novelraw Chapter 238: It Takes Time
Chapter 238: It Takes Time
Chapter 238: It Just Takes Time
Florence Preston threw a fit and returned to the bedroom.
Although Johnson Royce was dying to know what had happened, he just cowered, not daring to ask a single question.
Florence Preston tossed her phone aside.
Johnson Royce hurried forward to rub her shoulders, his voice fawning. "Honey, I’ve warmed up the bed. Let’s go to bed with Bobby!" Florence Preston shot him a glare, and Johnson Royce flinched, shrinking away in fear.
「The next day.」
Rachel Royce received a call from Thomas Sterling.
Raina Willow had caved under the pressure and told the truth.
Someone had indeed approached her and asked her to find a way to drug Thomas Sterling. But he was extremely vigilant, and Raina Willow never found an opportunity. So, she resorted to just taking off all her clothes.
The original goal was that regardless of whether Rachel Royce showed up, the incident would make the news and ultimately implicate her.
However, Raina didn’t know the identity of the person behind it all. A middle-aged man had approached her and immediately gave her a fashion endorsement contract that her rival had always wanted.
He promised her top-tier luxury fashion resources after the fact and a clean break from her current talent agency.
It was clear the other party had significant financial backing, and faced with such a temptation, she finally agreed.
Now, they were all certain who was pulling the strings, but they had no direct evidence.
Yesterday, she had approached Alexander Sullivan.
She called in a favor he owed her, asking him to investigate and give her an answer.
"Of course, President Sullivan, you can refuse. It is your mother and sister, after all. But we definitely won’t just let this go."
Today, Theodore Sterling’s people contacted Alexander Sullivan.
In the end, Alexander Sullivan gave him a project in Portington worth over a hundred million. Theodore Sterling then asked for Thomas Sterling’s opinion.
"Well, I’d say that makes up for it." With that, Theodore Sterling didn’t pursue the matter further.
As for Rachel Royce’s side of things,
Alexander Sullivan gave Peter Preston a project—one that Peter happened to need.
When Peter Preston received the news, he was stunned.
’How could Alexander Sullivan possibly give me a project for no reason?’
He could only assume it had something to do with Rachel, so he called her. That was how Rachel Royce found out about it.
So in the end, Alexander Sullivan was the one who had to clean up and take responsibility for the foolish mess Mrs. Ainsworth had made.
’But at the end of the day, the root of all this was Tristan Sterling. He refused to divorce me and had no intention of marrying Claire Ainsworth, which was why Mrs. Ainsworth resorted to such a desperate measure to force his hand.’
’Unfortunately, she had underestimated the extent of Tristan Sterling’s cold-bloodedness, or perhaps overestimated his feelings for Claire Ainsworth. Her actions would only make it even less likely that he would ever marry Claire.’
’Still, this conveniently solved one of my biggest worries. It’s for the best if the path for Claire Ainsworth to marry Tristan Sterling is completely blocked.’
’In any case, when all was said and done, Tristan Sterling came out of it unscathed, while Alexander Sullivan had to bear all the consequences.’
For a moment, Rachel Royce didn’t know whether she should pity him.
"Since he’s offering, you should just take it, brother." Only then did Peter Preston understand what had actually happened.
"Alexander Sullivan is quite a filial son and a good older brother," Peter remarked. "I guess so," Rachel Royce replied. ’This time, we’re well and truly even.’
「That night.」
Alexander Sullivan and Tristan Sterling were drinking and playing pool in a private room at a club.
In the final, decisive game, Alexander Sullivan cleared the table to win against Tristan Sterling.
"You win." Tristan Sterling handed his pool cue to a nearby staff member.
Alexander Sullivan looked at him. "Not going to play another to win it back?"
Tristan Sterling sat on the sofa, picked up a glass from the coffee table, and took a drink. "A bet’s a bet. I’ll give you a ten percent concession on the Valoria deal."
Alexander Sullivan walked over and sat down across from him. He didn’t say anything, just reached for a glass of wine. "At least the child has someone to take care of her now. Melissa only stayed at your place for one day before she wanted to be with her mother again."
Tristan Sterling said, "Melissa is clinging to her now."
Alexander Sullivan chuckled. "Kids really do prefer their mothers."
Tristan Sterling didn’t deny it, sighing helplessly. "Yeah. Now she’s even learned to throw tantrums at me for her mother’s sake."
Alexander Sullivan watched him. ’He has a look of gentle indulgence on his face when he speaks of his daughter. This is what he looks like when he shows his true feelings—not a trace of falsehood, only wholehearted sincerity.’
"You three went to see the sunrise as a family last time. Did things not get any better with your wife?"
Tristan Sterling’s dark eyes were reflected on the side of the glass, the swirling liquid obscuring the deep, unreadable darkness within them. "It just takes time."
He finished the wine in his glass, glanced at his watch, then stood up. "I’ll have someone send the contract to you tomorrow. I’m leaving now."
Tristan Sterling strode out of the private room.
Alexander Sullivan watched his retreating back, silently picking up his glass and drinking alone.
The Rolls-Royce slowly pulled to a stop in front of the Royce family villa.
Melissa wasn’t asleep yet, and just then, a video call came in from her.
Tristan Sterling answered. Melissa, wearing cute Strawberry Bear pajamas, appeared on the screen, her fair, pretty face filling the frame. "Daddy, look at the pajamas Mommy bought me."
"Very cute," Tristan Sterling said.
"Hee hee hee, where are you now, Daddy?"
"Why don’t you guess where Daddy is, Melissa?"
"I don’t want to guess. Just tell me, Daddy."
"Daddy’s at Mommy’s front door."
Hearing this, Melissa’s eyes lit up instantly. She scrambled out of bed excitedly and said to Rachel Royce, "Mommy, Daddy’s here!"
Rachel Royce was startled. ’What is Tristan Sterling doing here again?’
Melissa went downstairs to find her dad.
"Melissa, slow down. Put your shoes on first."
Tristan Sterling ended the video call, picked up a bag from the seat beside him, and got out of the car.
The cold night wind howled, though this year’s first snow had yet to arrive. He walked up and rang the doorbell.
The housekeeper quickly came and opened the door.
He walked into the living room.
The heat was on in the living room. The housekeeper handed him a pair of disposable guest slippers, and Tristan Sterling changed into them.
Melissa came down from upstairs.
"Daddy." Melissa ran towards her father, wanting him to pick her up.
Tristan Sterling crouched down, his large hand stroking Melissa’s small head. His eyes filled with gentleness as he said, "Daddy’s cold from being outside, so I won’t hold you right now."
"Oh," Melissa said.
Tristan Sterling raised his gaze to the woman standing on the stairs. She was wearing a solid-colored, velvety pajama set, her long hair cascading down, her exquisite face bare of makeup.
"Daddy, what did you bring?" Melissa asked.
"It’s for Mommy," Tristan Sterling replied. "Why don’t you ask her if she wants it?"
"I have to inspect it for Mommy first."
"Then go ahead and open it yourself."
Melissa took the bag and ran over to the sofa to open the box.
Rachel Royce couldn’t help but frown as she watched him. ’What is he up to now?’
Tristan Sterling looked at her, stepped forward, and stopped in front of her.
Standing on the stairs, Rachel Royce was more or less at eye level with him.
He asked, "Melissa’s birthday is in less than two months. Do you have any ideas? How do you want to celebrate it for her?"