The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 2: He Came Home Early

Chapter 2: He Came Home Early

But he didn’t press the matter.

Rachel Royce spoke again. "Tomorrow is Monday. Are you free in the afternoon? Why don’t we go to the Civil Affairs Bureau and get it done early? It shouldn’t be a problem to file two months ahead of schedule, right?"

After signing, there’s still a one-month cooling-off period, and by then, it wouldn’t be long before she gives birth.

Tristan Sterling looked at her. Her expression was calm and composed, but his eyes held a new hint of scrutiny. He looked away and said, "We’ll do it when I say we do it."

Rachel Royce lowered her gaze and said no more.

The car arrived at the Sterling family’s main residence.

Madam Sterling had indeed summoned them back because of the child in Rachel Royce’s womb.

The Sterling family had a surplus of men and a shortage of women.

Madam Sterling had two sons: the elder, Zachary Sterling, and the younger, Harrison Sterling.

Zachary Sterling had two sons. The elder, Theodore Sterling, had married a few years ago and had five-year-old twin sons. The younger, Thomas Sterling, was twenty-four and unmarried.

Harrison Sterling had only one son, Tristan Sterling.

Therefore, Madam Sterling and Master Sterling were overjoyed that Rachel Royce was carrying a girl.

"This truly is a joyous occasion. With this little ’winter coat’ on the way, even the old man’s ailments have cleared up."

Seeing how much her mother-in-law valued the child in Rachel Royce’s belly, Sylvia Shannon chimed in with agreement and offered a few pleasantries to Rachel.

Rachel Royce sat to the side, obediently acknowledging their words.

Looking at Rachel’s overweight, submissive appearance, Sylvia Shannon found her more and more disagreeable, but she didn’t show it out of respect for Madam Sterling.

In high spirits, Madam Sterling gifted Rachel Royce a priceless Jade Bracelet.

Rachel Royce was overwhelmed and tried to refuse the gift.

Sylvia Shannon spoke up, "Just take it. Grandma is giving it to you."

’Such small-mindedness from a family of no standing. She really is unfit for high society.’

Rachel Royce relented and accepted the jade bracelet. "Thank you, Grandma."

"Take good care of yourself and the pregnancy. Give us a healthy, chubby baby."

Rachel Royce smiled and nodded, knowing that Madam Sterling’s kindness was not for her sake, but for the baby’s.

Originally, she and Tristan Sterling were supposed to stay at the main residence for dinner.

That was until Tristan Sterling received a phone call.

A smile touched his eyes, indulgent and gentle.

’It seemed they had a pet together.’

Tristan Sterling gently called out the pet’s name: Sweetie.

’If he married a woman he loved, he would probably be a good father.’

"Okay, I’ll head over right now."

He hung up the phone.

Tristan Sterling turned to leave the balcony and saw Rachel Royce standing there. Rachel flinched, not reacting for a moment. When she looked up at him, she was met with a face as cold as ice.

Her heart tightened. "Grandma wants to see you in the study," she said quickly.

Tristan Sterling said nothing and strode away.

Rachel Royce stood frozen, a sharp pain piercing her heart uncontrollably.

She didn’t know how long it was before she finally collected herself.

Tristan Sterling arrived at the study.

Madam Sterling and Master Sterling were both there.

"Tyson, Grandma knows you don’t like Rachel Royce," Madam Sterling began. "But the child will be born soon. Rachel herself is quite outstanding—an honors graduate from a prestigious university, and she’s docile. Your marriage needs stability, and she is the most suitable candidate for a wife who can support her husband and raise children."

Tristan Sterling was silent.

But his furrowed brows clearly showed his displeasure.

How could Madam Sterling not see it? Rachel Royce’s looks were indeed a bit plain; she didn’t match her grandson at all.

Master Sterling spoke up, "It’s not a good time for any changes to your marriage. If you truly dislike her, as long as she doesn’t do anything too outrageous, just let things be for a year or two."

Madam Sterling added, "That’s right. So many people are watching you right now, waiting to stir up trouble. It’s not too late to divorce after she’s raised the child for a bit."

"..."

Tristan Sterling mulled it over for a moment, his handsome, inscrutable face betraying none of his thoughts. "Grandfather, Grandma, I understand," he said.

When Rachel Royce saw Madam Sterling again, Madam Sterling looked at her and said, "Something came up at Tristan’s company, so he had to leave early. I’ll have the driver take you home later."

Rachel Royce nodded. "Alright."

Before she left that day, Madam Sterling reminded her, "Even though you’re pregnant, you still need to exercise and take care of your appearance. Back in the day, when your mother-in-law and the others were pregnant, they not only had to accompany their husbands to events but also manage the household. Some things are easy to get, but holding onto them is the hard part."

Rachel Royce instantly understood the meaning behind the old woman’s words.

Being a daughter-in-law of the Sterling family wasn’t so easy. If she wanted to secure her position, she had to change her current self.

And in her current state, she would only bring shame to Tristan Sterling.

She had tried to better herself before—exercising, doing yoga, trying to lose weight—but her motivation was lacking. She couldn’t stick with it. Mentally and physically exhausted, she only grew heavier.

But Madam Sterling was right. She couldn’t continue to be so dejected and decadent—not to secure her position, but for her own future.

"Grandma, I understand."

「That night.」

To Rachel Royce’s surprise, the man who had brought up divorce that morning had actually come home.

"You..."

"Make me some hangover soup and bring it to the study."

After speaking, Tristan Sterling went upstairs to the study.

Rachel Royce snapped back to her senses, went to the kitchen, and made a bowl of hangover soup, which she then brought to the study.

The man was looking through a document, his features stern. He exuded an aura of inhuman coldness and detachment.

She didn’t disturb him, turning to leave the study.

Even when he was back, the two of them slept in separate rooms.

The man slept in the master bedroom on the second floor.

She slept in the guest room on the first floor.

「The next day.」

Because Tristan Sterling was home, the housekeeper had prepared a lavish breakfast.

He sat at the head of the table but didn’t see Rachel Royce.

In the past, whenever he was home, Rachel Royce would not only have ironed and prepared his clothes for the next day but also personally made him breakfast. She was, indeed, a dutiful and competent wife.

But this morning, he found no ironed clothes, and the breakfast was made by the housekeeper.

"Where is she?" Tristan Sterling asked impatiently.

Lisa Lawson immediately launched into a complaint. "I went to get her first thing in the morning, but she just lazes in bed and refuses to get up. Every day, we have to bring her meals to her room. She ignores us when we talk to her. We ask what she wants to eat, and she says nothing. We’re not mind readers! It’s just a pregnancy. Back when the previous madam was pregnant with you, Young Master, she was completely devoted to Chairman Sterling. But this one, she’s just here to enjoy the good life."

Tristan Sterling frowned. "Go get her."

"Yes, sir."

Rachel Royce was already up; she was just waiting for Tristan Sterling to leave.

「Just then.」

Lisa Lawson pushed the door open without knocking. Seeing Rachel Royce sitting on the sofa, she sneered, "My, aren’t you the Young Madam. Waiting for a personal invitation?"

Rachel Royce looked up and said coldly, "If I’m not, are you?"

For the past few months, Rachel Royce had been submissive and silent.

Lisa Lawson never expected her to talk back.

"If you continue to act so disrespectfully toward me in the future, don’t blame me for telling Madam Sterling what you’ve all been up to."

’We’re getting a divorce anyway, so I have nothing to worry about. Why should I put up with this for the last two months?’

Lisa Lawson’s eyes widened. "You..."

Yesterday, Sylvia Shannon had called to tell them to take good care of her. Even though it was a girl, this was the only girl in three generations of the Sterling family. She was just lucky that her daughter was so highly valued by Madam Sterling.

Lisa Lawson could only swallow her anger. "The Young Master is waiting for you in the dining room."

Rachel Royce was surprised.

She arrived at the dining room.

Tristan Sterling was eating. He looked up at Rachel Royce. She was wearing a long, white knit cardigan, the fabric strained and misshapen by her bloated body. Her steps were unsteady, her gait faltering, and her large belly looked as if she were carrying multiples.

Sensing his gaze, Rachel Royce consciously sat down far away from him. She then heard his cool, detached voice say, "Mrs. Lawson and the others are old retainers from the main residence. You can’t expect them to accommodate your every whim. You’re just pregnant, not incapacitated."

’Just pregnant?’

Right. To him, this unexpected child was probably of no importance.

This baffling lecture from him was definitely because Lisa Lawson had been bad-mouthing her.

It wasn’t the first time, either.

"Since they find accommodating me such a chore, why not have them return to the main residence? I can take care of myself just fine."

Rachel Royce said this in a calm tone, stirring the porridge in her bowl.

’After all, she cooked her own meals, washed her own clothes, and cleaned her own room. They only put on an act when Tristan Sterling was around.’

Tristan Sterling’s brows knitted together.

Rachel Royce knew this was a sign of his displeasure.

Whether in work or in life, Tristan Sterling was an extremely domineering person who did not tolerate being contradicted.

"I’m reminding you, not asking for your opinion."

Rachel Royce lowered her head and said no more.

Watching her lifeless demeanor, Tristan Sterling’s expression grew darker.

He then instructed Lisa Lawson and the others that from now on, she was to do her own things and they were not to wait on her.

The hand Rachel Royce held her chopsticks with couldn’t help but tighten.

After breakfast, Tristan Sterling left.

Rachel Royce went to A University.

She arrived at Julian Jennings’s office.

Behind the desk sat a young man in a formal suit. Rimless glasses rested on his high-bridged nose, and he had a mature and steady temperament.

Julian Jennings was only twenty-nine years old, the youngest full professor in A University’s finance department, and a renowned genius in the financial world.

She raised her hand and knocked on the door.