Chapter 185

Chapter 185: A Lawful and Legitimate Couple

Rachel Royce held Melissa’s small hand and said, “Aunt Evelynn doesn’t know how to dance p>

Melissa was a little disappointed.

Tristan Sterling walked over, looked at Rachel Royce, and said, “If you don’t know how, I can lead you p>

Rachel Royce froze for a moment, then lifted her gaze to the man.

Melissa immediately beamed with excitement. “Yay, yay! Aunt Evelynn, Daddy can lead you! Let’s go, quick p>

Melissa grabbed Rachel Royce’s hand with both of her own and started pulling her back toward the dance floor.

“Melissa p>

“Aunt Evelynn, come on p>

They reached the edge of the dance floor.

Tristan Sterling took Rachel Royce’s hand. Startled, she instinctively tried to pull it back, but the man tightened his grip, holding it fast.

Rachel Royce turned her head to look at him.

“Let’s go p>

Tristan Sterling led her onto the dance floor.

Melissa clapped her hands happily on the sidelines.

Tristan Sterling took her hand with one of his and wrapped his other arm around her waist. “Tristan Sterling, you p>

“If you keep struggling, everyone here is going to be staring at you,” the man’s deep voice warned.

Rachel Royce lowered her eyes, suppressing the emotions rising within her, and stopped looking at the man.

“Do you really need me to teach you p>

Rachel Royce’s steps didn’t follow Tristan Sterling’s rhythm; her movements were stiff. But with so many people watching, she didn’t want to make a scene with him.

Seeing her footwork become a bit smoother, the man’s grip on her hand loosened slightly. He suddenly asked, “What were you just talking about with Jason Sinclair p>

Rachel’s voice was tinged with impatience. “It has nothing to do with you p>

Tristan Sterling added, “Thinking of getting a boyfriend p>

Rachel Royce looked up at the man, her expression as indifferent as ever. “What are you trying to say p>

“You can get a boyfriend, but don’t take it too far.” The man’s tone was calm, yet it carried an undertone of dominance.

Rachel’s eyes turned cold. “So whatever I want to do, I still need your permission p>

Tristan Sterling’s hand on her slender waist tightened. He inclined his head slightly, leaning closer to her ear.

Rachel’s body was pulled closer to his. She stiffened and frowned.

Immediately after.

A searing breath tickled her ear. “Don’t forget, we are still a lawful and legitimate couple p>

His meaning was clear: no matter what she did, he had the right to interfere.

Rachel’s hand on the man’s shoulder tightened. “Tristan Sterling, what kind of couple are we even p>

The corner of Tristan Sterling’s mouth curved up. “If we’re not a couple, then why are you suing me for divorce p>

“You know I’m suing you for divorce, so what right do you have to question what I do p>

“As long as we’re not divorced, not for a single day, I have the right to question you p>

Rachel felt the turbulent emotions in her chest were about to boil over.

Outside the dance floor.

Jason Sinclair watched the two of them dance.

The brilliant outdoor lighting made it difficult to see their expressions clearly, but he could tell they seemed to be talking the entire time.

However, he could see that when Tristan Sterling led Rachel Royce onto the dance floor just now, she had been very resistant.

He had originally wanted to ask Evelynn to dance, but she had suddenly taken a phone call, and in the end, Tristan Sterling had cut in.

He turned to Simon Shaw beside him and asked, “Simon, how do Tristan and Evelynn know each other p>

Simon Shaw had been truly shocked to see Tristan Sterling take Evelynn’s hand and lead her to the dance floor, especially after watching Tristan proactively approach her just a moment ago.

’Tristan had been so antagonistic toward Evelynn before p>

’Could it be that Tristan now… toward Evelynn p>

“Simon p>

Simon Shaw finally snapped out of it and looked at Jason Sinclair.

“What are you thinking about p>

Simon Shaw said, “Nothing. What were you saying, Jason p>

Jason Sinclair repeated his question.

Simon Shaw said, “I’m not sure either p>

’I just have this feeling that Tristan must have known Evelynn for a long time. It seems like there’s some deep-seated conflict between them p>

The song ended.

The people around them applauded.

Rachel Royce tried to pull her hand away from Tristan Sterling’s, but he kept his fingers clasped around hers, showing no intention of letting go.

Melissa ran happily toward them. “I want to dance with Aunt Evelynn too p>

Only then did Tristan Sterling release Rachel Royce’s hand. He patted the little girl’s head. “Then Melissa can dance with Aunt Evelynn p>

The music on the dance floor changed to a cheerful tune.

Listening to Melissa’s laughter, Rachel’s mood gradually softened.

Tristan Sterling walked off the dance floor and sat down.

Jason Sinclair and Simon Shaw walked over. Jason asked with a smile, “What’s the situation with you p>

Tristan Sterling took the red wine a waiter offered, taking a small sip. Before he could speak, his phone started vibrating.

He reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket, pulled out his phone, then stood up and walked to the side to answer the call.

Jason Sinclair saw the caller ID on his phone just now. It was a call from Claire Ainsworth.

When Tristan Sterling finished his call and turned to walk back, he saw Simon Shaw.

“What is it p>

Simon Shaw hesitated before finally asking the same question Jason Sinclair had. “Tristan, what’s going on with you and Evelynn p>

Tristan Sterling looked at Simon Shaw. “Who do you think she is p>

Simon Shaw was startled.

’He couldn’t help but think about how much Melissa liked her. Tristan doted on Melissa like she was his precious treasure; he would never entrust her to a complete stranger p>

Simon Shaw thought of someone.

But he didn’t dare let his thoughts go any further.

’This… How is this possible p>

Seeing his shocked expression, Tristan Sterling reached out and patted his shoulder. In the end, he said nothing more and strode away.

Simon Shaw stood frozen to the spot, unable to recover from his shock for a long time.

「After the sky had completely darkened p>

A twenty-minute fireworks show immediately followed.

Franklin Fitzwilliam and his husband, William Jensen, accompanied Nina Fitzwilliam as she cut the cake. The sweet, happy family was an enviable sight.

Franklin Fitzwilliam brought cake over to Tristan Sterling and Rachel Royce.

At that moment, they were sitting together, watching the fireworks show with Melissa. Melissa was leaning against Rachel, her little face filled with excitement.

Anyone who saw them would have thought they were a family.

Franklin Fitzwilliam handed both plates of cake to Tristan Sterling. Tristan took them and passed one to Rachel Royce.

Rachel glanced at it, took it, and then fed the strawberry from the top to Melissa.

Franklin Fitzwilliam turned his head and saw Thomas Sterling walking toward them. He hurried forward to greet him, “Thomas, you’re here p>

Because the fireworks were still going off, Franklin Fitzwilliam’s voice was drowned out.

But Tristan Sterling glanced back.

Thomas Sterling’s gaze immediately fell upon the figures of the two people sitting not far away.

Franklin Fitzwilliam put an arm around Thomas Sterling’s shoulder and said, “Nina was just wondering today why her uncle hadn’t come yet p>

Thomas Sterling smiled. “Well, I rushed over, didn’t I p>

The fireworks show ended.

Rachel Royce didn’t have much of a sweet tooth, so she hadn’t finished the cake in her hand. Melissa also didn’t want any more after a couple of bites.

She was about to get up and put the cake on a table when she heard the man beside her say, “Give it to me p>

Rachel’s movements paused.

Then she heard Melissa speak up. “Aunt Evelynn, give it to Daddy. Daddy likes to eat cake p>

Rachel was surprised again. ’Tristan actually likes cake p>

Before she could react, Tristan Sterling reached out and took the cake directly from her hand.