Chapter 315: Chapter 315: Haven’t You Had Enough?
Rachel Royce walked over to Melissa and said softly, "Melissa, didn’t we agree we’d stay here and keep Stella and Auntie June company? We can’t just leave them."
Melissa puffed out her little cheeks. "But Daddy’s here now. We can’t leave him either. So, Mommy, can we just spend today with Daddy? Please?"
Rachel said, "Mommy isn’t feeling well right now and wants to rest. How about you let Daddy take you out to play today?"
Melissa wanted to be with Tristan Sterling now, and Rachel couldn’t force her to stay.
Melissa turned her head and looked at her father again.
Tristan Sterling stroked her little head and said, "Then let’s let Mommy get some rest. Melissa will be with Daddy today."
Melissa thought for a moment, then mumbled, "Okay then!"
Throughout the entire exchange, Tristan Sterling didn’t say another word to Rachel Royce.
And Rachel couldn’t be bothered to talk to him either.
Rachel had the nanny pack a couple of Melissa’s outfits and handed them to Tristan Sterling.
Tristan Sterling carried Melissa, turned, and got into the car. Melissa sat in her seat and waved at Rachel.
The car slowly drove away. Rachel stood rooted to the spot until the vehicle was completely out of sight, then turned and went back inside.
June Jennings and Stella were in the living room.
"Will Melissa be coming back?"
Rachel sat on the sofa and said flatly, "I’m not sure."
June said, "Is Tristan Sterling that worried about you having Melissa? Or is he afraid you’ll run off with her? He seemed to be in such a hurry to take her away."
Rachel just said, "Who knows."
June narrowed her eyes at Rachel and asked suspiciously, "Did you and Tristan Sterling have a fight?"
She had unintentionally overheard a conversation between Rachel and Melissa the other day. She knew Melissa was always trying to get her parents back together, just like Stella had, but Melissa’s personality was much more forceful.
Rachel picked up a wax apple from the fruit bowl, her expression indifferent. "There’s nothing for us to fight about."
Seeing that Rachel didn’t want to talk about it, June didn’t press the matter. She changed the subject, saying, "Rachel, what do you think about going to this restaurant for dinner tonight? It’s run by a team of Thai head chefs, so the food should be pretty good."
As she spoke, she handed the tablet she was holding to Rachel.
Rachel glanced at it. The restaurant specialized in a high-end Thai dining experience. She said, "I’m fine with anything."
「That evening.」
The two women took Stella to the restaurant and booked a private room.
During their meal, Rachel excused herself to go to the restroom. On her way, she vaguely heard a familiar voice coming from the restaurant’s courtyard. She paused, and when she recognized who was speaking, she couldn’t help but frown.
"Tristan, Rachel Royce is just a promiscuous woman! I saw her with my own eyes last night, hugging and cuddling with some man. Who knows how many men she’s slept with? You can’t let her fool you."
The woman clutched the man’s arm, her eyes red as she spoke with a desperate sincerity, as if genuinely worried he was being deceived.
Ever since Claire Ainsworth had returned to Portington, Alexander Sullivan’s attitude toward her had become noticeably distant.
She couldn’t get in touch with Tristan Sterling, either.
Even when she was hospitalized, Alexander Sullivan had only called to check in briefly.
Jane Sullivan, seeing her so dejected all day, worried she would make herself sick. So, she arranged for someone to accompany her on a trip to Corhaven to relax and lift her spirits.
Last night, Claire Ainsworth had been at a bar with her friends. They were in a VIP room on the second floor, and her friend had ordered several male models to keep them company. The models were, without a doubt, top-tier in their industry, with looks that could rival even male celebrities in the entertainment world.
Despite the men’s endless compliments and advances, Claire Ainsworth’s mind was filled with nothing but the image of Tristan Sterling. She could only numb herself by constantly imagining they were him.
A friend from her social circle, who was with her at the gathering, happened to see Rachel Royce dancing downstairs as she was heading up.
She recognized her instantly and recorded a video. After showing it to Claire Ainsworth, Claire immediately used her friend’s phone to send the video to Tristan Sterling.
’She felt a thrill of excitement and agitation.’
’A slut posturing on stage... Rachel Royce is exactly the trash I thought she was. She must have slept with countless men in the United States.’
But after the video was sent, it was met with complete silence, like a stone sinking into the ocean.
’Suddenly, her confidence wavered.’
She immediately had someone tail Rachel and her group, determined to catch her fooling around with a man.
She didn’t expect Rachel to go to the hospital that night, but she found out where they were staying. As luck would have it, it was in the same villa complex where she was staying.
She had people watch the villa. By the afternoon, she received news: Tristan Sterling had arrived. She saw a video of their meeting. Although she couldn’t hear what they were saying, it was clear there was a rift between them. Tristan’s expression was incredibly cold.
It was obvious that Tristan Sterling must have seen the video to be acting that way.
After getting this news, a sliver of joy and excitement finally bloomed in Claire Ainsworth’s heart.
’How could Tristan Sterling possibly fall for a woman like Rachel Royce? She used to be so ugly; she only looks like this now because of plastic surgery.’
’He was here in Corhaven. How could she possibly pass up a chance to see him?’
Just a moment ago, she had lost track of him while entering the restaurant, but then Tristan Sterling had suddenly appeared before her, willing to meet. ’He must still have feelings for me!’
A spark of hope ignited in Claire Ainsworth’s heart. Tristan Sterling’s eyes were downcast, his gaze dark and inscrutable as he looked at the emotional Claire Ainsworth before him. Abruptly, he glanced sideways at the woman standing by a stone pillar not far away.
Rachel Royce happened to meet his gaze, her expression unchanging.
Claire Ainsworth noticed the shift in his gaze and quickly followed it. When she saw Rachel Royce standing there, the hatred in her eyes could no longer be contained and surged forth.
Rachel walked straight toward the pair. She didn’t look at Tristan Sterling, but fixed her cold eyes on Claire Ainsworth and said in a frigid voice, "Repeat what you just said."
Claire Ainsworth’s brow furrowed. She stared daggers at her, confronting her head-on. "You know perfectly well what you did! You have the nerve to do it but can’t stand people talking about it? Rachel Royce, who are you trying to fool with that holier-than-thou act!"
Rachel’s dark eyes narrowed, her voice growing even colder. "It seems you really haven’t learned your lesson."
Claire’s heart clenched, but she forced herself to stand her ground and continued her tirade. "You only came back to seduce Tristan! Are you that desperate for a man?"
Just as Rachel raised her hand to slap her, her wrist was seized. Claire took the opportunity to hide behind the man, crying out, "Tristan!"
Rachel looked up, her gaze fixed on the man before her, her eyes filled with ice.
’Of course, she knew Claire was deliberately provoking her, trying to get Tristan to protect her. And Tristan Sterling didn’t disappoint.’
Sure enough, the next second, Tristan Sterling’s grim voice rang out. "Rachel Royce, haven’t you made enough of a scene?"
Rachel tried to pull her hand back, but the man’s grip was too tight, holding her completely still. Hearing his words, she could only sneer, "Tristan Sterling, you left Melissa behind. And what are you doing now?"
Tristan Sterling stared at Rachel Royce with his silent, deep-set eyes, his jaw tight.
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