The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 16: Suit Yourself

Chapter 16: Suit Yourself

A tremor went through Rachel Royce’s heart.

She quickly lowered her gaze, her eyes landing on the velvet box in her hands.

’Tristan Sterling is about to kick me out.’

’Is Madam Sterling saying these things because she still doesn’t know that Tristan is planning to divorce me?’

’Tristan probably hasn’t told his family yet, but it doesn’t matter anymore.’

Madam Sterling chatted idly with Tristan Sterling, occasionally directing a question to Rachel Royce. Rachel clearly felt the shift in her attitude; it was, after all, because she was now carrying the Sterling family’s only girl.

"Look at you, your belly is getting bigger by the day. It’s not convenient for you to be working. You should just stay home and focus on your pregnancy. Don’t go to the company anymore."

Madam Sterling knew that Rachel was still working at Tristan Sterling’s company.

Rachel nodded and replied, "I know, Grandma."

Dinner.

Only The Old Chairman Sterling, Madam Sterling, Tristan Sterling, and Rachel Royce were present.

Rachel didn’t sit next to Tristan Sterling, choosing a seat across from him instead.

Madam Sterling watched them and seemed to notice something was off.

In the past, at the family estate, Rachel’s every look and gesture toward Tristan had been tinged with a humble, fawning quality. She was always so timid and careful, exuding the air of someone from a minor family. No matter how you looked at it, she seemed unworthy of Tristan.

She still felt a sliver of guilt deep down.

But Rachel’s pregnancy came at just the right time, and it had indeed helped the old man’s health improve.

This baby was also a rare girl for the Sterling family—a blessing from their ancestors.

Some things you just had to believe in.

Now, looking at Rachel’s attitude, it seemed she had given up on trying to please Tristan.

The Old Chairman Sterling was discussing family business matters with Tristan Sterling.

Madam Sterling made conversation with Rachel.

Rachel responded politely.

The atmosphere was harmonious.

This was truly the most pleasant dinner Rachel had ever had at the Sterling family estate.

「After dinner.」

Madam Sterling wanted the two of them to stay at the estate for the night.

But Tristan Sterling refused.

Madam Sterling didn’t insist.

Rachel got into Tristan Sterling’s car.

Watching the two of them leave,

Madam Sterling couldn’t help but sigh.

The Old Chairman Sterling said, "Tristan doesn’t like Rachel. You shouldn’t do things that displease him. Once everything is settled and they divorce, we’ll just give her a generous compensation."

Madam Sterling looked at The Old Chairman Sterling and said, "Of course, I know that. But Rachel is pregnant now, and a pregnant woman’s mood is very important. I don’t want my great-granddaughter to suffer."

"But from Rachel’s attitude today, it seems she’s not clinging to Tristan and fawning over him like before."

The Old Chairman Sterling said, "She’s finally learned her place."

"..."

「Inside the car.」

Rachel rested her hands on her stomach. She sat beside the man, close to the car door, quietly watching the passing nighttime scenery outside the window.

Tristan Sterling was on a work call. After a long call that lasted twenty minutes, another one came in.

He answered it.

"Claire!"

The man’s tone, so serious during the work call just moments ago, became exceptionally gentle.

Hearing that name, Rachel’s heart clenched violently, followed by a dense, spreading ache.

Rachel couldn’t make out Claire Ainsworth’s words on the other end, but from Tristan Sterling’s replies, she could roughly tell that Claire was complaining to him about her brother.

It seemed Claire Ainsworth wanted to live with Tristan Sterling.

But her brother wouldn’t allow it.

’So they aren’t living together?’

’Is Tristan living alone somewhere else?’

The possibility left Rachel unsure whether to feel happy or sad. But she had to admit, knowing they weren’t living together, what she felt most was a sense of relief.

Her hands on her belly tightened unconsciously. A bitter, self-mocking smile touched her lips. ’What am I still hoping for?’

She thought of the two times she had run into Claire Ainsworth’s brother. He had indeed seemed like a more sensible person.

Seeing a subway station up ahead,

she said to the driver, "Please stop at the subway entrance ahead."

She couldn’t bear to listen to Tristan Sterling being so gentle with another woman. It was better to just leave them their space.

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror, checking for Tristan Sterling’s reaction.

Tristan Sterling said a few comforting words to Claire Ainsworth and hung up.

Rachel turned her head to look at him and said, "I’ll stay home and focus on the pregnancy until the baby is born."

’You can go back to living at home without any worries.’

Rachel only said this in her heart, not out loud.

’So, just being in the same space as me disgusts him this much.’ She recalled how Tristan Sterling had never once given her a proper look, from the very beginning. All her humble attempts to please him, all for a sliver of vanity, had only turned her into a complete and utter joke.

Tristan Sterling glanced at Rachel before looking away, his expression indifferent. "Suit yourself."

The car slowly pulled over at the subway station entrance.

Rachel pushed the door open and slowly eased herself out of the car. The moment she stepped out, a gust of cold wind rushed to meet her, turning her eyes red.

She walked toward the subway entrance. Without a moment’s pause, the car behind her started up and slowly drove away.

Rachel’s steps faltered. She lifted her head, letting the cold wind brush against her cheeks until the tip of her nose tingled. She took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent emotions churning within her.

After a subway ride of nearly an hour,

she was home.

Rachel felt utterly exhausted.

Florence Preston had called her and prepared hot water in advance for her to soak her feet.

Back home,

Rachel tried her best to maintain a positive attitude, not wanting her father and the others to worry.

Soaking her feet, Rachel felt her body relax considerably.

The family was now sitting in the living room, watching TV.

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The atmosphere was warm.

Rachel’s heart gradually calmed. She chatted with her father and the others for a while before returning to her room around ten to get ready for bed.

Suddenly, she remembered something.

She sat on the edge of the bed and took out the box Madam Sterling had given her from her bag. Opening it, she found a Jade Buddha. One look was enough to tell it wasn’t cheap.

She placed the box on the nightstand, then took out the jade bracelet Madam Sterling had also given her. Looking at it, she recalled the old lady’s attitude today. It was as if she were intentionally trying to create opportunities for her and Tristan Sterling.

Madam Sterling’s attitude toward her had indeed changed a lot. Of course, deep down, Rachel understood it was only because of the child, not because she was valued for her own sake.

As she was putting the jade bracelet away, she saw the Australian White Pearl in the drawer. She picked it up to look at it. Now, upon closer inspection, the pearl seemed to have a small flaw.

She paused for a moment.

Without thinking further, she put the pearl in her bag. Keeping it would only make her feel uncomfortable. She would find a chance to return it to Claire Ainsworth.

「The next day.」

Monday.

It was her last day of handing over her work.

The senior management held a big meeting first thing in the morning.

Of course, that had little to do with a low-level employee like her who was about to resign.

However, after the morning meeting ended,

the entire company’s atmosphere turned strange. It was as if a thick, dark cloud had settled over the building, making it hard for anyone to breathe.

When Rachel went to the breakroom to get some water, she overheard a discussion.

"Rowan Capital snatched the Cosmocean Holdings deal. It was a project worth nearly thirty billion. The loss is huge. President Sterling was furious."

"..."

Hearing this,

Rachel froze as she was getting her water.