The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 167: What President Sullivan Dropped

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: What President Sullivan Dropped

Chapter 167: What President Sullivan Dropped

Rachel Royce asked, "Is this what President Sullivan dropped?"

A moment ago, while answering a call, Suzanne Sullivan had accidentally pulled out a pocket watch. It had fallen silently onto the rug by the entrance. She didn’t realize it was gone until she was about to get on the elevator; only after putting her phone away and patting her pocket did she notice.

"It’s mine," Suzanne Sullivan said.

Rachel Royce handed the pocket watch to her. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I can pay for the repairs, President Sullivan."

Suzanne Sullivan took the pocket watch. It had broken in two, and the protective cover over the photo was cracked. She examined it carefully, then put the watch back in her pocket and said to Rachel Royce, "Since it was an accident, Miss Evelynn, you don’t need to pay for it."

Rachel Royce didn’t insist.

Suzanne Sullivan gave Ian Quinn a nod, then turned and left.

Watching Suzanne Sullivan’s departing figure, Ian Quinn said gossipily, "She looked so tense. Must be something precious in there."

Rachel Royce glanced at him. "If you want to know that badly, President Quinn, you can run after her and ask."

Ian Quinn chuckled. "Oh, there’s no need for that. I’m not *that* interested in other people’s private business."

The two of them walked toward the elevators.

The dinner party didn’t end until nine that evening.

Rachel Royce returned to Cinnabar Estate.

June Jennings had already taken Stella home.

Melissa wasn’t asleep yet; she was lying in bed, video-chatting with Tristan Sterling.

With a CLICK, the bedroom door opened.

Melissa looked toward the door, immediately put down her tablet, and scrambled out of bed to run to Rachel Royce. "Aunt Evelynn, you’re finally back!"

Rachel Royce went over, picked up her daughter, and kissed her little cheek. "Sorry I’m back so late."

"It’s okay," Melissa said. "I was a good girl and waited for Aunt Evelynn to come back."

They shared an affectionate moment.

Rachel Royce carried Melissa back to the bed.

The video call on the tablet hadn’t been disconnected.

Rachel Royce glanced at the man on the screen, then said to Melissa, "I’m going to go wash up."

"Okay."

By the time Rachel Royce returned to the bedroom after her shower, Melissa had already ended the video call with Tristan Sterling. Rachel walked over, pulled back the covers, and coaxed Melissa to sleep.

「For the next two days.」

Ian Quinn and Rachel Royce went over the industrial project’s details. Hector Ainsworth had indeed demonstrated great sincerity.

The two parties scheduled the contract signing.

Two o’clock tomorrow afternoon.

Work finished early that day. Melissa was at June Jennings’s house, and after having dinner there, Rachel brought her back to the villa.

Rachel Royce walked into the living room, holding Melissa’s small hand.

As she stepped inside, Rachel saw a familiar figure sitting on the living room sofa.

Melissa saw her father and cried out in delight, "Daddy!"

Melissa ran to her dad.

Tristan Sterling put down his phone, picked up his daughter, and settled her on his lap. "Did you have fun these past few days?" he asked softly.

"I did!" Melissa said.

"As long as you had fun."

"Now that Daddy’s here, we can all live together!"

Melissa was overjoyed. She had always wanted her dad and Aunt Evelynn to live together with her.

Tristan Sterling’s lips curved into a smile as he looked back at Rachel, who was still standing by the door.

Rachel composed her expression, stepped forward, and asked, "What are you doing here?" Her tone was neither warm nor cold.

"I’m here to handle some work," Tristan Sterling replied.

Rachel stared at the man but didn’t press further.

Tristan Sterling looked down at Melissa. "Go upstairs with Aunt Evelynn for now. Daddy has a little work to do."

"Okay."

Melissa tilted her head up and gave her dad a kiss on the cheek.

Rachel took Melissa upstairs, gave her a bath, washed her face, brushed her teeth, and changed her into her pajamas.

Melissa wanted to go find her dad. She hadn’t seen him in a few days and wanted to be with him.

"Go on, then."

"Aren’t you coming down with me, Aunt Evelynn?"

"I still have a few things to do."

Melissa mumbled, "Okay, then."

Rachel stayed in her bedroom.

She called June Jennings. "June, don’t worry about picking up Melissa tomorrow morning."

"What’s wrong?" June asked. "Don’t you have the signing ceremony tomorrow morning?"

"Tristan Sterling is here," Rachel said. "He’ll probably stay with Melissa."

June was shocked. "Tristan Sterling is there? He couldn’t trust you alone with Melissa?"

"He said he’s here for work," Rachel replied.

Cedarwood’s largest branch office was in Portington, so Tristan Sterling did indeed come here often for work.

June was silent for a moment before asking, "So, Rachel, are you still going to stay there?"

’Of course I don’t want to live under the same roof as Tristan Sterling, but I don’t know what I’d tell Melissa.’

"I’ll figure it out tomorrow."

"Alright, then."

After hanging up, Rachel washed up, changed into her pajamas, then opened her laptop and sat on the balcony to do some work.

As ten o’clock approached, Melissa still hadn’t come back to sleep.

Rachel finally got up and went to check on things, but there was no sign of the father and daughter downstairs.

’Looks like Tristan Sterling already took Melissa to his room to sleep.’

She turned and walked back toward her bedroom.

Just then, she ran into Tristan Sterling as he was coming out of the room next door.

The man had showered and changed into a navy blue silk robe. The soft fabric was draped loosely, its collar slightly open to reveal a hint of a powerful, solid chest. A belt cinched at his waist accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, adding to his distinguished air.

Seeing her, Tristan Sterling said, "Melissa’s sleeping with me tonight."

Rachel just gave a faint "mhm," then averted her gaze and walked straight to her bedroom door, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.

Tristan, for his part, had only come to let her know.

「The next morning.」

She had originally planned to spend the morning with Melissa, but she decided to leave for the office early instead.

The moment she woke up, Melissa ran to Rachel’s bedroom. "Aunt Evelynn!"

But when she entered, the room was empty. Only a housekeeper was tidying up.

"Where’s Aunt Evelynn?"

The housekeeper replied, "Young Miss, Miss Evelynn left an hour ago."

Melissa paused, stunned. "Aunt Evelynn left so early?"

Tristan Sterling came over. Hearing the housekeeper and seeing the disappointed look on his daughter’s face, he bent down and picked her up. "There, there. Aunt Evelynn was probably busy with work."

"But Aunt Evelynn said she was going to make steamed buns with me this morning," Melissa said.

Tristan comforted his daughter. "Something probably came up last minute. You can ask her about it later."

"I’ll ask when Aunt Evelynn gets back," Melissa said. "Aunt Evelynn is busy, so I shouldn’t bother her while she’s working."

Tristan hummed in agreement. "You’re such a considerate girl."