novelraw Chapter 192: Who Do You Want to Be Melissa’s Father?
Chapter 192: Who Do You Want to Be Melissa’s Father?
Chapter 192: Who Do You Want as Melissa’s Father?
Rachel Royce sat on the sofa, pulling Melissa into her arms. "Aunt Evelynn has to go abroad for work tomorrow, too," she said.
Melissa blinked her big eyes, startled at first. The sparkle in her beautiful, crystalline eyes visibly dimmed. "Aunt Evelynn is always so busy."
Hearing the sadness in Melissa’s voice, Rachel Royce’s heart felt like it was being pricked by needles. Her voice tightened. "I’m sorry, Melissa."
Melissa asked, "Then when is Aunt Evelynn coming back?"
Rachel Royce said, "Auntie isn’t sure right now. If Melissa misses Auntie, you can call or video chat with me anytime."
Melissa suddenly lowered her head and fell silent.
Rachel Royce lifted Melissa onto her lap. Running her fingers over Melissa’s cheek, she asked softly, "Sweetheart, what’s wrong?"
That’s when she saw Melissa’s reddened eyes. Rachel Royce’s heart seized.
"Melissa."
Melissa raised a hand to wipe her eyes, letting out a sob. "I’m sorry, Aunt Evelynn. I don’t want to cry, but... it hurts to think I won’t be able to see you."
Listening to Melissa’s choked sobs, Rachel Royce felt an agonizing pang in her heart. She reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of Melissa’s eyes. "There, there. It’s not like Auntie is gone forever. I’m just going away for work. I’ll definitely come back. Please stop crying, okay, Melissa?"
Melissa looked at Rachel Royce. "Then can Aunt Evelynn message me every day?"
"Of course. No matter how busy I get, Auntie will always message Melissa."
"Aunt Evelynn has to come back as soon as possible."
"The moment I’m done with work, I’ll come back to see Melissa."
Rachel Royce did her best to soothe Melissa, inwardly anxious about whether the distress would affect her heart. Fortunately, Melissa’s complexion remained normal.
After much effort, she finally managed to calm Melissa down.
Rachel Royce wiped the tear stains from Melissa’s face, held her on the sofa, and gently patted her back.
Leaning against Rachel Royce like that, Melissa unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
She carefully lifted Melissa, laid her on the bed, and pulled the covers over her. Then, she sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching Melissa’s sleeping face.
Rachel Royce suddenly thought of something.
She quickly grabbed her phone to call Tristan Sterling, but he hung up on her again.
Rachel Royce’s expression darkened. She sent Tristan Sterling a text: Melissa is sleeping with me tonight!
After she sent the message, the man still didn’t reply.
’Knowing that bastard’s tendency to follow through on his words, he’s probably already on his way over.’
She left the bedroom.
Florence Preston was just about to look for her. "Rachel."
Rachel Royce noticed her expression was off and asked in confusion, "Mom, what’s wrong?"
"Tristan Sterling is here!"
Rachel Royce hurried downstairs.
She immediately saw Tristan Sterling standing at the entrance to the living room, with Peter Preston and Julian Jennings blocking his way.
It looked like Julian Jennings had been about to leave and had run into Tristan Sterling by chance.
The Preston Family, who had been chatting in the living room, all stared in surprised astonishment at the man who had suddenly appeared.
For a moment, an indescribably strange silence fell over the living room.
Tristan Sterling raised his cold eyes to look at Rachel Royce.
Rachel Royce strode toward the doorway, her beautiful, angry eyes glaring at the man. She stepped forward and grabbed his arm. "Come outside!"
Tristan Sterling turned and followed Rachel Royce out.
After the two of them left, the Preston Family immediately asked, "Wendy, who is that?"
Her aunt spoke up. "That... isn’t he the one from the hospital today? Melissa looks so much like him. Don’t tell me he’s..."
When they had met Melissa, the girl had been wearing a mask, so the aunt hadn’t gotten a clear look at her face. Even after Melissa came back and took it off, she hadn’t made the connection.
But now, looking closely at the man who had just appeared, she realized Melissa was his spitting image!
"Florence, don’t tell me that’s Melissa’s... father?"
Florence Preston’s expression was grim.
Florence’s reaction said it all.
Her aunt belatedly realized why his expression had been so ugly at the hospital. She had told the child’s father to his face that his daughter belonged to someone else.
Instantly, a chill ran down her spine.
’That man looked like he wasn’t someone to be trifled with.’
Rachel Royce dragged Tristan Sterling into the courtyard. Once they were a good distance away, she stopped abruptly, spun around, and looked up at him. "Tristan Sterling, are you insane? What the hell are you doing here?"
Tristan Sterling looked down at the furious woman before him, his eyes glinting with a dangerous chill. "Who do you want Melissa to accept as her father?"
Rachel Royce’s pupils widened as she instantly realized what he was talking about.
’So he came here to call me to account?’
’All because my aunt mistook Melissa for my child with Julian Jennings?’
’Even so!’
’He knows it was just a small misunderstanding.’
’But he got so worked up that he had to come all the way over here.’
’What a petty, narrow-minded bastard.’
Rachel Royce stared at him and let out a cold laugh. "So, what, if you didn’t come over and let everyone know that you’re Melissa’s father, you wouldn’t have been able to sleep tonight from anger, is that it?"
Tristan Sterling stared at her.
"Fine. Then go tell everyone right now that you’re Melissa’s father. Go on!" As she spoke, she jutted her chin, gesturing for him to turn and go back.
The man stood backlit, with only a sliver of light tracing the side of his face, making his expression all the more inscrutable.
Seeing him remain silent, Rachel Royce raised an eyebrow. "If you’re not willing to go back, then I’ll just call them all out here."
The words had barely left her mouth when Rachel Royce strode past him and headed for the house.
She had only taken two steps when a familiar force grabbed her wrist.
This time, Rachel Royce didn’t struggle. She looked up at the man. "What are you doing?"
Tristan Sterling glanced sideways, his sinister eyes fixed on the woman before him. "Provoking me, does it feel good?"
A sarcastic curve touched Rachel Royce’s lips. "So, fulfilling your wish is considered provoking you. You really are hard to please."
As she finished speaking, Tristan Sterling suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled forcefully.
Caught off guard, Rachel Royce slammed into the man’s chest. Every nerve in her body went on high alert. "Tristan Sterling... Mmph."
The man’s kiss came down hard and demanding.
Rachel Royce’s eyes flew open, and she balled her fists to push against the man’s chest.
At the same time.
The three people who had been walking over and were now standing a short distance away froze in shock at the sight before them.
From their vantage point, they could only see the man’s tall figure, completely enveloping the petite woman in his arms. They couldn’t make out Rachel Royce’s expression.
In the dim light, from a distance, it looked like they were locked in a passionate embrace.
Julian Jennings stared at the scene, his face abruptly darkening.
Her aunt, who had followed them out of curiosity, stared wide-eyed at the scene.
’So... Rachel’s so-called husband really is this man in front of them.’
Before her aunt could even react, Julian Jennings was already striding toward the pair.
Tristan Sterling slowly released Rachel Royce, who was nearly out of breath.
Suddenly, a sharp fist cut through the air toward him.
Tristan Sterling caught it with a backhand grip. He turned his head, his gaze as sharp as a blade, and looked at Julian Jennings. "President Jennings, what is the meaning of this?"
Julian Jennings pulled his hand back and drew Rachel Royce from the man’s arms to shelter her behind him. Rachel Royce was gasping for air.
"Tristan Sterling, I’ll thank you to show Rachel some respect!"