Chapter 317

Signing the Papers at the Civil Affairs Bureau

As she spoke, she handed one box to Peter Preston and another to Thomas Sterling.

Peter Preston said, “That’s a lot of stuff. Did you go on a wholesale run? What did you get for yourself?”

“Of course, I wouldn’t neglect myself.” Rachel Royce smiled, lifting her chin and showing them the pearl necklace she had bought for herself, worth half a million.

“Is it pretty?”

“It’s beautiful. It suits you,” Thomas Sterling said in a gentle, sincere tone.

Rachel Royce put the necklace away, then took everything out of her luggage one by one, filling the sofa.

That evening, Thomas Sterling had dinner at the Royce home.

Johnson Royce even gave Thomas Sterling a red envelope.

“Don’t be shy. Take it. It’s not much, just for good luck.”

Thomas Sterling accepted it with both hands and said, “Thank you, Uncle.”

After dinner, Thomas Sterling prepared to leave, as he had to return to the old family residence that night.

Rachel Royce walked him to the door. As Thomas Sterling turned to get into his car, Rachel suddenly asked, “Is your grandfather not well?”

Thomas Sterling paused for a moment before replying, “Yes, he’s in the hospital for observation right now. I’m going to stop by the hospital to see him in a bit.”

Rachel Royce nodded. ’It seems Master Sterling’s health really is poor.’

’He was critically ill once before.’

’I don’t know if it was fate, but after I married Tristan Sterling, Master Sterling pulled through, and his health has been stable all these years.’

Rachel Royce hummed in acknowledgment. “Drive safely.”

Thomas Sterling nodded and said gently, “You should go back inside. It’s cold out.”

After Thomas Sterling left, Rachel Royce turned and went back into the villa.

Seeing her, Peter Preston asked, “Why didn’t Melissa come back with you today?”

“Master Sterling is sick, so Tristan Sterling picked her up.”

“What are your plans for tomorrow night?” Melissa was so attached to Rachel now, wanting her mommy and daddy to be together. On such an important day, Melissa would surely want Rachel with her.

Rachel Royce said, “No plans. I’ll be having New Year’s Eve dinner at home, of course.”

Peter Preston sensed the distance in her tone. “Did something happen?”

Rachel Royce didn’t explain further. “It’s nothing. I’m going upstairs.”

Back in her bedroom, after she got out of the shower, her phone started vibrating. She walked over, picked it up, and frowned upon seeing the caller ID, hesitating for a long moment.

Rachel Royce answered the call, her voice cold. “Hello.”

Tristan Sterling’s voice came through, his tone anything but gentle. “I’ll come pick you up tomorrow.”

Rachel Royce knew this was surely Melissa’s request. She said flatly, “There’s no need. I’ll explain it to Melissa. And one more thing, after the New Year, let’s go to the Civil Affairs Bureau and sign the papers. We don’t need to waste any more of each other’s time.”

Without waiting for him to reply, Rachel Royce hung up, tossed her phone aside, turned on the TV, and lay in bed to watch a movie.

But as she watched, she unknowingly drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, around ten o’clock, Rachel Royce was about to call Melissa.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Rachel.” Florence Preston pushed the door open and came in. “Tristan Sterling and Melissa are here.”

Rachel Royce frowned.

She put down her phone and went downstairs.

Tristan Sterling and Melissa were already in the living room.

“Mommy.” Melissa ran over and hugged her mother’s leg, looking up at her. “When did you get back, Mommy? Why didn’t you come home?”

Rachel Royce stroked Melissa’s head and said softly, “Mommy was just about to call you.” As she spoke, she lifted her gaze to the man standing not far away.

Tristan Sterling looked back at her, his gaze faint and his handsome face devoid of emotion.

Tristan Sterling had brought many New Year’s gifts with him today.

With Melissa present, Johnson Royce and Florence Preston restrained their unwelcoming attitude toward Tristan, careful not to make it too obvious.

Tristan Sterling walked over to Melissa and squatted down. “How about you have lunch with Mommy, and Daddy will come pick you both up this afternoon?”

Melissa had wanted her daddy to stay and eat with them, but Tristan Sterling told her he had to have lunch with Uncle Alexander.

So, Melissa didn’t insist.

“Okay, Daddy. You and Uncle Alexander have a good lunch. Come pick me and Mommy up to go home early, okay?”

Hearing Melissa’s words, Johnson Royce’s expression darkened slightly.

“Daddy knows.” Tristan Sterling stood up, looked at Rachel Royce, and said, “I’ll try to be back as early as I can.”

Rachel Royce didn’t respond.

Tristan Sterling left.

After lunch, Rachel Royce was with Melissa in the living room, wanting to say something to her.

Melissa suddenly snuggled into her mother’s arms and said with a grin, “I get to have New Year’s Eve dinner with Mommy tonight! Yay!”

Looking at Melissa’s excited little face, Rachel realized this was the first New Year’s Eve dinner she would spend with her.

’Next year, and the year after… it might be difficult to spend time with Melissa like this again.’

In the end, Rachel Royce couldn’t bring herself to say what was on her mind.

Meanwhile, inside a high-end restaurant.

Alexander Sullivan handed a gift box to Tristan Sterling. “This is a New Year’s gift for Melissa.”

Tristan Sterling took it and opened it to reveal a matching set of sapphire necklaces. He closed the box and looked up at him. “Did you just win this at an auction?”

Alexander Sullivan grunted in affirmation.

Melissa liked beautiful gems, so Alexander Sullivan had been gifting her gems for the past two years. This year’s, however, was far more valuable than those of previous years; he had someone raise the bid at the last minute to secure it.

“Melissa will love it.”

The two then started talking about the Lawrence Family’s affairs.

This time, they had already sought help from many people, but to no avail. They even contacted the Ainsworth Family. After calling her son, Alexander Sullivan, a few times, Jane Sullivan stopped trying. The Ainsworth Family naturally wanted no part in this mess.

What made Harvey Ainsworth wary and uneasy was that Alexander Sullivan had managed to accumulate so much power in Kingsland in just two short years.

He now not only controlled half of the MK Group’s assets but had also extended his influence to countless other factions.

The thought kept Harvey Ainsworth awake at night.

Jane Sullivan now had no sway over Alexander Sullivan whatsoever; he seemed to care nothing for his own mother.

Alexander Sullivan’s attitude toward Claire Ainsworth had also become much colder.

’How could I not have seen it before?’ Harvey Ainsworth thought. ’Alexander’s doting on Claire was just a ploy to gain a foothold in the Ainsworth Family. I thought he was just showing his true colors now that his wings were fully fledged and he had nothing to worry about.’

But Claire Ainsworth had returned home, crying and throwing tantrums. In an emotional outburst, she revealed the connection between Rachel Royce and Alexander Sullivan. That was how Harvey Ainsworth learned that Tristan Sterling’s wife was actually Alexander’s biological sister.

Harvey Ainsworth had known that Jane Sullivan had another daughter, but he had assumed she was destitute and forgotten. He never imagined she possessed such capabilities.

So, Alexander Sullivan did have a weakness, after all.

As for marrying Claire into the Sterling Family, Harvey Ainsworth had completely given up on that idea. He already had a new plan.

Alexander Sullivan suddenly asked, “The person who drugged you back then was Anna Lawrence, wasn’t it?”

Tristan Sterling sipped his tea, not denying it.