novelraw Chapter 236: Limited Patience
Chapter 236: Limited Patience
Chapter 236: Patience Is Limited
Franklin Fitzwilliam quickly said, "Alright, alright, I get it. Honey, don’t be angry. Think of our son." It had already been confirmed that the child William Jensen was carrying was a boy.
The luncheon ended.
Rachel Royce and Thomas Sterling left the hotel first.
"So it was Mrs. Ainsworth pulling the strings behind the scenes," Thomas Sterling said.
Rachel Royce replied, "Besides her, who else could I possibly think of who would target me? Didn’t you notice something was off with Raina Willow today?" Thomas Sterling looked straight ahead. "I did. She was dressed to have a strong resemblance to you. From a distance, anyone who doesn’t know you well might not be able to tell the difference at first glance." "So, who else but her would deliberately have someone dress so much like me and know my habits so well?" "True. But what does she hope to achieve by doing this?" A sarcastic smirk touched the corner of Rachel Royce’s lips. "Isn’t it obvious? She wants Tristan Sterling to think I’m some classless woman fooling around with his cousin. That way, he’ll be too ashamed to ever publicly acknowledge me, and might even become so disgusted that he’ll finally agree to a divorce." Thomas Sterling’s expression darkened. "What a deeply calculating woman. But does she really think he’s that easy to fool?" Rachel Royce looked out the window. "Who knows."
"Go to Alexander Sullivan’s company."
In the hotel lobby.
"Tristan, you wanted to see me." Jane Sullivan sat across from Tristan Sterling.
Tristan Sterling’s dark eyes bore into her as he asked bluntly, "The scandal this morning involving Rachel and Thomas. That was your handiwork, wasn’t it, Mrs. Ainsworth?" Although she had braced herself for it, Jane Sullivan still felt a surge of pressure from Tristan Sterling’s directness.
But outwardly, she maintained her dignified air. "It’s clear that Thomas cares for Rachel a great deal."
"It seems that in Mrs. Ainsworth’s mind, Rachel Royce is no longer your daughter."
Jane Sullivan’s heart sank. After a moment of silence, she said, "Tristan, since Rachel already wants to divorce you, what’s the point of you insisting on this loveless marriage for Melissa’s sake? Melissa will grow up one day..."
"Mrs. Ainsworth." An icy expression settled on the man’s handsome features, and his voice grew cold. "You have no right to concern yourself with Melissa."
Jane Sullivan’s face stiffened.
"I would advise Mrs. Ainsworth to stop playing these crude games. And don’t mistake me for Chairman Ainsworth." This was a warning: he was not a man who could be easily manipulated.
"You may not care about your own daughter—she can’t harm you. But Thomas is a member of the Sterling Family, and he is not someone to be trifled with. I suggest you don’t make things ugly for yourself, Mrs. Ainsworth."
What was Jane Sullivan trying to do?
Tristan Sterling knew perfectly well that Jane Sullivan was also the reason Claire Ainsworth had appeared at Evelyn Fitzwilliam’s birthday banquet.
However, Claire Ainsworth had sought out Tristan Sterling, wanting to arrive at the hotel with him.
Jane Sullivan’s goal was to signal to everyone the nature of Claire Ainsworth’s relationship with Tristan Sterling, making it impossible for him to acknowledge Rachel Royce’s status.
It was her way of forcing his hand.
"I let the last media storm slide, and I can let this one go as well. But let’s be clear, Mrs. Ainsworth, there won’t be a third time. My patience is limited."
The color drained from Jane Sullivan’s face.
After Tristan Sterling left.
Jane Sullivan just sat there on the sofa.
"Mom." Claire Ainsworth walked over, asking with concern, "What did Tristan say to you?"
Jane Sullivan composed herself, took a deep breath, and said, "It’s nothing."
’Claire felt a surge of anxiety. Tristan’s expression had looked awful just now.’
「That evening.」
Jane Sullivan and Claire Ainsworth returned home.
Alexander Sullivan was sitting in the living room waiting for them.
"Brother," Claire Ainsworth said.
Alexander Sullivan looked at the two of them, then said to Claire, "Claire, head upstairs. I need to talk to Mom about something."
Claire Ainsworth nodded. "Alright."
Claire Ainsworth walked upstairs.
Jane Sullivan sat down opposite Alexander Sullivan.
"Alexander, what did you want to talk to me about?" The last time Alexander had interfered with an Ainsworth Family project, he had eventually backed down, and the relationship between mother and son had since thawed.
Alexander Sullivan said directly, "You want to use Claire’s marriage to solidify the Ainsworth Family’s foundation. Mom, what makes you think Claire has what it takes to control a man like Tristan Sterling and make him act in the Ainsworth family’s interests?"
Jane Sullivan couldn’t help but frown.
"Right now, no one is more important to him than Melissa. If Melissa can’t accept Claire, then Claire and Tristan Sterling will never have a chance. Everything you’re doing will only end in embarrassment for you, for Claire, and for the entire Ainsworth family."
"Tristan Sterling isn’t the only man of suitable status for Claire. If you truly loved her, you would consider her long-term happiness instead of using her marriage as a bargaining chip."
Jane Sullivan sighed. "Claire will only marry Tristan Sterling and no one else. Am I supposed to force her to marry a man she doesn’t love?"
"Married couples get divorced and lovers break up all the time. It’s perfectly normal. No one is indispensable." With that, he stood up and said gravely, "Let me say one last thing: don’t think of Tristan Sterling as an ordinary man. He’s not sentimental. He can give you everything today and leave you with nothing tomorrow."
Claire Ainsworth stood behind a stone pillar on the second floor, listening to the conversation downstairs. Her eyes instantly reddened, and her nails dug deep into her palms.
’Her heart filled with hatred for Rachel Royce and Melissa Sterling.’
Rachel Royce was at the Financial Weekly’s office doing auditing work, staying overtime until eight-thirty. Someone had a late-night meal delivered for her.
"Evelynn, a late-night meal was delivered for you."
Rachel Royce looked at the elegantly packaged bag and asked, "Who sent it?"
"I’m not sure. The delivery guy just said it was for you."
There was no delivery slip on the bag.
She opened the bag. Inside was a box of thin-skinned seafood dumplings, a container of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, steamed abalone...
Judging by the presentation, it was clearly freshly prepared at a five-star hotel.
In the end, she didn’t eat any of it. Instead, she shared it with the employees who were still working overtime in the main office.
The employees were incredibly grateful.
Nine o’clock.
Rachel Royce received a call from Julian Jennings.
"Are you busy?"
"Yeah, I just wrapped up. What’s up, Professor?"
"I just finished up as well. Do you want to grab a late meal at that Western restaurant on Kelvane Road?"
"Sure," Rachel Royce said. "I’m starving, actually."
She had been so busy she hadn’t even eaten dinner.
"Alright, I’ll make a reservation then. Do you need me to pick you up?"
"No, that’s okay. I drove."
"Alright."
Rachel Royce took the elevator downstairs.
As soon as she arrived downstairs in the company building, she saw the man sitting in the lobby.
She stopped dead in her tracks. Tristan Sterling saw her, rose to his feet, and strode over. He stopped in front of her, his gaze lowered as he looked at her. "Getting off work?"
"Was it you who sent the food?"
"How was it?"
Rachel Royce didn’t answer. "I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I’ve already made myself perfectly clear. Outside of matters concerning Melissa, I want nothing to do with you."
With that, she sidestepped him and strode away.