novelraw Chapter 216: Poor Dad
Chapter 216: Poor Dad
Chapter 216: Poor Daddy
Tristan Sterling replied, "We’ll talk after the parent-child day at Melissa’s school tomorrow."
Rachel Royce was quite surprised to receive the message. "Okay," she replied.
「Early the next morning.」
Rachel Royce drove to the kindergarten.
"Aunt Evelynn!" Rachel Royce looked up and saw Melissa running toward her.
Melissa was wearing a blue tracksuit today, her hair in a ponytail, looking both perky and cute.
Tristan Sterling’s tracksuit matched Melissa’s; they were a parent-child set. Rachel had almost never seen him wear such light colors, but it didn’t look out of place on him. It softened the cold, powerful aura he usually projected in his business suits.
Rachel Royce strode toward Melissa, crouching down to share an affectionate moment with her.
Tristan Sterling stood to the side, quietly watching them.
"Aunt Evelynn, can you wear the same clothes as Daddy and me, please?"
Rachel had just noticed that Tristan Sterling was carrying a bag with clothes inside.
Most of the parents accompanying their children to the event today were wearing matching outfits.
Rachel Royce couldn’t bring herself to refuse Melissa, so she agreed.
She got up, took the bag from his hand, and went to the school restroom to change. Upon seeing Aunt Evelynn in the same outfit, Melissa’s eyes curved into crescents as she beamed with happiness.
Rachel Royce put her own sportswear in her car.
Melissa held her father’s hand in one of hers and Aunt Evelynn’s in the other, hopping and skipping as happily as a little rabbit.
When they went to gather on the athletic field, they ran into June Jennings, Stella, and Julian Jennings.
The two little girls greeted each other, holding hands.
June Jennings glanced at the couple and greeted them, "Mr. Sterling, Rachel."
Tristan Sterling nodded in acknowledgment.
Rachel Royce greeted Julian Jennings. "Professor, you found the time to come with Stella to the event today."
Julian Jennings replied, "I happened to have some free time this morning. With all the parent-child activities today, I was afraid June wouldn’t be able to handle it alone."
June Jennings huffed, "Don’t underestimate me, big brother."
Julian Jennings shot her down without mercy. "You’re the type who just sprawls out after eating. It looks like you’ve put on some weight since you’ve been back, haven’t you?"
June Jennings protested, "How am I fat? Even Peter Preston hasn’t said I’m fat."
Julian Jennings just smiled without saying a word.
Rachel Royce couldn’t help but smile. It was clear that in the month she’d been abroad, Peter Preston and June Jennings’s relationship had progressed nicely. However, it seemed they still hadn’t broken through that final barrier between them.
The three of them chatted and laughed.
The man standing to the side, however, remained expressionless, looking like a complete outsider.
The children at this kindergarten generally came from wealthy or influential families. Someone recognized Tristan Sterling, and seeing him standing alone, seized the perfect opportunity to go strike up a conversation.
"President Sterling."
Tristan Sterling looked at the man but didn’t recognize him at all. Still, he responded and began to chat.
The man was inwardly stunned and incredibly flattered.
After all, rumor had it that Tristan Sterling was not such a warm person.
"Aunt Evelynn!" Melissa suddenly called out to Rachel Royce.
Rachel Royce looked at Melissa and bent down, asking gently, "What is it, Melissa?"
Melissa said, "Aunt Evelynn, you should talk to Daddy too! Otherwise, poor Daddy has to find other people to talk to."
Rachel Royce froze for a second, then looked up at Tristan Sterling. His expression had clearly stiffened at his daughter’s words; she could even see a flicker of flustered embarrassment in his eyes.
’That Tristan Sterling was pitiful...’ Only Melissa would dare say such a thing.
"Melissa." Tristan Sterling’s voice grew heavy.
Melissa puffed out her cheeks and stared at her father, saying sternly, "Daddy, you have to be the one to talk to Aunt Evelynn! The boy is supposed to take the initiative."
Melissa’s fierce demeanor actually frightened Stella, who hurried over to her mother’s side and grabbed her hand.
Being scolded by his own daughter, Tristan Sterling’s tall figure stood rooted to the spot, looking surprisingly helpless.
The man who had been chatting with Tristan Sterling witnessed this, and it was a real eye-opener. He never would have thought that the decisive, iron-fisted Tristan Sterling of the business world was actually afraid of his daughter.
Tristan Sterling moved to placate his daughter. "Melissa..."
But Melissa just huffed and turned her head away. She stomped her foot sharply and crossed her little arms, looking like she was not to be messed with.
Tristan Sterling’s move to crouch down froze mid-action. He looked up at Rachel Royce, who was standing nearby, then stood up straight and took a step forward.
Before Rachel Royce could process what he was about to do, he took her hand.
Rachel’s arm went rigid. "You..."
Seeing her daddy take the initiative to hold Aunt Evelynn’s hand, Melissa’s lips finally curved into a satisfied smile.
Tristan Sterling bent down slightly and scooped his daughter up with one arm. "Alright, don’t be angry anymore. Daddy will take the initiative from now on."
"That’s more like it," Melissa said.
Tristan Sterling turned his head to Rachel Royce and said, "The activities are about to start. Let’s go."
Her hand was held tightly in his, and she couldn’t bring herself to pull it away in front of Melissa.
And just like that, she let the man lead her away.