The Husband I Loved for Eight Years Never Loved Me

Chapter 211: We’re Even

Chapter 211: Even

Zion Alden stood up, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and strode forward. He stopped and said, "It was my fault. I apologize to your cousin. I’m sorry."

Thomas Sterling clenched his fists, glaring at him.

"But he hit my little brother last time, so let’s call it even."

"Even?" Tristan Sterling’s voice was ice-cold. "With me, there’s no such thing as ’even.’"

The light in Zion Alden’s eyes dimmed slightly. "Then what do you want to do, Tristan?"

The words had barely left his mouth.

Before anyone could react,

Tristan Sterling threw a punch straight into the man’s face.

Zion Alden fell to the ground with the impact.

The scene left everyone present stunned and frozen in place.

For a moment, Thomas Sterling didn’t understand what his cousin was doing.

Rachel Royce jumped in shock. ’Tristan Sterling has always been so composed, never one to reveal his hand. I never thought he’d get violent in public. Maybe it was to defend Thomas... but maybe it was also for Claire Ainsworth. After all, she was crying so heartbrokenly just now. He had to do something.’

Claire Ainsworth was also in disbelief. She had never seen this forceful side of Tristan Sterling before, and her heart suddenly began to throb uncontrollably.

Although he had always been indulgent with her, he had never stood up for her like this—so dominant, so full of a wild, masculine charm. This was the kind of possessive love she had always craved.

She even wished that punch had been thrown for her.

Even though, at this moment, it wasn’t.

’At least he’s just doing this for Thomas,’ she thought. ’Thomas is his family, after all. Someone bullying him is a direct slap in Tristan Sterling’s face.’

As Zion Alden’s bodyguards moved forward, he raised a hand to stop them. They then helped him up from the floor.

Zion Alden wiped a smear of blood from the corner of his lip. He looked at Tristan Sterling and gave a wicked grin. "So, are we even now?"

Tristan Sterling’s dark eyes were severe. "We’re even."

Claire Ainsworth hurried to his side, her eyes full of worry. "Tristan!"

"I’m fine."

As he spoke, he turned his head, his gaze sweeping past Rachel Royce to land on Thomas Sterling. "Aren’t you going to the hospital?"

Thomas Sterling said nothing, simply taking Rachel Royce by the hand. "Let’s go."

Rachel Royce nodded.

As the two of them were leaving,

Claire Ainsworth suddenly called out, "Wait."

Tristan Sterling looked at her.

The woman bit her lip pitifully. "Evelynn snatched the card you gave me, Tristan. The least she can do is apologize."

Before she had even finished speaking,

Thomas Sterling shot back, "Who do you think you are to demand an apology from her? I don’t hit women, but if I hear you bad-mouthing people like that again, don’t blame me for what happens next."

Claire Ainsworth was taken aback. Having been doted on and put on a pedestal her whole life, with men constantly fawning over her, she had never been threatened like this before.

Thomas Sterling’s tone made it clear he wasn’t kidding.

’What kind of spell has that bitch Rachel cast on him? Doesn’t he know how she clawed her way up to marry Tristan Sterling? And he’s still so protective of her. What could he possibly see in a woman like that?’

"Thomas!" Tristan Sterling’s voice deepened into a warning.

Rachel Royce watched the two of them with cold eyes.

Tristan Sterling looked at her as well.

"I have no interest in your card," Rachel said. "If she wants to use it, let her. Who is she trying to show off for?"

But the card was no longer in her hand. It must have fallen to the floor during the earlier chaos. Rachel’s eyes scanned the ground, and she spotted the black card lying there.

Tristan Sterling naturally noticed it too.

Claire Ainsworth glared at Rachel Royce, furious.

The sharp-eyed store manager hurried over, picked up the black card, wiped it clean, and presented it to Tristan Sterling with both hands.

Zion Alden suddenly let out a derisive snort. "Your woman here was just saying that Evelynn used to be fat, ugly, and so malicious she’d sleep her way into any man’s bed. Is that true?"

His face was a mask of mockery, enjoying the show.

The color drained from Claire Ainsworth’s face in an instant, leaving it deathly pale. She stared at Zion Alden.

"Claire, apologize to Miss Evelynn," came the voice of Alexander Sullivan.

Claire Ainsworth stared at her brother in utter astonishment. He was actually telling her to apologize.

"Brother, you..." She turned to Tristan Sterling, her voice full of grievance. "Tristan!"

Tristan Sterling looked at Zion Alden.

Zion Alden shrugged. "I’m just telling the truth."

"Thomas, let’s go." Rachel Royce couldn’t stand to be there a moment longer.

Thomas Sterling pulled Rachel Royce out of the store.

「After leaving the mall.」

Rachel Royce drove Thomas Sterling to the hospital. His right arm was the most heavily injured, but thankfully, he hadn’t broken any bones; it was just a superficial wound.

「After they left the hospital.」

Neither of them was in the mood to buy any more gifts today.

They would just have to check the duty-free shops at the airport tomorrow.

"Thomas, I’m sorry."

Rachel Royce said suddenly.

Thomas Sterling froze for a second, then looked at Rachel Royce. "Why are you saying sorry?"

Rachel Royce glanced at him. "You got hurt because of me. Of course I have to say I’m sorry."

Thomas Sterling just laughed it off. "What’s a scratch like this? It’ll heal in no time. Besides, it’s my duty to protect you. I can’t just stand by and watch you get bullied."

Rachel Royce managed a smile, but deep down, she felt an unsettling guilt.

Seeing her like this, Thomas Sterling said, "When we get back home, just focus on getting healthy. That’ll be enough to make it up to me."

Rachel Royce said, "Of course."

"So, for your dinner with your friend tonight, call Morgan and have her go with you."

Rachel Royce thought for a moment. "I’ll go find her at the company now."

She drove to the company building.

Rachel Royce called Lina, who was at the office doing handover work today.

Lina came downstairs.

She was surprised to see Rachel Royce. "Evelynn, what are you doing here?"

Rachel Royce stepped forward and handed her a gift and a dessert. "This is for you. I hope you like it."

Lina took them, puzzled. "What’s this?"

Rachel Royce said, "Just a little something. Open it and see if you like it."

Lina took out the box and opened it to find a Cartier bracelet. She looked up at Rachel Royce. "Thank you, I love it. Evelynn, why did you come by now? Weren’t we supposed to meet for dinner tonight? I have a gift for you too, but I haven’t gone home to get it yet."

Rachel Royce said, "Lina, I’ve received your kind thoughts, but I’m afraid I can’t make it to dinner tonight."

Lina was startled, and her expression stiffened slightly, but she did her best to control it.

"Something urgent just came up. I’ll owe you this meal. I’m sure we’ll have a chance to get together again in the future."

After everything that had happened today, she really wasn’t in the mood to go out for dinner.

Lina looked at Rachel Royce, momentarily at a loss for words. She managed to force a smile. "Alright, then!"

Rachel Royce gave her a hug, and they said their goodbyes before she left.

"Goodbye. Here’s to our next reunion."

Lina watched the woman’s retreating back until she was far in the distance. Then, she immediately pulled out her phone and made a call, her expression exceptionally tense and anxious.

The moment the call connected,

"Hello!"

Her voice was trembling faintly.

Rachel Royce and Thomas Sterling returned to the villa.

Julian Jennings was there. Seeing Thomas Sterling, he asked, "What happened?"

Thomas Sterling walked to the sofa and sat down. "Nothing much. Just got in a fight."

Rachel Royce briefly explained the cause of the whole affair to Julian Jennings.