The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 19: He Actually Likes This Kind of Woman

Chapter 19: Chapter 19: He Actually Likes This Kind of Woman

Chapter 19: How Could He Like That Kind of Woman?

"Joanna Sutton!" Julian Jennings’s tone grew heavy.

SLAP!

The crisp sound of a slap echoed, a testament to its force.

Joanna Sutton raised a hand and slapped herself right across the face. She looked at Suzanne Sullivan. "This slap is for your sister. If it’s not enough, I can slap myself again."

Suzanne Sullivan’s handsome face was expressionless. He turned sideways to Julian Jennings and said, "President Jennings, let’s just leave it at that."

"Let’s go."

Suzanne Sullivan glanced at Tristan Sterling.

Tristan Sterling put his arm around Claire Ainsworth’s waist, ready to leave with them.

Joanna Sutton handed her purse to Rachel Royce. "Didn’t you have something to return to Miss Ainsworth?"

Rachel Royce snapped back to reality. She took the purse, pulled out the Australian White Pearl, and walked up to Claire Ainsworth. "I have no reason to throw away the trash Miss Ainsworth doesn’t want. You should throw it away yourself."

Claire Ainsworth stared coldly at Rachel Royce, making no move to take it.

Suddenly, a large hand took the Pearl from her.

Rachel Royce’s palm stiffened.

The next moment, the man tossed the Pearl directly into a nearby trash can.

Tristan Sterling took Claire Ainsworth’s hand and strode away.

Suzanne Sullivan glanced at Rachel Royce, then looked away without a word.

Rachel Royce remained frozen in place, her hand still outstretched.

Joanna Sutton stepped forward to support Rachel Royce. "Rachel."

Rachel Royce slowly lowered her hand.

"Let’s go back to the private room first," said Julian Jennings.

Back in the private room, Joanna Sutton couldn’t help but ask, "Rachel, are you and Tristan Sterling married?"

Rachel Royce just nodded slightly in acknowledgment, not wanting to say anything.

Joanna Sutton’s gaze fell on Rachel Royce’s large belly, and the sneer on her lips deepened. She picked up her glass, downed it in one go, and slammed it back on the table. "Claire Ainsworth really loves to steal other people’s men. She must have been completely unwanted in her past life to be this desperate now. If I’d known, I would’ve slapped her a couple more times."

"Alright, Joanna. That’s enough," said Julian Jennings.

Joanna Sutton shut her mouth.

"You really went hard on yourself. Look at how swollen your face is. We should get you some ice," Ian Quinn said.

Joanna Sutton replied, "I’m not that delicate."

The atmosphere in the private room immediately grew heavy.

Julian Jennings looked at Rachel Royce’s pale face and asked, "Are you okay?"

Rachel Royce looked at Julian Jennings, shook her head, and forced a smile. "I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, Professor."

Julian Jennings simply said, "Things will get better."

Joanna said, "There are plenty of fish in the sea. A three-legged toad is hard to find, but two-legged men are all over the street! Women should be just like men. Why do they get to have affairs while we’re expected to be virtuous? We can play their game too!"

"Hey, didn’t you notice there are two men right here? Who are you taking a jab at?" Ian Quinn retorted.

That just fired Joanna Sutton up. "Oh, was I wrong? Then why don’t you tell us, Mr. Quinn, which number girlfriend are you on now?" As she spoke, she seriously began counting on her fingers before holding up all five. "It must be at least five hundred by now!"

Ian Quinn laughed in exasperation. "Are you even telling friend from foe right now? Five hundred? Why not just say five thousand? Besides, all my relationships were serious. I’ve never fooled around."

Joanna Sutton snorted. "Close enough."

"What do you mean, ’close enough’? It’s not even close."

"..."

Listening to the two of them bicker, Rachel Royce’s mood lightened considerably.

"By the way, Joanna, what happened between you and Claire Ainsworth?"

’The animosity seems to run deep. It feels like it has something to do with Claire Ainsworth’s brother.’

Joanna Sutton sighed. "It’s a long story. I used to date her brother. We were even about to get engaged."

Rachel Royce was surprised. Recalling what she had just said, she asked, "So, you two broke up because of Claire Ainsworth?"

A deep sneer crossed Joanna Sutton’s lips, her eyes filled with intense disgust. "Her? She wishes every man in the world would revolve around her. Whenever things got even slightly better between her brother and me, she’d raise hell, acting like I was stealing her man. Suzanne Sullivan really dotes on her. Anyway, thinking about it now, it’s a good thing we broke up. If I had actually married him, my life would have been miserable."

’So Tristan Sterling actually likes that kind of woman. His taste is exceptionally bad.’

Ian Quinn’s teasing voice cut in, "Well, at least our President Jennings has good taste!"

Julian Jennings shot him a look.

Rachel Royce was confused.

Joanna Sutton explained, "Claire Ainsworth used to pursue your professor, but he rejected her outright." Her tone was tinged with satisfaction as she said it.

Rachel Royce was in disbelief. ’So they were all entangled in this way.’

’So this is the kind of woman Tristan Sterling likes... but then again, there’s no explaining who you fall for.’

When it was about time to leave, the group left the restaurant.

Just as they reached the lobby, they saw a scene of reluctant parting at the entrance.

Joanna Sutton couldn’t help but mutter, "What a jinx."

The group slowed their pace, waiting for the others to leave first.

Claire Ainsworth was holding Tristan Sterling’s hand, unwilling to get in the car and part with him.

The man’s large palm gently stroked the woman’s head, his gaze soft. "Go on, go home with your brother."

Claire Ainsworth noticed the approaching group out of the corner of her eye. She tilted her head up, her red lips parting as she said coquettishly, "Then give me a kiss, Tristan."

Before Tristan Sterling could make a move, Suzanne Sullivan’s tone grew heavy. "Claire, it’s time to go."

Tristan Sterling said, "I’ll make it up to you next time."

Claire Ainsworth: "Alright then!"

Claire Ainsworth let go of Tristan Sterling’s hand and turned to get in the car.

Suzanne Sullivan glanced back into the lobby before getting into the car as well.

Tristan Sterling, Simon Shaw, and two other executives from Cedarwood who were with them each got into their own cars and left.

After they had all left, the group finally made their way to the parking lot.

Julian Jennings was driving Rachel Royce home. He opened the passenger-side door for her.

Rachel Royce turned her head to say goodbye to Joanna Sutton.

Joanna Sutton waved. "Go home and get some rest. We’ll meet up again when we have time."

Rachel Royce nodded. "Okay." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Rachel Royce got in the car.

Ian Quinn drove Joanna Sutton home.

「Inside the car.」

Rachel Royce couldn’t help but worry. "Joanna was really too impulsive today. I have a feeling Tristan Sterling won’t let this go."

’Especially when I think about the look in his eyes as he left... it makes me uneasy.’

’When Suzanne Sullivan told her to apologize, I could tell he was just giving Joanna an out. After all, they had a history, so he probably still felt a need to protect her.’

Julian Jennings said, "I’ll keep an eye on things. Don’t worry too much."

Rachel Royce hummed in agreement.

Just then, Rachel Royce’s phone vibrated. She took it out of her purse, expecting a call from Florence Preston. But when she saw the caller ID, she froze.

Julian Jennings glanced at her. "Is that Tristan Sterling?"

"Yeah."

"You should answer it," Julian Jennings said.

Rachel Royce took a breath to compose herself and answered the call. "Hello?"

From the other end of the line came a man’s deep, domineering voice. "Come back to Silvermist Bay."

With that, he hung up.