The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 11: Worlds Apart

Chapter 11: A World of Difference

The man was simply indifferent. After a brief word with Sylvia Shannon, he left without a single glance at Rachel Royce.

Sylvia Shannon lectured and humiliated Rachel for a few moments more before storming off.

Lisa Lawson and Frances Wyatt followed them out to see them to their car.

Rachel Royce remained standing where she was.

She looked up at the ceiling, took a deep breath, and turned to walk toward the bedroom.

’Judging by the way Sylvia Shannon was lecturing me, Tristan Sterling probably hasn’t told his mother about his plan to divorce me after the baby is born.’

’Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so disgusted and angry. After all, I’ll only be holding on to the title of her daughter-in-law for another two or three months.’

She changed her clothes again.

On her way out, she ran into Lisa Lawson and Frances Wyatt in the living room. They shot her a contemptuous glare before heading to the dining room.

Rachel Royce ignored them, taking her luggage with her to the elevator that went down to the garage.

This Audi, worth 600,000 yuan, was part of her dowry from her father. It was all the money he could scrape together at the time.

Parked in Tristan Sterling’s garage, it looked completely out of place, an eyesore.

Just like the two of them—a world of difference.

Rachel Royce arrived at the company.

During the day, she worked on the handover with her replacement.

Aside from giving her dirty looks and a few snide remarks, Sandra Chapman didn’t go out of her way to make her work difficult today.

After her regular work hours ended.

Rachel Royce began working overtime on the tasks Tristan Sterling had assigned her. Even if she did them perfectly, he wouldn’t spare them a second glance, but she had to do them nonetheless.

She had worked through her lunch break and tackled part of it during the day, hoping to finish everything before 11:00 PM.

She received a call from Florence Preston, asking when she would be home.

"I have to work overtime tonight, so I’ll be home late."

Florence was distressed. "I’ll have your brother come pick you up."

"I drove here myself today."

"Just let him wait for you downstairs. At least he can escort you. I don’t feel at ease with you, a pregnant woman, driving alone so late at night."

Rachel Royce didn’t refuse again.

「At nine o’clock that evening.」

Peter Preston called. He had brought her a late-night snack and was already downstairs.

Rachel Royce happened to be hungry, and she needed to stretch her legs anyway. They were aching terribly.

She left the office area.

And took the elevator downstairs.

At this hour, the company was still brightly lit, with quite a few people working overtime.

Stepping out of the elevator.

She came face-to-face with a familiar person—the same man she had seen here yesterday with Zane Shaw, Miss Ainsworth’s brother.

’He must be here to see Tristan Sterling. It was common for Tristan to work until two or three in the morning. He could even go three days and nights without sleep and still maintain a high level of energy.’

’He was, one could say, an absolutely precise work machine.’

’It was because of this that he was able to single-handedly turn the tide for Cedarwood Capital when it was on the verge of restructuring, transforming it into one of the country’s top investment firms in just three short years.’

’For a man who planned his time down to the second, Rachel Royce had always seen Tristan Sterling as an unattainable prize, someone who had no time or emotion to fall in love with any woman.’

’But now, she saw him pulled down from his pedestal, having fallen in love.’

’Miss Ainsworth was probably here tonight, keeping Tristan Sterling company.’

Suzanne Sullivan saw Rachel Royce as well. He walked up to her and asked, "You weren’t hurt yesterday, were you?"

Rachel Royce thanked him. "I didn’t get a chance to thank you yesterday. I’m fine."

’His personality seemed different from Zane Shaw’s. Then again, maybe he just didn’t know what kind of person I am—the woman occupying the position that should belong to his sister, the wife of Tristan Sterling!’

"It’s no problem."

Rachel Royce didn’t want to chat with him. She wanted nothing to do with anyone connected to Tristan Sterling, especially the brother of her husband’s lover.

She said, "I won’t keep you."

Suzanne Sullivan could naturally sense her coldness, and he stepped aside to let her pass.

As Rachel Royce passed him, she saw Peter Preston entering the lobby and called out, "Peter, over here!"

Suzanne Sullivan subconsciously glanced over and saw Peter Preston walking toward them, carrying an insulated lunch box.

He calmly withdrew his gaze and headed for the elevator.

Rachel Royce sat in the public lounge area of the lobby, eating the late-night snack. It was a meal from a five-star hotel.

Peter Preston asked, "How much longer do you think you’ll be?"

"About two more hours."

Peter Preston frowned. "The handover is keeping you this late?" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Not wanting to worry him with the details, Rachel Royce just said, "It’s only for tonight. The whole handover should be done in about five days."

The tasks she was handing over now were just miscellaneous chores, so it wouldn’t take too long. She had already completed all the extra work Sandra Chapman had intentionally piled on her before.

Peter Preston couldn’t help but reach out and gently ruffle her hair. "You’re working too hard," he said, his voice full of concern. "Finish up as soon as you can."

"Okay."

After finishing her snack.

Rachel Royce had to go back upstairs to continue working.

Peter Preston decided to wait for her there, taking the opportunity to handle some of his own work.

Rachel Royce took the elevator back upstairs.

She returned to her desk and resumed her work.

「Until 11:30 PM.」

Rachel Royce was finally done. She organized the digital files and sent them directly to Tristan Sterling’s email, then printed out a hard copy.

When she was finished, she felt utterly depleted. She was exhausted and weary, and her body was clearly struggling to keep up.

Unsure if Tristan Sterling had left for the day, she hesitated for a moment before taking the documents to his office.

The door was opened from the inside.

Suzanne Sullivan was surprised to see Rachel Royce. "Still haven’t left work?" he asked.

Rachel Royce hummed in assent. "I have some documents to give to President Sterling."

Suzanne Sullivan stepped aside.

Rachel Royce walked in and saw the man sitting behind his desk, his clothes immaculate, looking handsome and authoritative. ’Looks like she isn’t here,’ she thought. ’They were probably just discussing work.’

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When Tristan Sterling saw her, his voice was cold and deep. "What is it?"

Rachel Royce placed the documents on his desk and stated in a business-like tone, "I’ve finished processing the documents. I’ve already sent them to your email, President Sterling."

Tristan Sterling’s handsome face was sternly cold as he retorted, "Who is your supervisor? Don’t you know who you’re supposed to report to?"

Rachel Royce froze for a second, then picked the documents back up. "I’m sorry. I went over my superior’s head."

Clutching the documents, she turned and walked toward the door.

Suzanne Sullivan stood by the door with one hand in his pocket, watching her. Rachel Royce clutched the documents with one arm and supported her lower back with the other hand, her head bowed as she walked out. Her steps were slow, and she looked utterly exhausted and ungainly.

He watched her leave.

Suzanne Sullivan then turned to Tristan Sterling and sighed helplessly. "She’s a pregnant woman, and she’s carrying your child. Aren’t you being a bit too cruel?"

He had known Tristan Sterling for many years. While he was cold by nature, he had never been a cruel person.

Simon Shaw had told him about Tristan Sterling’s wife, but he didn’t want to pass judgment on the matter.

Tristan Sterling’s expression was indifferent, his eyes filled with nothing but coldness and disdain for Rachel Royce. "She brings this suffering on herself. She has no one else to blame."

Having only taken a few steps, Rachel Royce overheard their conversation.

Even though her heart had long grown numb with pain, his words still sent a sharp pang through it.

Suddenly, she felt a wave of dizziness. Her steps faltered, and she reached up to her forehead as the files she was holding scattered across the floor.

Suzanne Sullivan watched this unfold, then glanced back at Tristan Sterling. ’It’s probably because Tristan is an absolute control freak, and his wife was an unwelcome surprise,’ he thought. ’Plus, his standards are high, and it’s true his wife’s looks are rather plain.’

He didn’t feel it was his place to say more. "Well, I’ll be going then."

Suzanne Sullivan strode over to Rachel Royce’s side, picked up the scattered files for her, and handed them back. "Go home and get some rest," he said. "Your health is what’s important."

Rachel Royce took them and mumbled a word of thanks.

Then she returned to the office.

Rachel Royce packed up to leave.

Suzanne Sullivan was waiting for the elevator. When the doors opened, he saw Rachel Royce walking slowly and held the door open for her.

Rachel Royce entered the elevator and thanked him again.

"It’s nothing."