Chapter 218: Three Years
"Well, she is the heiress of MK Group," Ivan Alden remarked. "Mrs. Ainsworth is probably in such a hurry to marry Claire Ainsworth off to Tristan Sterling for the Ainsworth Family’s sake."
They had naturally heard about the current internal struggles between Alexander Sullivan and the Ainsworth Family.
Zion Alden sneered. "Tristan Sterling wouldn’t necessarily turn against Alexander Sullivan for Claire Ainsworth. What’s interesting, though, is that despite his awful relationship with the Ainsworth Family, he seems to care a great deal for his half-sister, Claire."
He found that rather puzzling.
「After a mont.」
He said, "Ivan, when you get back, I want you to dig deep into this Alexander Sullivan."
Tristan Sterling had made them suffer a huge loss this ti, so they had to find a way to get back at him. No relationship in this world was unbreakable. It might be worth probing Alexander Sullivan for weaknesses. They might be able to dig up sothing useful.
Ivan Alden knew exactly what Zion Alden ant. "I understand," he replied.
*
Tomorrow was Saturday.
So, the weekend break would start right after the morning’s parent-child activities.
「After lunch.」
Tristan Sterling and Rachel Royce brought lissa back to the Silvermist Bay Villa.
The little bunny had been happy and excited the whole ti, but she quickly fell asleep for her nap once they were in the car.
「Back at ho.」
Tristan Sterling carried her upstairs.
Rachel Royce waited on the sofa downstairs.
「About ten minutes later.」
Tristan Sterling ca downstairs after settling lissa in. Rachel Royce looked up as he approached and sat down across from her. The atmosphere was completely different from when lissa had been there. It was as if they had shed their disguises, and everything was back to the way it was.
"Go on," Tristan Sterling said.
Rachel Royce looked at the man and said calmly, "I want to talk to you about the divorce."
Upon hearing this, Tristan Sterling’s expression didn’t change. "What do you have in mind?" he asked.
Rachel Royce’s fingers tightened. She did her best to keep her voice even and calm. "When I first decided to take you to court for the divorce, I admit I wasn’t thinking about lissa."
’Our fighting got so ugly back then, and lissa could sense it, even if she didn’t know why. The mory of her lying in the hospital, so pale and weak... it’s still heart-wrenching to even think about.’
’A head-on confrontation won’t solve anything. We have to negotiate peacefully.’
"A loveless marriage isn’t healthy for a child’s upbringing. If you have a solution you’d be happy with, please, say it."
Tristan Sterling listened to her quietly, his deep, dark eyes fixed on her face, not missing the slightest flicker of emotion.
But Rachel’s expression was nothing but composed. She was discussing this with him frankly.
"Then tell this first: how do you plan on telling lissa who you are?"
Rachel Royce shared her plan. "I’ll tell her after we divorce. But I will shoulder my responsibilities."
"So, you’re saying the price for lissa knowing who her mother is will be her parents’ divorce? That she’ll no longer have a complete family?"
Rachel’s heart clenched. "We don’t have to tell lissa about the divorce."
Tristan Sterling scoffed. "And if we’re not divorced? Are you still planning to live separately from her?"
Rachel: "..."
’They were at a deadlock again.’
’Once lissa knew she was her mother, she would never agree to them living apart.’
"Then what’s your solution?" Rachel struggled to control her emotions. "Do you plan to just keep things like this forever? How is that good for lissa?"
Tristan Sterling looked at her.
「After a brief silence.」
The man said, "Three years."
Rachel froze, not understanding. "What?"
Tristan Sterling said, "You tell lissa who you are. Spend enough ti with her. If, after that, lissa agrees to let you go, I’ll grant you a divorce."
Rachel fell silent.
He suddenly laughed, his voice laced with sarcasm. "What? You were gone for five years. Are you telling you’re not even willing to spend three years making it up to her? Now let ask you a question. Do you even love her?"
「Ten minutes later.」
Tristan Sterling had the driver take Rachel Royce away from the villa.
Rachel Royce stared silently out the window the entire ride. Tristan Sterling had told her he would give her ti to think.
「Back at the office.」
「During the afternoon eting.」
Julian Jennings could see that Rachel Royce was out of sorts.
「After the eting.」
He called her into his office and asked, "What happened with Tristan Sterling?"
After a mont’s hesitation, Rachel explained what had happened to Julian. Tristan Sterling had laid out his condition for a divorce: lissa had to be the one to agree to it.
lissa already wanted her and Tristan to be together. If she finds out I’m her mother, there’s no way she’ll ever accept us getting divorced.
So, once again, the negotiation ca to nothing.
Julian Jennings said, "Perhaps you could try broaching the subject with lissa first."
The thought of lissa made Rachel’s heart ache. She didn’t think she could bring herself to say a word. If she told lissa now... she couldn’t bear to imagine how heartbroken the little girl would be.
Julian saw her distress. "Maybe just let it be for now," he said gently. "We’ll figure it out when the ti cos. For now, just focus on being with lissa. Consider it a chance to make it up to her."
"Mm," Rachel agreed.
"By the way, are you free tomorrow morning?"
"Why?"
"Mr. Fitzwilliam is sick in the hospital. We should go see him tomorrow."
Rachel Royce quickly asked, "Is it serious?"
"It’s a bad cold. He’s just getting older, and with the recent drop in temperature, his immune system isn’t what it used to be. He had to be hospitalized for treatnt."
"Okay."
That evening, Tristan Sterling called her. lissa wanted to go skiing over the weekend.
Rachel said, "Let’s talk after ten o’clock tomorrow. Don’t co here to pick up."
Tristan Sterling, "Do you have sothing on?"
Rachel, "I’m going to the hospital to see Mr. Fitzwilliam tomorrow."
Tristan Sterling hadn’t known that Mr. Fitzwilliam was in the hospital. "What’s wrong with Grandfather Fitzwilliam?"
"He was hospitalized for a bad cold."
"I’ll bring lissa to the hospital tomorrow. We can head out together from there."
"Mm," Rachel agreed.
She hung up.
「The next day.」
Rachel Royce arrived at the hospital early, t up with Julian Jennings, and they went to the inpatient departnt.
「Upon reaching the VIP inpatient floor.」
As they were walking towards Mr. Fitzwilliam’s room, they heard arguing from one of the rooms. "Alexander Sullivan, do you even see as your mother anymore? Will you only be happy when you’ve angered to death?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Rachel Royce paused and subconsciously looked towards the source of the sound.
The door to the room was closed, and she could only see a little of what was inside through the observation window on the door.
Alexander Sullivan was standing by the hospital bed, his back to the door, so his expression was unclear, but his silhouette looked incredibly cold and detached.
A few people passing by in the hallway stopped, their attention caught by the argunt.
Rachel only glanced for a mont before looking away, completely uninterested in prying.
Julian Jennings said, "It seems Mrs. Ainsworth and Alexander Sullivan didn’t reach an agreent."
Rachel Royce looked at Julian Jennings in confusion. "Is sothing wrong with the Ainsworth Family?"
Julian Jennings briefly explained to Rachel Royce that a project from MK Group had been blocked by Alexander Sullivan.
’So that’s what happened,’ Rachel realized. ’They couldn’t co to an agreent, and Mrs. Ainsworth got so angry she ended up hospitalized. Alexander Sullivan is her son, yes, but she’s clearly siding with the Ainsworth Family.’
’Claire Ainsworth’s marriage is now the Ainsworth Family’s most important bargaining chip.’
’I rember seeing Mrs. Ainsworth with Evelyn Fitzwilliam the other day. Seeing how close she’s getting with the Sterling Family, she must be desperate for Claire to marry into their family as soon as possible.’
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