The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me

Chapter 199: "Since I’m Here, I’m Naturally Taking Her

Chapter 199: "Since I’m here, I’m taking her with me."

"Cousin, you..."

Tristan Sterling’s handsome face was impassive as he looked at Thomas Sterling, his gaze shifting toward the inside of the house.

Rachel Royce and Julian Jennings also saw the man standing in the doorway.

Rachel was shocked.

’How did he find out I was living here?’

Tristan Sterling’s gaze swept past Julian Jennings before finally landing on Rachel Royce. The corner of his lip curled into a sardonic smile as he let out a soft laugh.

He walked straight into the living room.

Thomas Sterling instinctively reached out to block him. "Cousin, what are you doing?"

Tristan Sterling glanced sideways at him, his dark eyes chillingly cold. His voice deepened. "Thomas, do I need to remind you what you’re doing?" The man’s low voice carried an intangible pressure.

Thomas Sterling’s dark eyes tensed as he stared back at him.

Tristan Sterling withdrew his gaze and walked over to Rachel Royce, stopping in front of her. He looked down at her and said, "It seems you’re living quite well."

Rachel met the man’s confrontational gaze. "It has nothing to do with you."

Tristan Sterling let out a cold scoff, then said, "Are you coming with me on your own, or do I have to make you?"

Hearing this, Julian Jennings’s eyes immediately fixed on Tristan Sterling with vigilance.

Rachel said in a flat, emotionless voice, "Sorry, I have plans today."

The man’s gaze bore into her, heavy and dark.

Julian Jennings said, "President Sterling, forcing someone against their will is not the act of a gentleman."

Tristan Sterling turned to look at Julian Jennings, his tone sarcastic. "So, President Jennings is a gentleman?"

Julian Jennings’s voice was candid. "A gentleman is judged by his actions, not his intentions."

Tristan Sterling’s thin lips curved into a cold sneer. "Then what is President Jennings doing here now? Are you all talk, saying one thing and doing another?"

"Why I’m here, and why Rachel needs someone to protect her... I don’t think President Sterling has any right to question that."

Tristan Sterling’s eyes turned cold. "Then I must truly commend President Jennings on his spirit of universal love."

"There’s no need for compliments. If there’s nothing else, President Sterling, please leave."

"Since I’m here, I’m taking her with me."

At his words, Miles Sheldon took a step forward, positioning himself beside Rachel Royce and staring warily at Tristan Sterling. Miles Sheldon was a retired member of the national special forces, and the intimidating aura he exuded was impossible to ignore.

Julian Jennings’s tone was calm. "Since Rachel doesn’t want to go with you today, she won’t be going with you."

Thomas Sterling stepped forward, his tone exceptionally serious. "Cousin, even if you’ve despised Rachel from the very beginning, it’s been five years. Rachel gave you Melissa. Rachel doesn’t owe you anything anymore. She’s not someone you can summon and dismiss at will. I hope you’ll show her some respect."

Tristan Sterling’s cold eyes were fixed on Rachel Royce.

Rachel looked at Tristan Sterling and said, "Tristan Sterling, I told you, I have plans today. I’m not going with you. As for what happened the day before yesterday, I can apologize."

A brief silence fell.

The atmosphere instantly froze. It was as if the surrounding temperature had dropped a few degrees. The tense, confrontational mood in the room was suffocatingly oppressive.

"What... is going on here?" a voice suddenly interjected.

Tristan Sterling turned to look at David.

’This looks like they’re fighting over Evelynn,’ David thought, startled for a moment when the man looked over.

He strode forward, looking from Tristan Sterling to Julian Jennings, then to Thomas Sterling, and finally back to Tristan. "Tristan, what are you doing here?"

Tristan Sterling looked at him, his voice cold and deep. "I should be asking you that."

David said, "I’m here to pick up Evelynn, of course. She’s my date for tonight, which makes her my person." As he spoke, he turned to Julian Jennings. "Mr. Jennings, when did you get to New York?"

Julian Jennings replied, "A couple of days ago."

David said, "Oh," and didn’t press further. He looked at Rachel Royce. "Evelynn, go get ready. I’ll take you to pick out a dress. I guarantee you’ll be the most beautiful and dazzling person there tonight."

Rachel Royce no longer paid Tristan Sterling any mind, not even sparing him another glance. "Okay," she replied, then turned and headed upstairs.

David turned to Tristan Sterling. "Tristan, you came looking for Evelynn? Let me tell you, Evelynn doesn’t like you right now. You should hurry up and divorce her. Don’t hold up my once-in-a-lifetime chance at happiness. I’m getting pretty anxious here."

Tristan Sterling shot him a cold, sidelong glance before turning and walking toward the door.

"Tristan!" David called after his retreating figure.

After Tristan Sterling left, Julian Jennings asked, "Mr. David, what event are you taking Evelynn to tonight?"

David said, "Just a networking reception." Noticing the uneasy expressions on Julian Jennings’s and Thomas Sterling’s faces, he quickly added, "Don’t worry, I’m definitely taking Evelynn to a proper event. Just letting her relax a little."

"That’s good. I actually have an impertinent request. I was hoping Mr. David could spare an extra admission ticket."

David looked at Julian Jennings, clearly hesitant.

Julian Jennings continued, "Evelynn is your date tonight, Mr. David. I just want to go and see for myself."

David was silent for a moment, then said, "Alright, fine."

Thomas Sterling chimed in, "I’ll go too."

David glanced at Thomas Sterling again and gave a helpless smile. "You guys are making it seem like I’m actually selling Evelynn off."

Thomas Sterling said, "You’re joking, Mr. David."

David finally agreed. "Fine. Let’s exchange contact info. Just give me a call tonight when you arrive."

"Thank you."

Julian Jennings exchanged contact information with David.

「A little over ten minutes later.」

Rachel Royce came downstairs.

She had simply freshened up.

"I’ll be going now."

Julian Jennings hummed in acknowledgment. "Be careful on the road."

David and Rachel Royce left the house, got into a car, and drove away.

David glanced sideways at Rachel Royce and couldn’t help but ask, "Why did Tristan Sterling come looking for you today?"

’From the looks of it just now,’ he thought, ’if I’d been a step later, a fight would have broken out.’

Rachel didn’t answer, asking instead, "Is he also going to the party tonight?"

David said, "He is."

Rachel said, "He came to take me."

David suddenly laughed, looking as happy as if he’d just won a round against Tristan Sterling. "And you refused him. Did he fly into a rage from the shame?"

Rachel replied, "Not quite."

David said regretfully, "Looks like I was too late. I missed a good show."

Rachel looked at him. "If you love watching drama so much, you should just stay home and watch it all day."

David laughed. "I don’t just like watching TV shows, I like watching Tristan’s drama. The guy’s too arrogant. Sometimes I want to punch him too. I just want to see him crying his eyes out."

Rachel couldn’t even imagine such a scene. In fact, she found it completely unimaginable.

"If you want to see it that badly, why don’t you just hire someone to tie him up and beat him until he’s crying his eyes out?"

"I’d love to, but that guy isn’t easy to tie up. I’m afraid I’d end up losing my own life in the process."

"You’re such a coward, and you still want to watch."

"Hey, I’m just thinking about it."

"..."