The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 144: Not Love, but Hate

Chapter 144: Not Love, But Hate

Joanna Sutton had once tipsily asked her a question. "Rachel, have you really, truly let go of that son of a bitch Tristan Sterling?"

’Have I truly let him go?’

’Probably not.’

’It wasn’t because I still loved him.’ 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

’It was hate.’

After discussing work with her, Joanna Sutton left the office.

Rachel Royce went back to processing files and data.

Melissa brought her workbook over. "Aunt Evelynn, I’m finished. Could you take a look?"

Rachel Royce took Melissa’s workbook and began to check it.

It was mostly arithmetic problems and classical poetry analysis.

There were no mistakes in the arithmetic problems.

Rachel Royce went over the classical poetry with Melissa again.

Melissa listened intently and immediately made the corrections.

Once she finished, knowing Aunt Evelynn had to work, she obediently took her tablet and sat on the sofa to play games by herself.

「Around six o’clock.」

Rachel finished her work and got ready to leave for the day.

"Melissa, let’s go. We’re going to see Stella."

"Okay."

Rachel Royce packed Melissa’s little backpack, carried it for her, and led her out of the office by the hand.

They took the elevator down to the underground parking garage.

A car horn honked.

Rachel Royce led Melissa toward Julian Jennings’s car. Julian had gotten out and walked over to open the back door for them.

"Hello, Mr. Jennings," Melissa said politely.

Julian Jennings smiled. "Hello, Melissa."

Rachel Royce got into the car with Melissa.

Julian Jennings drove away from the office building.

They arrived at Azure Cove.

Julian Jennings spent most of his time living in a spacious apartment here.

June Jennings and her daughter, Stella, also lived in the building.

Her apartment was on the eighth floor, while Julian’s was on the seventh.

The car was parked in the underground garage.

Rachel Royce got out of the car with Melissa.

The three of them walked toward the elevators.

As they walked through the garage, Simon Shaw, who was just about to drive away, saw the three of them.

When he saw Melissa with Julian Jennings and Evelynn, he froze.

’I can’t believe I’m seeing Evelynn here again.’

’She’s as beautiful and captivating as ever.’

Everyone in their circle was now talking about the arrival of a great beauty—one so stunning she could captivate you for a lifetime with a single glance.

At last night’s charity banquet, someone had taken her picture. He had seen it. One look was enough to leave a man utterly smitten, but Julian Jennings had been by her side.

Simon Shaw knew Julian Jennings lived here.

’So, does this mean Evelynn is already dating him?’

A sharp pang of pain shot through his heart.

’But why is Evelynn with Melissa?’

Simon Shaw took out his phone and immediately dialed Tristan Sterling’s number.

The call connected almost instantly.

"Tristan."

"What is it?"

Simon Shaw said, "I just saw Evelynn with Melissa and Julian Jennings at Azure Cove. Julian lives here. Why would you let Evelynn take Melissa?"

He was completely baffled.

After he spoke, there was a two-second pause on the other end of the line before the man’s emotionless voice replied, "I see."

"Tristan."

Confused, Simon Shaw was about to ask another question.

But Tristan Sterling cut in, "When are you getting here?"

Simon Shaw didn’t press the matter. "I’m heading out now."

It was a rare occasion that he had managed to schedule a dinner with Tristan Sterling tonight.

After hanging up, Simon Shaw glanced in the direction the trio had gone, suppressed the ache in his chest, and drove away.

「Up on the seventh floor.」

Julian Jennings opened his apartment door.

Rachel Royce entered with Melissa.

"Melissa, Rachel, you’re here!"

June Jennings came forward to greet them.

"Miss June, is Stella feeling better?"

June Jennings bent down to Melissa’s level. "She’s much better now. Thank you for asking, Melissa."

"Melissa," Stella called out, walking over.

Rachel Royce looked at Stella, who did indeed seem much better.

Stella took Melissa’s hand. "Come on, Melissa, I want to show you my drawing."

June Jennings said, "Stella, you can look after dinner."

Stella let out a small "oh."

Dinner was already prepared.

Knowing Melissa was coming, they had made all of her favorite dishes.

「After dinner.」

Melissa and Stella were playing in the living room.

Melissa told Stella about the homework their teacher had assigned that day. Stella, who always listened to Melissa, immediately wanted to get her notebook and go to her room to do her homework.

When Melissa was with other children, she clearly acted like a little adult, and her words carried a lot of weight.

June Jennings smiled. "This is great. With Melissa looking after Stella in the future, I can rest easy."

Rachel Royce said, "Melissa, go keep Stella company while she does her homework."

"Okay."

The two little girls went into the room and closed the door to do their own thing.

Julian Jennings chatted with June and Rachel for a while before getting up and heading to his study to work.

June and Rachel sat in the living room, idly chatting while the TV played.

"You’ve been with Melissa this whole time. Hasn’t Tristan Sterling come back from his business trip yet?" June asked.

Rachel Royce replied, "He’s back. But even when he is, I want to spend time with Melissa whenever I can."

June Jennings said, "Melissa really has you wrapped around her little finger. But then again, any mother would be the same."

As a mother herself, she completely understood Rachel’s feelings for her child—a bond of flesh and blood that not just anyone could sever and walk away from.

Rachel Royce couldn’t deny June’s words.

Just then, she received a call from Florence Preston.

Rachel told her that she wouldn’t be coming home tonight; she and Melissa would be staying over, and they could just borrow anything Melissa needed from Stella.

June went to get Melissa a change of clothes, toiletries, and pajamas. She even picked out a designer, custom-made dress for Melissa to wear the next day.

Everything was brand new and had never been worn.

June’s life now revolved around her daughter; she spent her days thinking of new ways to dress her up beautifully.

When Stella and Melissa came out of the room, Stella began to show her mother her homework.

Looking at the workbook, June said in pleasant surprise, "Stella, this is amazing! Your handwriting is so good."

She had a very relaxed approach to her daughter’s education. If Stella liked something, she let her do it; if she didn’t, June wouldn’t force her, preferring to let her grow up freely.

As a result, Stella was a bit more relaxed when it came to her studies.

"Melissa taught me."

June looked at Melissa, who was leaning against Rachel Royce, and said, "Thank you, Melissa."

"You’re welcome."

Julian Jennings came out of his study.

"Rachel, could you come here for a second? There’s an email I’d like you to see."

"Oh, okay."

Rachel Royce got up and walked over to Julian Jennings.

June watched her brother, her eyes narrowing into a sly, fox-like smile.

Julian glanced at his sister, then looked away.

Once in Julian Jennings’s study, he offered her a seat. "Have a seat."

Rachel Royce sat down in his office chair and began reading the email on the screen.

It was about their overseas investment operations.

Leaning over, Julian Jennings propped one hand on the edge of the desk, pointing to a set of data on the screen as he discussed it with Rachel.

From this close, he could clearly smell the subtle, sophisticated fragrance that clung to her.

He lowered his gaze. He could see her delicate, almost poreless skin and the way her long, wing-like lashes framed a pair of beautiful eyes, which were currently focused on the computer screen as she answered him.

As she spoke, she turned her head and inadvertently met his gaze.