Chapter 15: His Gaze Fell on Rachel
They arrived at the office.
Thomas Sterling assigned a female employee to assist Rachel.
A little over ten minutes later.
The business partners arrived at the office.
Rachel stood by Thomas’s side, providing simultaneous interpretation for him.
The negotiations went very smoothly.
Rachel listened to their conversation. They were developing a large-scale ga for a global audience with an investnt of three hundred million. It was expected to take at least three years to launch.
The eting concluded at five o’clock.
Rachel was feeling a bit tired.
Thomas had soone arrange for Rachel to rest for a while, telling her they would all go to dinner together later.
In the lounge, Rachel called Florence Preston to let her know she wouldn’t be ho for dinner.
After sitting for a while, she needed to use the restroom.
She asked a staff mber for directions and was heading toward the restroom when she heard Thomas’s voice up ahead. "I can’t make it to the birthday banquet tonight. Mom, could you congratulate my great-aunt on my behalf? I’ll pay her a visit another day when I have ti."
...
Rachel’s steps faltered when she heard what Thomas said.
’Today was their great-aunt’s birthday banquet.’
’The Sterling family’s attitude toward her had always depended on Tristan. In the past, his coldness made her feel ostracized and hurt, but now, she felt nothing at all. Her heart was exceptionally calm.’
’Perhaps he’s already there with Claire Ainsworth tonight.’
Thomas hung up. As he walked over, he saw Rachel and looked slightly taken aback.
Rachel looked at him and gave a small smile. "I’m just going to the restroom."
Thomas snapped out of it and nodded gently. "Be careful."
When Rachel ca out of the restroom, her phone began to vibrate. She took it out and saw it was a call from Madam Sterling. Puzzled, she answered, "Grandma."
Madam Sterling’s voice ca through the line. "Rachel, why don’t you co to the old family ho for dinner tonight?"
’Rachel was confused, but she quickly put the pieces together. They must have left the banquet early and gone ho without staying for dinner, likely due to The Old Chairman Sterling’s health.’
Madam Sterling’s attitude toward her had grown gentler since learning she was expecting a girl. Rachel agreed, "Alright."
After hanging up, Rachel went to find Thomas and saw him just as he was coming out of a room.
"Grandma just called and asked to go to the old family ho."
Thomas nodded. "I’ll take you back then."
He had been worried about her condition and concerned she might overexert herself, so he had arranged for a replacent translator, who had arrived around four o’clock.
"What about our partners?"
"Don’t worry, soone is taking care of them. I’ll drop you off and then head straight to the restaurant."
Rachel didn’t object. "Alright then."
Thomas drove Rachel back to the old family ho.
When they arrived at the old family ho, Madam Sterling was quite surprised to see Thomas and Rachel together.
"Grandma!"
Madam Sterling’s face lit up with joy when she saw Thomas. She hadn’t seen her younger grandson in a long ti.
She stepped forward to straighten his suit, saying affectionately, "Now, look at you! So handso and distinguished!"
"Grandma, what are you saying? Are you implying I wasn’t handso before?"
Madam Sterling laughed heartily. "You’ve always been handso. By the way, how did you end up with your cousin-in-law?"
Thomas gave her a brief explanation.
"If it weren’t for her, my project probably would have fallen through."
He made it sound as if Rachel were the hero of the day.
’Of course, Rachel could tell Thomas was deliberately praising her in front of Madam Sterling. In the entire Sterling family, he was the only one who had been consistently kind to her from the very beginning.’
Madam Sterling was, of course, aware of Rachel’s capabilities. Before she had allowed her to marry Tristan, she had ordered a background check. Rachel had been the city’s top scholar, with an outstanding academic record and strong professional skills. A child with her genes and Tristan’s would surely be intelligent and exceptional.
Furthermore, she had even hired a master to read their "Bazi." Rachel’s astrological chart was supposedly of a very high caliber, perfectly matching Tristan’s and capable of supporting her husband’s future career.
And although Rachel ca from a blended family, her ho life was harmonious and her family relationships weren’t complicated.
So it wasn’t just Rachel’s pregnancy that had earned her approval; it was the results of this thorough background check that had convinced Madam Sterling to let her marry into the family.
Of course, the master had also predicted that their marriage would not be smooth and that seeing it through to the end would be incredibly difficult.
Thomas didn’t stay long. "I have to get to a dinner party, Grandma, so I’ll head out now. I’ll co back and spend so real ti with you once things settle down."
Madam Sterling saw him off with a few reminders.
Just as Thomas turned to leave, Tristan arrived ho.
Rachel froze for a mont when she saw him.
Seeing Tristan, Thomas called out, "Cousin."
Tristan grunted in acknowledgnt. "It’s been a while. What have you been up to?"
The two exchanged a few pleasantries.
"I was just dropping Rachel off. I’ve got to run, so I’ll head out. Let’s catch up another ti."
Tristan gave a slight nod.
Thomas left.
Tristan walked into the house, saw Madam Sterling, and said, "Grandma."
He completely ignored Rachel.
"What kept you so busy today? Your great-aunt was just asking about you."
...
’Tristan hadn’t gone to the birthday banquet. A likely possibility ca to mind—he must have been with Claire Ainsworth. They had probably just parted ways, because she could sll a faint trace of perfu on him.’
’So, when he was in love, he was just like anyone else—completely inseparable, wanting to be together every single mont.’
An uncontrollable bitterness welled up in Rachel’s chest.
’Madam Sterling must have specifically called him back for dinner. Otherwise, he probably would have eaten with Claire Ainsworth.’
The three of them sat on the sofa.
Rachel, ever self-aware, didn’t try to sit near Tristan. Instead, she supported her belly and carefully sat down opposite him.
’She rembered how she used to foolishly try to sit next to him, desperate for the hollow vanity that ca with being his wife.’
’But in the end, she was always the one left looking pathetic and ridiculous. No matter how close she sat, he never even saw her.’
Tristan didn’t seem to notice, or care about, Rachel’s newfound self-awareness.
Rachel did her best to avoid looking at him.
Madam Sterling picked up an exquisitely wrapped velvet box from the coffee table and handed it to Rachel. "Your great-aunt heard that the Sterling family is finally going to have a baby girl. She sent this especially for you. Here, take it."
Rachel was surprised. Not feeling she could refuse, she accepted it with both hands. "Thank you, Grandma."
"When we have the chance, I’ll take you to properly et your great-aunt."
Rachel nodded in acknowledgnt.
’It was often said that a mother’s status was secured by her son, but in her case, it was her daughter. Still, this was just a fleeting mont of glory. Soon, Tristan would divorce her.’
Clutching the velvet box, she listened to Madam Sterling’s words, her heart tightening with anxiety. She cautiously lifted her gaze to the man sitting across from her.
Tristan was leaning back on the sofa, his long legs crossed. His face was breathtakingly beautiful. He had classically handso features, yet they held a sharp, almost aggressive edge. His posture was as regal and captivating as ever, utterly srizing.
And at that mont, his gaze was fixed on her.
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