The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 182: As Expected

Chapter 182: As Expected

Upon hearing her words, Tristan Sterling’s eyes turned cold. He let out a frosty scoff, then turned and strode out of the building.

Julian Jennings withdrew his gaze and looked down at Rachel Royce, his voice softening. "Let’s go. We’ll head up first."

Rachel Royce took a deep breath to compose herself, nodded, and said, "Okay."

「Back in the hospital room.」

Rachel Royce said angrily, "I really underestimated his shamelessness and his ability to twist the truth."

Julian Jennings watched her. He seemed completely unfazed by Tristan Sterling’s earlier remarks. For a moment, he wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or helpless.

’Her emotional state is completely suppressed by the divorce and consumed by her feelings for Melissa,’ he thought. ’It seems she has no extra energy to perceive anyone else’s feelings.’

He sighed inwardly and said, "Getting emotional won’t solve any problems when you’re dealing with someone like him."

Rachel Royce let out a breath.

She had told herself countless times to stay calm and not let Tristan Sterling get to her, but he often managed to make her furious with a single sentence. If Julian Jennings hadn’t stopped her just now, she really would have lost her temper.

"But the best solution is still to avoid too much contact with him. It’s hard for anyone to get the upper hand with someone as egocentric as Tristan Sterling."

Rachel Royce nodded.

’He was right about that.’

「Noon.」

Joanna Sutton came to visit Julian Jennings.

The three of them had lunch together.

Rachel Royce and Joanna Sutton didn’t stay long and left the hospital a short while later.

Rachel Royce went home.

As she drove up to the entrance of the Royce family villa, a white Maserati approached from the opposite direction.

At the same time, Jane Sullivan, sitting in the back seat of the Maserati, saw Rachel Royce in the driver’s seat of the approaching car, her expression impassive.

When Rachel Royce got home, she saw Wendy Royce sitting alone on the sofa. Florence Preston and Bobby were nowhere to be seen.

"Dad."

Rachel Royce called out.

Wendy Royce snapped out of his thoughts, composed himself, and turned to look at Rachel Royce. "Rachel, you’re back."

Rachel Royce walked over and asked, "Where are Mom and Bobby?"

Wendy Royce replied, "She’s putting Bobby to sleep upstairs. You’re back today, so where’s Melissa?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Melissa went to the Sterling family’s main residence."

Wendy Royce nodded lightly. "Rachel, come and sit down."

Rachel Royce sat on the adjacent sofa. "Dad, what is it?"

Wendy Royce looked at Rachel Royce, his tone earnest. "Rachel, have you thought about going back to the United States?"

Rachel Royce was puzzled. "Dad, why do you ask?"

"I was just thinking that when you were in the United States and had no contact with Tristan Sterling, things were actually pretty good. You wouldn’t be in so much pain like you are now. By suing him, you’re just making him fight you harder. He’s refusing to let you go."

Listening to her father, Rachel Royce knew he was right.

"If you two had never come into contact, if you had never met Melissa, he would have eventually wanted to end the marriage with you sooner or later."

Rachel Royce looked at her father. "Dad, are you saying you want me to go back to the United States?"

Wendy Royce said, "Of course I don’t want you to go back. I’m just discussing it with you. The decision is ultimately yours. I’m worried that your feelings for Melissa are getting deeper and deeper. Eventually, that will be torment for both you and the child. I definitely still hope you can have a happy family in the future."

’Jane Sullivan was right. Melissa is, after all, a child of the Sterling Family. Even if she is Rachel’s daughter, she has no connection to the Royce Family. Rachel can’t possibly stay single forever. I hope she’ll have a husband who adores her, have children, and live as a happy family of three. Not like this, where she has a child but can’t acknowledge her. Seeing Rachel’s feelings for Melissa deepen, I’m also worried it will affect her next relationship.’

Rachel Royce was silent.

After a long moment, she finally said slowly, "I understand what you mean, Dad. I’ll think about it."

Wendy Royce nodded. "There’s no rush. Take your time to think it over."

Rachel Royce hummed in acknowledgment, then got up and went upstairs to her bedroom.

「The Sterling family’s grand residence.」

They had only just found out that the first hearing for Tristan Sterling’s divorce case had taken place a few days ago.

Melissa had been taken away to play by her two older cousins.

Madam Sterling looked at her grandson and asked, "Melissa suddenly said today that she has a mommy. Since that woman is making a fuss about suing you for divorce and didn’t want to acknowledge Melissa, why has she acknowledged her now? Is she really trying to divorce you, or is she just playing some kind of trick?"

’I’m finding this Rachel Royce more and more disagreeable. When she first married Tristan five years ago, she had a docile personality. Back then, I thought she could manage the household and take good care of Tristan, so I gave her a lot of guidance. I never expected her to be so cunning.’

Tristan Sterling said, "It doesn’t count as acknowledging her."

Madam Sterling frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

A faint, sarcastic curve played on Tristan Sterling’s lips. "She’s only acknowledging her for now."

Madam Sterling’s expression grew even more grave.

Master Sterling, who had been listening from the side, looked displeased. "Tristan, if she wants a divorce, then make a clean break. What’s the point of keeping a woman like that around? What is this ’acknowledging for now’? Just don’t let her acknowledge Melissa at all! You can’t let Melissa have contact with her. What if she uses Melissa to do something to you?"

Tristan Sterling’s voice was low and cold. "She doesn’t have the ability. Grandpa, Grandma, don’t worry about the divorce. I have it under control."

"Daddy."

Melissa suddenly ran back into the living room.

Madam Sterling and Master Sterling immediately stopped talking.

Melissa threw herself into her father’s arms. "Daddy, can you call Mommy and ask her to come to Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma’s house for dinner tonight?"

Tristan Sterling stroked his daughter’s little head. "How about another day? Daddy has something to do tonight."

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Melissa mumbled, "But Aunt Evelynn is only being my mommy for one week."

Tristan Sterling’s voice was gentle. "Then you can ask her to extend the time she’s your mommy."

Melissa was a little worried. "Will Aunt Evelynn agree? Will she think I’m being too naughty?"

"She won’t."

Hearing her father’s words, Melissa was finally relieved.

"Then I’ll ask Aunt Evelynn tonight."

"Okay."

Rachel Royce thought about it for a whole day.

In the end, she decided to go abroad for a while, which would also be a good opportunity to handle matters with KU.

She told Julian Jennings about it when she went to work on Monday.

Julian Jennings agreed. "Going abroad to clear your head is a good idea. Rushing the divorce won’t solve anything right now."

Rachel Royce hummed in agreement. After a moment’s thought, she said to Julian Jennings, "About the divorce lawsuit... I’m wondering if I should withdraw it."

Julian Jennings looked at her.

Rachel Royce continued, "Tristan Sterling just wants to wear me down. There’s no point in continuing the lawsuit. If this case really drags on for a few years, I’m afraid I won’t be able to take it and I’ll go crazy. Right now, by fighting him head-on, his need for control is just making him refuse to let me go even more. It’s better to just withdraw the suit. It’s not like he’ll never remarry just because of me."

Hearing this, Julian Jennings nodded.

"That’s true. If you’ve thought it through, you can tell Lawyer Goodman."

Rachel Royce hummed in agreement.

「Before going abroad.」

She finished all her domestic work.

That day, she called Lawyer Goodman.

Lawyer Goodman respected his client’s personal wishes.

「Cedarwood Group.」

After his meeting, Tristan Sterling returned to his office and received a call from his lawyer.

"President Sterling, Miss Royce has withdrawn the lawsuit."

Upon hearing this, Tristan Sterling’s handsome face showed little change in expression, as if this was merely what he had expected.

"Understood."

He hung up the phone.

「In the days that followed.」

Rachel Royce poured all her energy and time into her work.

When Melissa called her, hearing her daughter’s voice, Rachel Royce could only suppress her own feelings. "Aunt Evelynn has been very busy with work lately. When I’m not so busy, I’ll spend lots of time with you, okay?"

She had asked Thomas Sterling the other day. In the two years since Melissa’s surgery, she had recovered very well. She was doted on at home and lived happily every day, and her condition had indeed not relapsed.

’To think that Melissa had been sad because of me recently, and had even been hospitalized again. Maybe I really shouldn’t have come back at all. I shouldn’t have let Melissa get so attached to me.’

Although Melissa was a little sad that she hadn’t seen Aunt Evelynn for several days, she knew Aunt Evelynn was busy and didn’t want to make things difficult for her.

"Okay, then! Can you come with me to Nina’s birthday party this week, Aunt Evelynn?"

She had received a call from William Jensen today, inviting her.

She hadn’t given him an answer at the time, thinking she would just send a gift.

But now Melissa had asked.

’Since I’m going abroad next week, it wouldn’t hurt to spend some quality time with Melissa again.’

She agreed.

Melissa finally smiled happily again.