novelraw Chapter 255: Your Affection Is Truly Cheap and Ridiculous
Chapter 255: Your Affection Is Truly Cheap and Ridiculous
Chapter 255: Your Affection Truly Is Cheap and Laughable
"She’s fine, so you don’t have to worry anymore," Tristan Sterling said.
"Claire is also very stubborn," said Alexander Sullivan. "She’s always been terrified of pain, but this time she actually went and crashed her own car." Claire Ainsworth’s car accident was self-inflicted.
For the past two days, Claire Ainsworth had been constantly begging Alexander Sullivan not to send her abroad. She didn’t want to leave Kingsland, and she especially didn’t want to see Tristan with that woman.
Jane Sullivan comforted her, telling her to go abroad for a while to let things cool down and to come back after Alexander had taken care of everything.
Although she knew this, the unease in her heart made her unwilling to leave.
Tristan Sterling said, "Find someone to take good care of her."
Rachel Royce finished reviewing a batch of data today and went to the financial publication’s office around three o’clock, working until nearly eight in the evening.
It wasn’t until then that her phone vibrated.
Rachel Royce picked up her phone, saw the caller ID, and answered, "What is it?"
The call was from Tristan Sterling.
"Still working overtime."
"Mhm."
"Melissa is still waiting for you."
Hearing this, Rachel suddenly remembered that Melissa was sick and that she had said she would visit her again tonight.
"Is Melissa better?"
"Her fever’s gone, but she’s still coughing."
"I can’t get away right now, I still have work to do. Tell Melissa I’ll come see her tomorrow."
Tomorrow was the weekend. She also wanted to rest a bit.
The other end of the line went silent for a moment before he said, "I’ll tell Melissa."
Hearing this, Rachel couldn’t help but be taken aback. ’He’s being uncharacteristically reasonable.’
"Okay."
"Where are you now?"
Rachel answered, "At the financial publication’s office."
"You go ahead and work."
After hanging up, she saw that Tristan Sterling had already sent her several messages.
It was nine o’clock at night. There was still one last report to review.
Just then, a knock came at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened to reveal a man in a black overcoat, carrying a thermal container.
Rachel Royce frowned, staring at him.
Tristan Sterling placed the thermal container on her desk and said, "I brought you some late-night supper."
"Instead of staying home with Melissa, you came all the way here to bring me supper."
"Melissa is already asleep, and the nanny is looking after her. Go on and eat before it gets cold," the man urged.
Rachel glanced at the container he had set down, took it, and opened the lid. The top layer was a familiar corn and pork rib soup, followed by red date bird’s nest congee and crystal shrimp dumplings.
Rachel looked up at him again.
The man’s deep, handsome eyes held a gentleness that would have been impossible for him to show her in the past.
"Eat up!"
Rachel said, "I appreciate the thought, but you should go back now."
Tristan Sterling replied, "I’m not in a hurry. You have to see Melissa tomorrow, right? After you finish eating, you’re coming back to Silvermist Bay tonight."
"I still have things to do later."
But Tristan Sterling showed no intention of leaving. He simply sat down on the nearby sofa and started scrolling through his phone.
Rachel frowned at him.
She paid him no more mind, picking up her chopsticks to eat a dumpling while her other hand moved the mouse, her gaze fixed on the computer screen.
Tristan Sterling’s gaze lifted from his phone screen, and he looked at the woman working so diligently.
Rachel hadn’t been nearsighted before, but after years of long hours working and studying, her vision had declined despite her best efforts to protect it. She now had a mild prescription.
Today, she was wearing a pair of blue-light-blocking glasses, and the light from the computer screen reflected off the lenses. Her expression was focused, the lines of her profile exquisitely delicate. Her long, smooth hair cascaded down her back, revealing one ear where a single pearl earring shimmered with a gentle luster.
She wore a high-collared blue sweater paired with a pearl necklace, exuding an intellectual and elegant aura.
When Rachel finally looked over at him, the man met her gaze calmly. He even curved his lips into a slight smile, showing no sign of embarrassment at being caught staring.
Rachel hadn’t paid attention to the man at first, but his gaze was just too blatant.
Their eyes met.
Rachel’s gaze was deep. "What are you staring at me for?"
A faint smile on his lips, Tristan Sterling said, "You seem to like pearls. They really suit you."
Most of the time he saw her, her accessories were pearls.
Rachel averted her gaze and went back to looking at her computer screen, her voice indifferent. "I never would have guessed you’d be one to notice what style of jewelry suits a woman."
Tristan Sterling replied, "I’ve been observing you more lately, so I naturally noticed."
Rachel’s hand, moving the mouse, paused. A faint, ironic smile touched her lips. "Your affection truly is cheap and laughable."
"Don’t you know whether my affection is cheap or not?"
Rachel ignored him and finished processing the last manuscript. She ate all the dumplings and drank the bird’s nest congee, but left the corn and pork ribs untouched.
She took off her glasses and rubbed the corners of her eyes.
"Finished?" Tristan Sterling’s voice sounded again.
Rachel glanced at him but didn’t respond.
Just then, President Hale knocked and entered.
He had seen she hadn’t left yet and came in to check on her.
When he walked in and saw Tristan Sterling sitting on the sofa, President Hale was visibly startled.
"Pres... President Sterling."
"President Hale, still haven’t left work?"
Flattered and a little stunned by Tristan Sterling’s greeting, President Hale took a couple of seconds to recover before saying, "I was just about to leave. I saw Evelynn’s office light was still on, so I came over to check."
Tristan Sterling nodded slightly, appearing very easygoing and approachable.
President Hale looked at Rachel. "Evelynn, not done yet?"
"I just finished."
"Good. It’s getting late. You should go home and get some rest."
After saying this, President Hale bid farewell to Tristan Sterling and left the office. ’Clearly, the relationship between Evelynn and President Sterling is unusual,’ he thought. ’No wonder Evelynn dared to publish that exposé on him before, and nothing happened to us afterward.’
’But then again, Evelynn is so outstanding and remarkably beautiful. It’s only normal that President Sterling would take an interest in her.’
President Hale took the elevator downstairs.
Seeing someone walking toward him, he froze. "President Jennings."
Julian Jennings nodded at President Hale. "Just getting off work, President Hale?"
"Yes. What brings you here, President Jennings?"
"I have something to discuss with Evelynn. I just left a reception and was in the neighborhood, so I stopped by to find her."
President Hale’s expression became a little unnatural. "I see! Evelynn has already finished her work."
Julian Jennings hummed in acknowledgment.
The two exchanged a few simple words.
President Hale walked toward his car parked outside the lobby, mulling things over.
President Hale had just gotten into his car when Rachel Royce and Tristan Sterling stepped out of the elevator right after. They walked one after the other, with Rachel in front carrying her bag and Tristan following close behind her.
Tristan Sterling’s gaze immediately landed on Julian Jennings.
Julian Jennings met his stare for two seconds before turning to Rachel. "Finished with work?"
"Mhm."
"Let’s go, then. Time to head back."
Her car was subject to driving restrictions today. She had hitched a ride with Julian Jennings to the office in the morning, and when she went to see Tristan Sterling, she had driven Joanna Sutton’s car.
Knowing she would be working late, Julian Jennings had told her earlier that he would come pick her up. Rachel had agreed, thinking it would be a good opportunity to talk with him on the way back.
"Okay."