novelraw Chapter 266: Sarcasm
Chapter 266: Sarcasm
Chapter 266: Sarcasm
Tristan Sterling glanced at the wall clock in his study. It was midnight.
It was still too early for him to go to sleep.
He picked up his book and read for a while longer.
「Half an hour later.」
He left the study, opened the door to his bedroom, and stepped inside. The room was pitch-black. He could faintly smell a light fragrance that didn’t belong in his bedroom.
He turned on a warm-toned lamp.
His gaze fell on the lump on the large bed. She was lying on her side, facing the window, leaving a wide space behind her. The 2.6-meter bed made her look particularly small.
Tristan Sterling stood there watching for a moment. After a two-second pause, he slowed his steps, walked over, and sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at the woman’s peaceful, sleeping face.
He suddenly reached out, his long fingers gently brushing aside a strand of hair that had fallen across her cheek.
His deep gaze rested on her profile.
An unknown amount of time passed.
The man stood up and walked toward the bathroom.
After he left.
The woman, who had seemed to be sound asleep, slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze was cold and detached.
「Ten minutes later.」
The bed behind her dipped noticeably, and with it came the man’s scent.
She could clearly feel the wide gap between them.
The light went out.
The entire bedroom was plunged into darkness.
「The next morning.」
When Rachel Royce woke up in a daze, she noticed movement on the bed.
She slowly opened her eyes, her vision still a little blurry, and saw the man lifting the covers to get out of bed.
Tristan Sterling saw her. In the dim light, his gaze was gentle as he said in a low voice, "Did I wake you? It’s still early. Go back to sleep."
Rachel Royce rolled over.
Tristan Sterling got out of bed, walked around to her side, and pulled the blanket up for her. "I’ll go get Melissa," he said.
Rachel Royce grunted listlessly.
Tristan Sterling left the bedroom and brought Melissa back with him.
Melissa had just woken up because she needed to go to the potty.
"Mommy." Melissa quickly clambered onto the bed and snuggled into her mother’s arms, rubbing her little head against her coaxingly.
Tristan Sterling stood there, watching quietly. The warm glow of the lamp illuminated the mother and daughter, creating a scene that was both heartwarming and beautiful.
"Daddy and Mommy slept together," Melissa said, her eyes curving into happy crescents.
Rachel Royce hugged Melissa close. "Let’s sleep a little longer."
Melissa looked back at her father. "Daddy, come get in bed! We can all sleep together."
Tristan Sterling replied, "Daddy’s not going back to sleep. You keep Mommy company." He went to the walk-in closet, changed into workout clothes, and headed straight for the gym.
Nestled in her mother’s arms, Melissa quickly fell back asleep.
「After breakfast at eight in the morning.」
Upstairs, Rachel Royce finished dressing Melissa, picked up her school bag, and walked out of the bedroom.
Tristan Sterling came out of his room, walked over, and reached for the school bag in Rachel Royce’s hand.
"I’ll take that."
Rachel Royce handed it to him.
Melissa happily took her mommy’s and daddy’s hands.
Before they even started down the stairs, Rachel Royce’s eyes fell upon the woman sitting on the sofa in the living room below, and her steps faltered for a moment.
Who else could it be but Claire Ainsworth? Some time had passed, and the once glamorous woman now looked noticeably haggard.
"What’s wrong, Mommy?" Melissa asked, confused.
Claire Ainsworth looked up and saw the family of three standing at the top of the stairs. When her gaze landed on Rachel Royce, a bone-deep hatred instantly flooded her eyes.
But she quickly composed herself, her eyes turning teary and hazy as she gazed in Tristan Sterling’s direction.
Rachel Royce turned to look at Tristan Sterling. His handsome face was so calm that it betrayed no emotion. A sarcastic, cold smile involuntarily touched the corners of her lips.
She looked at the nanny and said, "Take Melissa back to her room for now."
She didn’t want Melissa’s mood to be ruined by the sight of Claire Ainsworth.