novelraw Chapter 257: Here to See if You Were Killed in the Crash
Chapter 257: Here to See if You Were Killed in the Crash
Chapter 257: I Came to See If You Were Dead
Stella wanted to be with her dad again.
June was worried that if this continued, Stella would have trouble accepting the situation with Peter Preston down the line.
The biggest difference between men and women is that women can’t be as ruthless. A child will always be a woman’s biggest entanglement, her greatest concern.
"He can’t stay in the country forever. He’ll leave eventually. Or, after Stella gets better, you can take her back to Portington," Rachel Royce said.
June Jennings hummed in agreement. "That’s a good idea. I can take Stella back to Portington to celebrate New Year’s Day with my parents. But Peter has been so busy lately, and you are too." Sometimes, when June messaged her, it would take a long time to get a reply.
"It’s the end of the year, so there’s no helping it. You’re the one taking it easy." June Jennings laughed. "I’m just a freeloader with no ambition. How could I compare to you guys?" The two chatted for a while.
She hung up the phone.
Tristan Sterling came over and asked, "Are we inviting Stella over to play today?" Rachel Royce glanced at him.
He was surprisingly free today, not holed up in the study dealing with work.
Melissa wanted to eat food her dad made, so he went into the kitchen to cook.
Now, wearing a black apron over a black, half-turtleneck cashmere sweater, he actually had the air of a married man.
She coolly withdrew her gaze and said, "Stella is sick too. She’s resting at home."
"I see. Then we’ll wait for them to get better to play together. Let’s eat first."
After lunch.
Melissa needed to take her afternoon nap.
Rachel Royce decided to go to the hospital. She looked at Tristan Sterling and said, "You’re coming with me."
Tristan Sterling smiled faintly. "Alright."
Before they left.
They reached the underground garage.
Tristan Sterling walked to the rear passenger door, opened it for Rachel Royce, and she bent down to get in. He then walked around to the other side and got in as well.
The driver drove away.
The drive was silent.
They arrived at the hospital.
The two of them took the elevator upstairs.
Inside the hospital room.
Claire Ainsworth was lying on the hospital bed. She couldn’t make any major movements and could only rest. Jane Sullivan was in the room with her.
But there was one other person there: Sylvia Shannon.
Rachel Royce wasn’t surprised to see her.
As she and Tristan Sterling walked in from outside the room, one after the other.
The expressions on the faces of the people inside were all different as they looked at them.
She completely ignored Mrs. Ainsworth and Sylvia Shannon, looking directly at Claire Ainsworth. With a single glance, she saw the unconcealable hatred in her eyes.
But Rachel Royce smiled. "Miss Ainsworth, what’s with that look? I just came to see if you were killed in the crash. Am I not welcome?"
Hearing this, Jane Sullivan couldn’t help but furrow her brow. She looked over at Tristan Sterling, but the man showed no intention of speaking.
Sylvia Shannon couldn’t listen anymore. "Rachel Royce, don’t be so harsh."
Rachel Royce turned to Sylvia Shannon and sneered, "Mrs. Sterling, Miss Ainsworth isn’t your daughter-in-law, is she? You’re so protective."
Sylvia Shannon’s expression instantly turned ugly. "Rachel Royce!"
Rachel Royce was unfazed by her anger. "It’s a real shame. The daughter-in-law you like so much, your son refuses to marry. But then again, there really is something wrong with your taste. You actually approve of an airhead vase like Claire Ainsworth. So your son must take after you—there’s something wrong with his head, too."
Sylvia Shannon’s eyes widened as she stared at her. "You..." She was momentarily at a loss for words. After all, as an official’s wife, she couldn’t curse like a common shrew from the market.
Claire Ainsworth stared at Rachel Royce in disbelief. She had insulted Tristan too, but what pained Claire more, what she couldn’t accept, was that Tristan remained completely unmoved.
Jane Sullivan watched her daughter’s brazen and arrogant display, thinking that she had been just as brazen when she was young.
This was who Rachel Royce had always been, deep down.
It was just that a serious illness back then had made her become withdrawn and insecure.
She then looked at Jane Sullivan. "I’ve never seen a mother encourage her own daughter to be a homewrecker, but perhaps Mrs. Ainsworth is just that sort of person. A pity your daughter still falls so short. Such a waste of a pretty face."
"Rachel Royce, have you said enough?" Sylvia Shannon said angrily.
But Rachel Royce looked calmly at Sylvia Shannon and said, "Mrs. Sterling, you’ve really opened my eyes. It’s a shame that no matter how dissatisfied you are right now, you can only endure it. With such an unfilial son who doesn’t understand his mother’s feelings... I truly feel sorry for you. If my son ever dared to act like this, I’d disown him immediately."
"That’s enough," Tristan Sterling finally spoke.
Rachel Royce turned back to look at him.
She only heard him say, "Let’s go back. Melissa should be waking up soon."
Rachel Royce’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile. She turned back to look at Claire Ainsworth, whose eyes were filled with loathing, and said one last thing, "You really are useless."
’She thought she could get everything and make any man submit just with her pretty face.’
Rachel Royce turned and left the hospital room.
Tristan Sterling looked at his mother and said, "Mom, you should head home for today too."
Sylvia Shannon was so angry she was breathless. She wanted to say something, but Tristan Sterling had already turned and left.
"Tristan!" Claire Ainsworth cried out hastily. The emotional turmoil aggravated her sternum injury, and her face contorted in pain as tears slid from her eyes.
She was a picture of delicate misery.
Jane Sullivan stepped forward in concern to support her. "Claire, don’t move around."
Tristan Sterling looked at her and offered a piece of advice: "Rest well."
With that said.
He strode out.
Rachel Royce had already taken the elevator downstairs.
When Tristan Sterling got downstairs.
He happened to run into Alexander Sullivan, who was looking toward the main entrance. Seeing Tristan Sterling, he understood that they had come together.
"How is Claire now?" Alexander Sullivan asked.
Tristan Sterling said, "Not great. You should go on up."
With that said.
The man strode out.
By the time he got to the car.
Rachel Royce was already sitting inside, her expression indifferent.
The driver stepped on the gas and drove off.
The car fell silent once again.
No one spoke.
Then, Melissa called.
"Sweetheart, you’re awake? Mommy and I are out right now, but we’re heading back."
Melissa said, "Daddy and Mommy can stay out a little longer. I’m still sleepy and I’m going back to sleep."
Tristan Sterling’s lips curved into a smile. "Okay, but don’t sleep too long, Melissa, or you won’t be able to sleep tonight."
He hung up the phone.
Tristan Sterling turned to Rachel Royce and said, "Melissa wants us to stay out a while longer. Want to go to the mall and buy some clothes?"
After that, the two of them went to a shopping mall.
Rachel Royce didn’t try anything on, simply telling the sales associate to wrap it up.
Tristan Sterling paid and carried the bags.
Along the way.
The couple attracted a great deal of attention.
A tall, handsome man carrying bags of all sizes followed beside the woman, exuding the captivating charm of wealth from head to toe.
But while he looked like a doting husband spoiling his wife, the woman’s face showed not a trace of the happiness that comes from being pampered; instead, her attitude was cold.
’So even a man like that gets the cold shoulder.’
It was a sight that made countless people burn with envy.
They passed a jewelry store.
Tristan Sterling pulled her inside and picked out several sets of pearl jewelry.
Rachel Royce couldn’t be bothered to refuse.
Before leaving, they also stopped by a cake shop and bought two cakes.
They didn’t make many other stops, so they didn’t waste much time.
"Back to the old family home on the 1st, and over to your family’s place on the 2nd?" Tristan Sterling asked.