The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me

Chapter 206: Not Violated

Chapter 206: Not Assaulted

The call connected.

"Aunt Evelynn!"

Rachel Royce asked, "Melissa, still awake?"

Tristan Sterling frowned as he watched her from the side.

Melissa yawned. "I was watching cartoons with Nina. I’ll go to sleep right away."

Melissa had been staying at Nina Fitzwilliam’s house for the past two days.

"Aunt Evelynn needs your help with something."

Melissa perked up immediately. "What does Aunt Evelynn need my help with?"

Rachel Royce said, "Aunt Evelynn has a very important contract, and your daddy has it. Could you please ask your daddy to give it back to Aunt Evelynn?"

Melissa immediately got upset. "Daddy’s bullying Aunt Evelynn again."

"Then why don’t you tell your daddy right now?"

"I’ll call Daddy right now."

"Your daddy is right here. I’ll give him the phone."

Holding the phone, Rachel Royce turned and walked toward Tristan Sterling. Seeing his dark expression, she held the phone out to him. "It’s Melissa."

Tristan Sterling stared at her.

"Daddy!"

Melissa’s huffy voice came through the phone.

Tristan Sterling took the phone, put it to his ear, and stood up. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, turning his back to Rachel Royce.

Rachel Royce could hear Melissa’s voice, followed by the man’s, which was now low and coaxing.

"I’m not."

"Daddy and Aunt Evelynn are just talking about work."

"Okay, Daddy understands."

"..."

Tristan Sterling turned around and handed the phone back to Rachel Royce. The call was still connected.

Rachel Royce took it, glancing at him. His handsome face was cold and grim, as if he weren’t the same person who had just been speaking in such a gentle, coaxing tone.

Tristan Sterling took the contract out of a drawer and placed it in front of Rachel Royce.

Rachel Royce took it and looked at it carefully.

It was indeed the transfer agreement.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Aunt Evelynn," Melissa’s voice came through.

Rachel Royce lifted the phone to her ear.

"Did Daddy give it to you?"

"Yes, he did. Thank you, Melissa."

"If Daddy bullies you again, Aunt Evelynn, call me. I’ll help you teach him a lesson."

Rachel Royce’s heart warmed, and she said with a smile, "Okay. It’s getting late, so you should go to sleep soon, Melissa."

Melissa said, "I’m really sleepy now. I’ll call you when I wake up, Aunt Evelynn."

"Okay."

The call ended.

Rachel Royce took the contract and turned to leave without a moment’s hesitation.

Tristan Sterling watched her leave.

As she was leaving, a secretary knocked and entered.

Rachel walked out past them.

"Mr. Sterling."

The secretary handed him a file.

Tristan Sterling took it.

The file was about the circumstances of Zion Alden’s trial and imprisonment.

It also contained the victim’s hospital evaluation. As Tristan Sterling flipped through it, his deep, dark eyes were unreadable. The file contained photos of Rachel Royce’s physical injuries and a psychiatric evaluation. The final page certified that no sexual assault had occurred.

That was why Zion Alden was only sentenced to five years and a fine.

Rachel Royce went downstairs with the contract.

When Thomas Sterling saw her come down, he quickly walked up to her.

"Rachel." As he spoke, his gaze fell on the contract in her hand. "You got it."

Rachel Royce hummed.

Thomas Sterling was worried. "He gave it to you that easily?"

Rachel Royce said, "Let’s get in the car first."

The two of them left the building.

Rachel Royce briefly explained the situation to Thomas Sterling.

Thomas Sterling remarked, "It seems Melissa is the only person in the world who can handle him."

Back at the company.

Rachel Royce went into her office.

Rachel Royce signed and stamped the contract, then had it sent out.

The moment it was sent,

Rachel Royce finally felt a sense of relief.

’It’s finally taken care of.’

Next was to handle the subsequent handover and transition work.

Lina knocked and entered to discuss future operations. An overseas channel partner was scheduled to visit today.

She asked if Rachel wanted to meet them personally.

Rachel Royce said, "Okay, Lina, please arrange it."

Lina replied, "Okay."

As Rachel Royce continued her work, she noticed Lina was still standing there.

Rachel Royce looked up and asked, "Is there something else?"

Lina said, "The thought of not seeing you around anymore, Evelynn... it makes me a little sad."

KU’s success today wasn’t due to Rachel Royce’s efforts alone; it was a team effort, and Lina’s contributions were among the most indispensable.

Rachel Royce got up, walked around her desk to Lina, and hugged her. "I’m sorry for not discussing this with you all beforehand."

Lina hugged her back. "I was a little angry when I first heard, but I know you’re exhausted. You have your own difficulties. You really should let yourself relax a bit."

Rachel Royce nodded, released her, and said earnestly, "Thank you, Lina. We can keep in touch."

Lina didn’t say anything more. She hummed in agreement and said, "Get ready. The meeting is at two."

"Okay."

*

Tristan Sterling arrived at Zion Alden’s villa.

Bodyguards stood inside the house.

Seeing Tristan Sterling, a bodyguard stopped him. "Mr. Sterling, the Young Master is not available to see you right now."

"Go and tell him," Tristan Sterling said, walking straight to the sofa and sitting down.

The bodyguard looked troubled, but in the end, he went upstairs.

Ten minutes passed before three sexy blondes came downstairs, their bodies covered in faint marks.

They saw the tall, handsome man sitting on the sofa.

The women startled in unison. After exchanging a glance, they swayed their hips, thrust out their chests, and sauntered toward Tristan Sterling.

Just as the woman in the lead was about to sit on his lap, the man’s voice cut through the air. "Scram." It wasn’t loud, but it was heavy with authority, and his eyes were full of cold disgust.

The woman jumped, freezing on the spot.

She was suddenly at a loss for what to do.

Just then, a man’s amused voice came from upstairs. "What are you doing? Don’t go scaring them off."

Zion Alden walked down from upstairs.

He was wearing a robe, with gauze wrapped around his head, and his whole body exuded an air of post-coital languor.

He walked over and sat down in front of Tristan Sterling.

"I find them filthy."

Zion Alden sneered and waved his hand.

The women didn’t linger and left the villa.

"You came alone? Perfect. Shouldn’t we settle the score from yesterday?"

Tristan Sterling looked at him, a faint sneer playing on his lips. "How do you want to settle it?"

Their eyes met.

The living room fell silent.

The entire space was filled with a suffocating, oppressive atmosphere.

Suddenly, Zion Alden let out a low laugh. "Alright, spit it out. What do you want from me?"

Tristan Sterling said, "I want to discuss a partnership."

Zion Alden’s expression sobered. "Oh? And you’re not worried I’ll take advantage of you?"

Tristan Sterling replied, "If you’re actually capable of using me, I’d say that’s a skill in itself."

Zion Alden looked at him. "Fine. Then let’s talk."

"..."

Rachel Royce finished her work for the day.

Julian Jennings had already been discharged from the hospital. When he saw her return, he asked, "Is the contract signed?"

"Yes," Rachel Royce replied. "It’s all signed."

"That’s good. Are you free tomorrow?"