check-up results back yet?"

Tristan Sterling replied, "Not yet. I’ll send them to you when I get them."

Rachel Royce hummed in acknowledgment and, without another word, hung up.

Tristan Sterling was currently at the old family residence.

He had been summoned back by Madam Sterling.

Seeing him put down his phone, Madam Sterling asked, "Who was that?"

Tristan Sterling said, "Rachel Royce."

This was the very reason Madam Sterling had called Tristan Sterling back to ask him about it.

"When did she come back?"

Madam Sterling had always been deeply dissatisfied with Rachel Royce for abandoning her child and leaving five years ago.

She had only learned about it last night when, after she brought up Melissa, Sylvia Shannon had finally told her.

Tristan Sterling said, "She’s been back for a while."

"I hear from your mother that Melissa is very fond of her now?"

Tristan Sterling grunted in affirmation.

"Then why is she unwilling to acknowledge Melissa?" As she spoke, Madam Sterling’s tone was clearly tinged with anger.

Tristan Sterling didn’t hide it. "She’s preparing to divorce me."

Madam Sterling was startled.

She knew that Tristan Sterling hadn’t divorced Rachel Royce primarily for Melissa’s sake.

Although no one ever mentioned her mother in front of Melissa.

But Melissa was growing up day by day, and she was such a smart child. Some things she would naturally start to understand on her own, even if no one told her.

Madam Sterling took a deep breath. "I never realized before what a cruel-hearted mother she is. So, Tristan, what do you plan to do?"

Tristan Sterling’s eyes were cold. "If she’s not even willing to acknowledge Melissa, then I certainly can’t let her get everything she wants."

Madam Sterling looked at her grandson. "Well, as long as you know what you’re doing." She paused, then added a reminder, "If you really want to give Melissa a proper home, for her sake, you should restrain yourself a bit."

Tristan Sterling said, "I know."

「Around two in the afternoon.」

Rachel Royce received the medical report from Tristan Sterling.

The pediatric report was comprehensive. There were no major issues, just a note to be mindful of allergens.

After reading it, Rachel Royce felt relieved.

Just then, there was a knock on her office door.

"Come in."

The door opened to reveal Thomas Sterling.

He had called her around noon.

"Good afternoon."

Thomas Sterling greeted her, walking over to place a box of pastries on her desk. "These were sent from Switzerland. Your favorite flavor."

Rachel Royce glanced at it, took the box, and said with a smile, "Thank you. How did you know I was just craving something sweet?"

Thomas Sterling leaned against the edge of her desk, his gaze deep as he looked at her. "Because I understand you."

Rachel Royce smiled, opened the box, took out a cookie, and tried a piece. This brand of cookies was her absolute favorite.

They tasted as delicious as ever.

Thomas Sterling reached out, took one, and tried it.

Rachel Royce wasn’t too busy with work at the moment.

So Thomas Sterling started making small talk with her.

"My cousin isn’t back in the country yet?"

Rachel Royce said, "He came back a couple of days ago."

Thomas Sterling knew Rachel Royce had been staying at Silvermist Bay to take care of Melissa. He asked, "Are you still going to live there?"

Rachel Royce replied, "Now that he’s back, I certainly won’t be staying there anymore."

Thomas Sterling nodded. "Since you’re preparing for a divorce lawsuit, it’s definitely not appropriate for you to be living under the same roof."

"I also heard that Claire Ainsworth’s mother met with my aunt a while ago."

Rachel Royce recalled the slap she had received that day. Her eyes darkened, and a scornful smile touched her lips. "Is that so? I wonder if this Mrs. Ainsworth has what it takes to persuade the Sterling Family."

Thomas Sterling said, "I don’t think the situation looks very optimistic for them. After all, things aren’t exactly peaceful within the Ainsworth Family right now."

Just as he finished speaking, Rachel Royce’s phone vibrated.

She put down the cookie, picked up the phone, and saw it was a call from Julian Jennings.

"Professor."

Julian Jennings asked, "Rachel, are you busy right now?"

Rachel Royce replied, "Not busy. What’s up?"

Julian Jennings said, "If you’re not busy, could you come over to Lawyer Goodman’s office? There’s something I need to talk to you about."

Rachel Royce was taken aback. "Did something happen?"

Julian Jennings said, "Come over first, and we’ll talk then."

"Oh, okay."

After hanging up, Rachel Royce looked up at Thomas Sterling and said, "Perfect. My free chauffeur can give me a ride."

Thomas Sterling’s lips curved into a smile. "Let’s go."