Chapter 142

Chapter 142 Daddy, Don’t Hang Out With Her

Since no one had come out, Julian Jennings was worried Rachel was putting Melissa to sleep and figured it wasn’t a good time to call.

In the end, he rang the doorbell.

Frances Wyatt opened the door. She was startled to see such a tall, handsome man standing there, but she knew he must be looking for Rachel Royce.

’He must be some man Rachel hooked up with behind everyone’s back,’ she thought.

’To think he’d come right to the house p>

’This is the perfect chance to let Mr. Sterling see what a shameless woman Rachel Royce is p>

So, Frances Wyatt let him in and told him to go find Rachel Royce himself.

Even though Julian Jennings could sense Frances Wyatt’s ill intentions, he still followed her into the villa.

Tristan Sterling slowly descended the stairs, his eyes on the two of them.

The two maids instinctively looked up at Mr. Sterling, and that’s when they noticed the red handprint on his face.

They had faintly heard the sound of a slap from upstairs just a moment ago.

’Mr. Sterling… was slapped p>

’By Rachel Royce p>

’How could she dare p>

’Growing up, no one had ever dared to treat Mr. Sterling like that p>

’Rachel Royce actually dared to strike Mr. Sterling p>

The two maids were shocked to their core.

They heard Tristan Sterling’s deep voice say, “You’ll let just anyone in here p>

Frances Wyatt’s heart skipped a beat. She wanted to defend herself, but one look at Mr. Sterling’s face made her lower her head. “I’m sorry, Mr. Sterling. I know I was wrong p>

Lisa Lawson couldn’t help but chime in, “Mr. Sterling, you can tell just by looking that he’s close with Rachel Royce. Who knows if she’s taken Miss Melissa out to meet with men on the side before? We’re worried she’ll be a bad influence on Miss Melissa p>

Frances Wyatt quickly agreed, “Yes, that’s right, Mr. Sterling p>

“Stick to your duties. This is the last time. Don’t make me say it a third time p>

Lisa Lawson and Frances Wyatt quickly lowered their heads and replied, “Yes, sir p>

After that, they didn’t dare say another word.

After getting in his car and driving away, Julian Jennings pulled out his phone and called Gabriel Gordon.

“President Jennings, what can I do for you this late p>

“Sorry to bother you, Lawyer Goodman. There’s something I’d like to ask your advice on p>

Upstairs, Rachel Royce held Melissa, gently patting her back to soothe her. Melissa clung tightly to Rachel, her little face etched with grievance. Her eyelashes were wet with unshed tears, and her eyes were red.

Rachel Royce reached out and carefully wiped the tears from Melissa’s cheeks, her own eyes filled with heartache.

“Aunt Evelynn, please don’t go, okay p>

Rachel soothed her, “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay right here with you, Melissa. Now, try to sleep p>

「That night p>

Rachel Royce stayed in the bedroom and slept beside Melissa.

「The next morning p>

Melissa was once again her cheerful, energetic self.

It was as if nothing had happened the night before.

As Rachel Royce braided her hair, she sat obediently on a stool, happily swinging her little legs.

Once she was ready, Melissa wanted Rachel Royce to carry her downstairs for breakfast.

Rachel Royce picked Melissa up. The little girl leaned against her shoulder, smiling playfully. Her pure, vibrant smile was enough to heal any heart.

Downstairs, in the spacious, bright dining room, the man was already seated at the head of the table. Dressed in light-colored loungewear, he looked refined and elegant, holding a coffee cup in one hand and a newspaper in the other, his expression focused.

“Daddy p>

Tristan Sterling looked up, setting down his coffee and newspaper.

Rachel Royce set Melissa down.

Melissa trotted over to her father.

Tristan Sterling picked his daughter up and settled her on his lap. Melissa tilted her head up to give her dad a kiss and said, “Good morning, Daddy p>

“Good morning. Let’s get you seated for breakfast p>

“Okay p>

Tristan Sterling settled Melissa into her high chair.

Rachel Royce sat down next to Melissa. The little girl looked up at her father and reminded him, “Daddy, you have to say good morning to Aunt Evelynn p>

Tristan Sterling’s gaze lifted to Rachel Royce.

Rachel didn’t look at him. Instead, she tied a small bib on Melissa and asked, “Your teacher said you have to give a speech today. Are you nervous p>

Melissa’s attention was successfully diverted. “I’m not scared,” she said. “I already prepared for it last night p>

Rachel smiled. “Melissa, you’re amazing p>

Melissa grinned, showing a row of small, white teeth. “I want to be the best kid, so Aunt Evelynn will like me even more p>

Hearing this, Rachel’s heart ached for some reason. All she could see was how sensible and sweet Melissa was trying to be. “Even if you don’t do anything, Melissa, I’ll still like you the most p>

Melissa was thrilled with that answer. “I like you the most too, Aunt Evelynn p>

“What’s your speech about today, Melissa?” Tristan Sterling asked.

Melissa turned to look at her father.

A nanny brought their breakfast.

Melissa suddenly seemed to remember something. While eating a dumpling, she said to her father, “Daddy, I told you last time that Miss Claire was bullying Aunt Evelynn. You have to stand up for her p>

Rachel Royce froze.

Melissa had overheard their conversation back at the Royce family’s home.

’She actually told Tristan Sterling about it p>

Tristan Sterling glanced at Rachel Royce, who was eating her breakfast quietly, her face betraying no emotion. He then turned to Melissa and said, “Daddy will take care of it p>

Melissa said, “I don’t like Miss Claire anymore. She bullies Aunt Evelynn. Daddy, can you please not hang out with her anymore p>

Tristan Sterling soothed her in a gentle voice, “Daddy will look into it. For now, just eat p>

Hearing Melissa stand up for her and declare her dislike for Claire Ainsworth, Rachel felt a wave of relief. At least now it would be much harder for Claire Ainsworth to get close to Melissa.

As for Tristan Sterling’s placating words to Melissa, Rachel didn’t pay them much mind, simply ignoring them.

After breakfast, Tristan Sterling got ready to leave for the office.

Rachel didn’t have her car today.

And while she really didn’t want to ride in his car p>

In the end, Rachel got into Tristan Sterling’s car.

When they arrived at the school, Rachel got out first. Then, holding Melissa’s hand, she helped the little girl, who had her small backpack on, hop out of the car.

“Careful p>

Melissa was especially cheerful today.

Tristan Sterling walked over to them.

A teacher came forward to greet Melissa.

“Good morning, Melissa Sterling p>

“Good morning, teacher,” Melissa replied politely.

The teacher was especially fond of Melissa Sterling. ’She’s not only beautiful and cute, but also very smart. For someone so young, she’s a very capable class president with real leadership skills.

’And with such a prestigious family background, she’s sure to inherit the family business someday.

’Now that’s what you call being born at the very top p>

The teacher straightened up, her gaze shifting between Rachel Royce and Tristan Sterling. ’At first, I thought Miss Evelynn was Melissa’s mother, but Melissa always calls her ’Auntie’. Still, from certain angles, Melissa looks a lot like her.

’Standing next to a man as handsome and distinguished as Mr. Sterling, they look like a perfect match. Her mature aura makes her seem even more compatible with him than Miss Ainsworth.

’And Melissa clearly prefers this Miss Evelynn.

’But Mr. Sterling and Miss Ainsworth are a couple… so who is this Miss Evelynn to him?

’This love triangle is so complicated.

’But that’s the parents’ private business. For a top-tier family like theirs, messy, complicated relationships are common, and it’s not our place to gossip about them p>

The teacher looked at the two adults and said, “Melissa has her English speech this morning. Miss Evelynn and Mr. Sterling, you’re welcome to stay and watch if you have the time p>

“Yay!” Melissa cheered at once. She reached for Rachel’s hand. “Aunt Evelynn, will you stay and listen to my speech? Please? I promise I’ll do a really great job p>

She didn’t ask her father, because she knew he would definitely stay.