The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 22: Running Into

Chapter 22: An Encounter

As they were laughing and talking, the server brought their food.

After dinner, Rachel Royce accompanied Thomas Sterling to a nearby luxury shopping mall.

Thomas Sterling’s mother’s birthday was coming up, but he hadn’t bought a gift yet. Since he had some free time, he asked Rachel Royce to help him pick something out.

Rachel agreed. It was a good chance to walk and digest her food.

Thomas parked in the underground garage, and the two of them took the elevator upstairs.

They arrived at a high-end jewelry store.

A sales associate came forward to greet them. She took one look at Thomas Sterling’s distinguished bearing and the multi-million-dollar watch on his wrist and immediately sized him up. ’Such a handsome, wealthy man,’ she thought, ’but his wife is dressed so plainly. They don’t seem to be in the same league at all.’

’The tastes of the rich are truly unpredictable,’ the associate mused. Outwardly, however, she was all smiles. Learning they were buying a gift for an elder, she invited them to sit on the sofa.

The sales associate laid out a row of jade and other jewelry on the coffee table for them to choose from, with prices ranging from six to seven figures.

Thomas Sterling picked up a pearl necklace and examined it closely.

"I think this set would be perfect for your mother," Rachel said. "Take a look."

She held out a necklace for Thomas to see. He put down the pearl necklace he was examining and took the sapphire one from her.

The sales associate immediately began to describe the gemstone’s material and design.

Thomas glanced at it and nodded. "It’s beautiful. We’ll take this set. And wrap up this pearl necklace as well."

"Of course. One moment, please."

The sales associate took the jewelry back to the counter.

Thomas got up to pay.

The sales associate carefully packaged the items and handed the gifts to Thomas.

Thomas took the bag, walked over to Rachel, and said, "Let’s go."

Rachel hummed in agreement. Supporting her belly, she started to get up, only to realize that the shoelace on one of her flats had come undone.

Thomas saw it, placed the bag on the coffee table, and naturally knelt in front of Rachel to tie her shoelace.

The store staff saw this happen.

’This gentleman treats his wife so well,’ they thought, ’but she really doesn’t dress like a wealthy man’s wife.’

Of course, the two of them had no idea what the sales associates were thinking.

Thomas finished tying Rachel’s shoelace and stood up. "There."

Rachel thanked him.

As they were leaving, they heard an employee greet someone at the door: "Welcome."

Immediately after, Thomas and Rachel saw two people enter from outside. Rachel froze. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Tristan Sterling was wearing a black wool sweater with matching straight-leg trousers, looking noble and handsome. He was holding the hand of a girl beside him. Claire Ainsworth wore a little red dress, her hair falling to her waist. With her slender waist, long legs, and beautiful features, she looked like an exquisite doll in a shop window.

Thomas was also startled to see them, but he quickly understood the situation and glanced over at Rachel.

She just averted her gaze, but he saw the helplessness and discomposure in her eyes.

Tristan and Claire Ainsworth walked in.

Thomas stepped forward and greeted him. "Cousin, what a coincidence running into you here."

He acted as if he didn’t see Claire, not asking any questions. Everything was tacitly understood.

Tristan grunted in acknowledgment and asked, "What did you buy?"

"My mom’s birthday is coming up, so I was buying her a gift," Thomas said. "I’m done now, so we’ll be leaving."

Tristan didn’t say anything.

Thomas turned, picked up the bag, and said to Rachel, "Let’s go."

Rachel kept her eyes downcast, never once looking at the other two as she followed Thomas out.

Claire watched them leave, then looked up at Tristan. "They seem to get along quite well."

Tristan didn’t answer. "See if there’s anything you like."

Only after they were a dozen meters away from the store did Rachel lean a hand against a nearby wall and let out a breath.

’I rarely used to see him, but now I’m constantly running into him and his woman, witnessing their happiness. It’s like fate is deliberately mocking me, making me feel flustered and humiliated.’

Seeing her state, Thomas’s expression turned grave. He instinctively reached out to touch her back, then hesitated. His fingers tightened into a fist before he let his hand fall. "Let’s go sit down in that shop up ahead."

Rachel shook her head. "It’s okay. I’d like to go home now."

"Alright."

The two of them took the elevator to the first basement level.

Once they were in the car, Thomas didn’t start the engine right away. With his hands on the steering wheel, he finally asked, "What... are your plans now?"

’I knew Tristan didn’t like Rachel,’ he thought, ’but I never imagined he’d be this indifferent. They’re like strangers. It’s as if the child she’s carrying isn’t even his. Her condition makes it obvious how much she’s suffering.’

Rachel had calmed down by now. Her expression was back to normal as she said, "We’ll get a divorce after the baby is born."

Thomas was taken aback. "A divorce?"

Rachel hummed in affirmation. "Next year, I’m going to the United States for my PhD. Everything will be fine. You don’t have to worry about me." As she spoke, she turned to Thomas and gave him a relaxed smile.

Thomas looked at her.

He was silent for a moment.

He curved his lips into a slight smile. "That’s great. Does that mean it’ll be hard for us to see each other again?"

Rachel’s lips curved as she joked, "You can always come find me if you miss me!"

"That works too," Thomas replied.

He drove out of the underground garage.

On the way, Rachel couldn’t help but think about Joanna Sutton. She had thought Joanna’s father had met with Tristan, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. She wondered what the situation was now.

"Do Grandma and the others know you’re getting a divorce?" Thomas suddenly asked.

Rachel snapped out of her thoughts. "I’m not sure. He probably hasn’t told the Matriarch and the others yet. But they’ll find out sooner or later."

Thomas hummed a response and didn’t press further.

He drove Rachel back to Rosewood Estate.

Before she got out of the car, Thomas handed the pearl necklace he had bought to Rachel. "This is for you."

Rachel was stunned.

Thomas explained, "I never gave you a wedding gift. I thought I’d make up for it today. Let this be my wish for your good fortune in the coming year."

Rachel accepted it without any fuss. "Then I accept your well wishes."

"Mm."

"Drive safe."

Rachel said, then pushed the door open and slowly got out. She stood by the roadside and waved goodbye to Thomas before turning to walk into the residential complex.

Thomas watched her heavy-footed steps as she walked into the complex, only looking away after her figure had disappeared from sight.

He took out his phone and dialed a number.

The call connected quickly.

"Come out for a drink. My treat."

"..."

Rachel returned home.

"You’re back. What did you buy?" Florence Preston asked.

"A gift from Thomas," Rachel said.

"You had dinner with Thomas tonight?"

"Yeah. The friend I was supposed to meet had something come up, and I happened to run into Thomas, so we ate together. Are Dad and the others not back yet?"

Only Florence Preston was home.

"Your dad will be back soon."

The two chatted for a bit.

Rachel then went back to her bedroom. She put the necklace away and checked the time. It was already nine o’clock. She wondered if Joanna Sutton’s dinner meeting was over yet.

After a moment’s thought, she took out her phone and called Julian Jennings.