The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 18: You Have No Right to Speak

Chapter 18: You Have No Right to Speak

At her words, Claire Ainsworth’s expression instantly turned cold.

Joanna Sutton paid her no mind, not wanting to waste another word on her. She turned to Rachel Royce and said, "Rachel, let’s go!"

Joanna took Rachel’s arm, and they started to leave.

Rachel, noticing the look on Joanna’s face, asked, "What’s the history between you two?"

"It’s nothing," Joanna said. "I just can’t stand her."

Claire Ainsworth watched them leave. Hearing Joanna’s comment, her gaze turned exceptionally sinister.

They hadn’t gone far when Rachel suddenly remembered something. "Joanna, could you do me a favor and grab my purse from the private room? I have something I need to give back to her."

Joanna frowned. "You know her, too?"

"Not really," Rachel replied.

Joanna didn’t press the issue. "Okay, wait here. I’ll be right back."

"Okay."

Joanna strode off.

Rachel looked toward the restrooms and waited right where she was.

A few minutes later.

Claire Ainsworth emerged from the restroom and saw Rachel waiting. She walked over, a gentle smile on her face. "You’re waiting for me."

"Yes," Rachel said. "I have something to give back to you, Miss Ainsworth. Please wait just a moment."

Claire’s expression shifted as if in realization. A smirk played on her lips. "Oh, you mean that Australian White Pearl? It’s defective. I was just going to throw it out. Don’t bother returning it; I don’t want it."

Rachel just looked at her.

Claire Ainsworth smiled. "Well, I’m off."

As she walked past Rachel, she saw Joanna approaching.

Claire walked straight up to Joanna, who stopped and stared at her. Wearing eight-centimeter heels, Claire was able to meet Joanna’s gaze at eye level.

"Joanna, you know me. I can’t stand being disrespected. If you apologize for your attitude just now, I’ll pretend this never happened."

A smile played on Claire Ainsworth’s lips, and her voice was deceptively sweet.

If you couldn’t hear her words, you might think she was just having a friendly chat.

Joanna looked at her, a scornful smirk forming on her lips. "Miss Ainsworth, you’re as arrogant as ever. But let me give you a piece of advice: don’t tempt me to slap you when I’m having a good day."

The moment the words left her mouth, Claire violently raised her hand to slap Joanna. But Joanna was faster. She blocked Claire’s arm with one hand and, with the other, slapped Claire hard across the face.

SLAP!

The force of the blow snapped Claire’s head to the side.

Seeing this, Rachel was completely stunned.

She hurried forward and grabbed Joanna’s arm. "Joanna!"

Clutching her stinging cheek, Claire looked up and glared daggers at Joanna, but she didn’t strike back.

Just then, a deep voice called out, "Claire."

At the sound of that voice, every nerve in Rachel’s body went taut.

She whipped her head around to see Tristan Sterling striding toward them.

"Tristan..."

With a choked sob, Claire stumbled toward him. Tristan strode forward, and she collapsed into his embrace.

Tristan’s large hand rested on her back as his other gently caressed her reddened cheek. His eyes instantly turned to ice, sharp and terrifying.

Rachel felt a cold sweat break out on her back.

His icy gaze fell upon Rachel and Joanna. He then asked Claire, "Who hit you?"

Before Claire could answer, Joanna stepped forward, meeting Tristan Sterling’s dark gaze head-on. "I did it," she admitted brazenly. "Is President Sterling going to hit me on her behalf?"

Tristan glared at Joanna, his deep voice laced with danger. "So, have you decided how you’re going to pay the price?"

Joanna was completely unafraid. "Fine by me! Whatever price President Sterling wants to exact, a nobody like me can’t fight back, can I? I’m at your mercy. Suzanne Sullivan is with you today, isn’t he, President Sterling? You might as well tell him that I hit his sister. If we’re settling scores, let’s get it all done at once."

Watching Joanna, Rachel was suddenly struck by her own cowardice.

Watching her own cheating husband shield another woman, she lacked even the courage to step forward. She clenched her fists, moved to stand before Tristan, and said, "Miss Ainsworth tried to strike first. Joanna was only defending herself."

Tristan’s gaze landed on Rachel, and it grew colder still. "You have no right to speak here."

His words struck Rachel like a hammer blow to the chest. Her eyes trembled, and she found she could no longer meet his gaze.

"President Sterling, what a devoted lover you are!"

Ian Quinn’s voice cut in.

Julian Jennings and Ian Quinn were walking over, with Suzanne Sullivan following them.

When Joanna had gone back to the private room, she had briefly mentioned that they’d run into Claire and that Rachel had something to give her.

After waiting for a bit, Julian had started to worry and came out to look for them. He happened to run into Suzanne, who was on the phone outside.

Suzanne saw Claire cradled protectively in Tristan’s arms, and then his eyes shifted to Joanna.

"Brother!"

Claire called out to him, her voice full of grievance.

Suzanne saw the red mark on her cheek and frowned.

"Oh, so Miss Ainsworth got hit! Look how red her face is. Should we rush her to the hospital? What if she’s disfigured?" Ian Quinn said with a look of feigned urgency, but everyone could hear the sarcasm dripping from his words.

Joanna immediately chimed in, "The hospital? We’d better call in a helicopter, or it might heal before she even gets there."

"..."

Listening to their coordinated mockery, Claire’s expression turned ugly.

Joanna then looked at Suzanne, her tone impatient. "President Sullivan, President Sterling wants to make me pay a price. You should get on with it, too. Don’t waste everyone’s time."

Suzanne’s face was grim.

"I mean, President Sterling," Ian immediately interjected, his words deliberately meant to be grating, "your pregnant wife is standing right here. Can’t you tone it down a bit? This would look really bad if word got out."

Joanna’s eyes widened in shock. She connected this to what Ian had said in the private room earlier, and just as she was about to speak...

"Ian, Joanna!"

Julian cut them off in a stern voice.

Rachel kept her eyes downcast and tugged on Joanna’s sleeve, silently pleading with her to stop.

At this point, Tristan’s dark expression was beyond ugly.

Joanna glanced at Rachel, then at Claire, who was being shielded in Tristan’s one-armed embrace. A sudden realization dawned on her, and the look she gave Claire became one of even more blatant contempt and scorn.

Meeting Joanna’s gaze, Claire felt a surge of irritation.

She looked down on Rachel and didn’t even consider her a rival. But Joanna... she was wary of Joanna.

"President Sullivan, President Sterling, I apologize," Julian said, his tone sincere. "Regardless of the reason, it was wrong for Joanna to hit her. How would you like to handle this? As long as the terms are acceptable, we’ll cooperate."

Suzanne’s expression was impassive. He looked at Joanna and said, "The one who hit her apologizes."

Julian looked at Joanna. "Apologize to Miss Ainsworth."

Joanna looked at Suzanne and scoffed. ’Make me apologize? I’d rather he just slapped me.’ "You might as well just slap me yourself, President Sullivan," she said aloud.