Chapter 110: Your Feeling Isn’t Wrong
"I guess so."
Seeing that the man didn’t want to say more, Franklin Fitzwilliam didn’t press the issue.
The two children were hungry.
Rachel Royce and William Jensen took lissa and Nina to the indoor rest area, where staff had prepared afternoon tea and snacks.
lissa fed Rachel Royce a bite of cake. Rachel took a bite, then stroked lissa’s head. Looking at her little, flushed face, she said softly, "lissa, you should eat it yourself."
William Jensen sat across from them, watching. "lissa and Miss Evelynn are so close," she said with a smile.
Rachel Royce smiled faintly. "I’m quite fond of children."
From her brief chat with William Jensen, Rachel could tell she was a well-educated young lady from a scholarly family.
After all, they were strangers, so they maintained a respectful distance in their conversation, not prying or probing too deeply into each other’s lives.
Rachel Royce didn’t mind talking with her.
When Tristan Sterling and Franklin Fitzwilliam ca in, they saw the two won chatting happily, the atmosphere harmonious.
"What are you talking about? You look so happy," Franklin Fitzwilliam’s voice rang out.
Rachel Royce and William Jensen looked up at the two approaching n. The mont Rachel’s eyes landed on Tristan Sterling, the light in them dimd.
Tristan Sterling looked at her.
Franklin Fitzwilliam sat down next to his wife and daughter, wrapped an arm around his wife’s waist, and asked his daughter if she’d had fun today.
They were an affectionate couple, a picture of a warm and sweet family.
Seeing Tristan Sterling about to sit down next to her, Rachel Royce shifted inward. "lissa, sit here."
She had lissa sit between them.
Of course, lissa was oblivious to the fact that Rachel Royce was deliberately trying to avoid her father.
Tristan Sterling glanced coolly at the woman’s maneuver, then reminded lissa, "Don’t eat too many sweets."
lissa handed him the rest of her cake. "Then you eat it, Daddy."
Tristan Sterling took the cake from his daughter’s hand and finished what she hadn’t eaten.
Rachel Royce took a napkin and wiped the cream from her little mouth.
The group made small talk.
But there was almost no eye contact or conversation between Rachel Royce and Tristan Sterling. If not for the child between them, the atmosphere they created would have been frostier than that between strangers.
Franklin Fitzwilliam said, "Miss Evelynn, your financial program is brilliant. My grandfather watches you every Saturday."
lissa chid in, "I watch Aunt Evelynn’s show too."
Her innocent, childish voice made everyone laugh.
Rachel Royce stroked lissa’s little head, the emotion that inadvertently surfaced in her eyes full of tenderness and motherly love. It wasn’t the kind of look one would give to soone they weren’t related to.
It was the love one only has when looking at their own child.
Eventually, it was ti to go.
Rachel Royce took lissa and Nina to change their clothes.
The group had dinner right there at the equestrian club.
After dinner,
the two parties said their goodbyes.
William Jensen invited Rachel Royce to co over and visit soti.
"Okay."
lissa and Nina waved to each other.
Then they all got into their cars.
As Franklin Fitzwilliam drove, William Jensen, sitting in the passenger seat, finally voiced the suspicion that had been nagging her. "No matter how I looked at it today, I felt like Evelynn was lissa’s mother. Do you think she might be Rachel Royce?"
William Jensen had never t Rachel Royce before, but of course, she knew of her existence—disliked by the Sterling Family, unloved by Tristan Sterling.
Originally, she had assud that a woman who had married a man as favored as Tristan Sterling, essentially using her pregnancy to climb the social ladder, would do anything to stay by his side—even endure pain—to hold on to her position as Tristan Sterling’s wife.
But unexpectedly, she turned out to be a woman of integrity. After giving birth to the Sterling Family’s only daughter, a child she could have used to solidify her position, she had suddenly vanished without a trace.
That, one couldn’t help but admire.
Franklin Fitzwilliam chuckled softly. "Your feeling might not be wrong."
William Jensen was stunned. "Is it really... Then does Tristan know?"
Franklin Fitzwilliam said, "What do you think?"
William Jensen understood instantly and couldn’t help but sigh. "Looking at her now, she’s changed so much. I suddenly find myself admiring her. She’s really so much better than Claire Ainsworth."
Claire Ainsworth might have the family background and the looks, but she’s just a pampered young lady who needs to be coddled and spoiled. You could date soone like that, but as a wife for Tristan Sterling, she’s really not suitable.
Franklin Fitzwilliam said, "Tristan’s affairs are not for us to ddle in. We’ll just have to see how he handles it himself."
William Jensen couldn’t help but laugh. "If he doesn’t handle this well, Grandpa will probably dislike him even more."
Franklin Fitzwilliam laughed along with her.
Inside the chauffeured car,
lissa was wheedling, trying to get Rachel Royce to stay and spend the night with her.
Rachel Royce looked at her daughter’s big, pleading eyes and found she couldn’t bring herself to say no. She glanced up at the man sitting diagonally across from her.
Tristan Sterling looked back at her, his face devoid of emotion, showing no intention of speaking.
"Aunt Evelynn, please?" lissa pouted and pleaded again, her eyes full of longing and hope.
Rachel Royce looked down at her daughter, unable to voice her refusal. For now, she could only agree.
lissa hugged Rachel Royce happily.
"Alright, lissa, sit properly," Tristan Sterling said.
lissa snuggled into Rachel Royce’s arms and said, "No, I want to stay close to Aunt Evelynn."
’She was so happy today. Nina had her mommy, and she had Aunt Evelynn with her. She wanted to be with Aunt Evelynn forever.’
The car drove all the way back to the Silvermist Bay Villa.
lissa fell asleep in Rachel Royce’s arms.
On the way back,
Rachel Royce heard Tristan Sterling take a call from Simon Shaw. He asked if Tristan was free for drinks that night, and Tristan agreed. Then, he turned to Rachel and said, "Take care of lissa tonight."
Rachel Royce replied in a flat voice, "Got it."
A completely emotionless exchange.
After dropping the two of them off at the villa, Tristan Sterling drove away.
lissa woke up as she got out of the car. The first thing she saw upon opening her eyes was Rachel Royce, and she imdiately snuggled into her arms, acting cute.
When Frances Wyatt saw Rachel Royce bring the young miss ho, her expression soured. But for Rachel to be allowed to stay and accompany the young miss, the master must have permitted it. Considering the master hadn’t even reprimanded her for hurting Lisa Lawson earlier today, Frances Wyatt certainly didn’t dare say much.
lissa pulled Rachel Royce back to her room.
When Tristan Sterling arrived at the private room, he found not only Simon Shaw but also Suzanne Sullivan. Claire Ainsworth was there too.
Claire Ainsworth looked at Tristan Sterling but didn’t acknowledge him, clearly still sulking.
「At ten o’clock that night.」
When Tristan Sterling drove back to the villa, he saw Thomas Sterling standing outside, talking on the phone.
He honked the horn.
Thomas Sterling had just hung up. Seeing the car, he strode forward.
Tristan Sterling lowered the car window. "What are you doing here?"
Thomas Sterling explained simply, "I was having dinner nearby. Just about to leave."
Ian Quinn lived in Villa 12 at Silvermist Bay. Thomas Sterling had so free ti that afternoon and had gone racing, where he happened to run into him. He ended up coming back to his place for dinner.
Just then,
Rachel Royce walked out of the villa. Seeing Tristan Sterling had returned, she walked over to his car. Without much explanation, she just said, "lissa is asleep. I have sothing to take care of."
’She wanted to stay with her daughter.’
’But she had just received a call from President Hale. There was unexpected work to deal with tomorrow, so she had to go back and prepare.’
Thomas Sterling had happened to call her. He had been drinking and couldn’t drive, so it was perfect for him to catch a ride back with her since she was in the area.
She was simply informing Tristan Sterling. Without waiting for him to say anything, Rachel Royce finished speaking and said to Thomas Sterling, "Let’s go."
Thomas Sterling humd in agreent.
From inside his car, Tristan Sterling watched the two of them get into her car.
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