The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me-Chapter 4: I Don’t Want to Hear Your Excuses

Chapter 4: I Don’t Want to Hear Your Excuses

"Finish the financial report analysis for New Apex before the lunch break."

Rachel Royce returned to her desk.

Although she had been demoted to a low-level position in the secretarial department, Sandra Chapman had assigned her many tasks that weren’t part of her job description.

And she accepted every single one.

’Working so tirelessly at the company without a single complaint... it’s just me fooling myself. Tristan Sterling won’t even spare me a glance.’

After finishing the report analysis, Rachel Royce gave both the digital and hard copies to Sandra Chapman, then ordered some takeout.

The company had a cafeteria, but she always brought her own lunch. She didn’t want to go to crowded places. She didn’t want people staring at her, didn’t want to interact with anyone. She just wanted to be left alone in peace.

She hadn’t prepared lunch this morning, so she just made do and ordered takeout.

While waiting for her food,

a few colleagues came back into the office after lunch, chatting excitedly as they walked.

"President Sterling’s girlfriend is so young. She must be a university student!"

"Probably. And she’s gorgeous, just like a doll."

"The way the President looks at her... he’s practically dripping with affection. I never thought the ever-serious President had such a deeply loving side. It’s like a real-life story of a domineering CEO and his pampered young wife!"

"..."

As the two colleagues chatted, they walked into the office and noticed Rachel Royce at her desk, sitting as still and silent as a statue. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Ever since she was transferred to the secretarial department, she never spoke to anyone outside of work matters. She had become more and more withdrawn, wearing a mask all day as if she couldn’t bear to be seen.

It was hard to imagine that just over half a year ago, she had been the glamorous presidential assistant with a boundless future.

Rachel Royce got up after receiving a call from the delivery driver.

When she went downstairs to get her food,

she happened to see two hotel staff members carrying food and asking the front desk for directions. The receptionist swiped an access card for them for the president’s private elevator.

Rachel Royce noticed the bottle of red wine in one staff member’s hand. ’That bottle costs around two million. But for Tristan Sterling, two million is nothing—just what he can earn in less than a minute.’

She picked up her takeout box of braised pork knuckle with rice and went upstairs.

「2:00 PM.」

Sandra Chapman found her and said, "The president is looking for you."

Rachel Royce was startled, a vague sense of foreboding rising in her heart.

Sure enough,

when Rachel Royce arrived at the president’s office, an oppressive atmosphere hit her full force. She walked to the desk and called out, "President Sterling."

Tristan Sterling looked up at her, his handsome face cold and grim. He flung the file in his hand at Rachel Royce’s face. "Is this the analysis report you prepared?"

The sharp edge of the A4 paper grazed Rachel Royce’s cheek. She felt a stinging pain and looked down at the scattered documents at her feet. It was the report she had done that morning.

Supporting her stomach with one hand, she bent down with difficulty to pick up the papers from the floor.

The man’s dark eyes watched coldly as she slowly squatted down, one hand still on her stomach.

Rachel Royce examined the analysis report in her hands and immediately spotted several incorrect figures. "President Sterling," she argued, "this isn’t the report I prepared."

"That’s enough. I don’t want to hear your excuses."

Rachel Royce clutched the documents in her hand.

’It wasn’t that Tristan Sterling didn’t know her capabilities. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to hear her defense. He was simply letting her be framed.’

’To be despised to this extent by the man she loved so deeply... she was truly pathetic and laughable.’

She took a deep breath, gently closing her eyes. When she opened them again, she summoned her courage and said, "I have a backup copy. I can send it to you right now, President Sterling. It won’t be too late for you to reprimand me after you’ve seen it."

Tristan Sterling’s dark eyes narrowed, his displeasure evident.

Rachel Royce’s nerves were taut. She had an ingrained fear of Tristan Sterling—the kind of fear one has for authority, especially when his face turned cold. Usually, she wouldn’t dare to utter a single word of rebuttal.

’But now, she forced herself to calm down. They were getting divorced soon anyway. She would give him what he wanted and never set foot in this place again. She no longer held any expectations for him. What was there to be afraid of?’

"You feel wronged?" The man’s voice was like shards of ice, laced with mockery.

Rachel Royce met his cold, shrewd eyes, her fingertips digging deep into her palms. Her voice grew firmer. "President Sterling, you’ve wronged me without even asking for the facts. Shouldn’t I be allowed to prove my innocence?"

Tristan Sterling’s expression turned completely glacial. "That’s also something you deserve."

Rachel Royce felt a sharp pain pierce her heart, and her face turned deathly pale.

Just then,

the door to the break room opened.

A young woman in a pink silk slip dress walked out. She had long, glossy black hair, skin so fair it seemed to glow, and exquisite features so beautiful you couldn’t look away.

"Tristan!"

The young woman’s voice was as gentle and delicate as a spring rain.

Rachel Royce finally got a clear look at the girl’s face. She was indeed so beautiful it would make anyone feel inadequate.

She had only just glanced at her when she heard the man’s harsh shout, "Get out!"

Rachel Royce averted her gaze, suppressed the turmoil of emotions rising within her, and turned to leave.

Just as she stepped out of the office,

she heard the girl’s gentle, soothing voice, and the man quickly calmed down.

"..."

Rachel Royce tilted her head back, forcing her tears back.

She fled to a deserted corner of the stairwell. Leaning one hand on the railing, she could no longer hold back her emotions. Tears streamed down her face, and a gut-wrenching pain seized her heart, making her stomach churn.

’To completely tear out a man she had loved for eight years from the depths of her heart was like carving flesh from her bones. But it was okay. Everything would be all right. She would forget him completely.’

She didn’t know how much time had passed.

When she finally calmed down and went upstairs toward her desk, she ran into the girl from the office. The girl was dressed in custom designer brands, exquisite from head to toe. It was obvious she was the kind of girl who had been raised with wealth and doted on her entire life.

Mark Chapman was personally escorting her. Mark Chapman was Tristan Sterling’s special assistant.

When the girl saw Rachel Royce, she smiled and walked toward her, stopping to say gently, "It’s all right now. Tristan won’t blame you anymore."

As she spoke,

she reached into her bag, took out a pearl, then grasped Rachel Royce’s hand and placed the Pearl in her palm. "This is for you. Don’t be sad anymore. And remember to treat the cut on your face. Scars don’t look good on a girl."

’What a beautiful, kind girl.’

’Compared to this girl radiating youthful energy, she was like a clown living in a world of shadows.’

Seeing that Rachel Royce had no reaction,

Mark Chapman frowned and reminded her in a cold voice, "Aren’t you going to thank Miss Ainsworth?"

’So, her last name was Ainsworth.’

Claire Ainsworth pulled her hand back and said, "It’s alright. Let’s go."

The two of them left.

Rachel Royce stood frozen in place, staring at the silver-blue Australian White Pearl in her palm. Its texture was flawless, as pure as the girl who had given it to her.

’She just wondered if this Miss Ainsworth knew that Tristan Sterling was already married.’

Back at her desk,

she printed another copy of the original file and placed it in front of Sandra Chapman. When Sandra saw her, her expression showed not a hint of shame, but was filled with smug satisfaction.

"Now you see clearly what kind of woman is worthy of the president."

Rachel Royce slammed the documents down in front of her. "So I’m not worthy, and neither are you. All you know are these cheap tricks. You’ll never have a future in this life. You’re already in your thirties; you should hurry up and find someone to marry instead of daydreaming."