Chapter 53: lissa Knows It’s a Gift from Her Mother
Thomas Sterling sent her a photo of fireworks and asked, "Want to see the baby?"
Rachel Royce had never brought up the baby to him. He knew she was afraid that seeing her would only bring more pain and sorrow.
But deep down, she surely longed to see her daughter.
Rachel stared at the ssage from Thomas Sterling. After a long silence, she went back to her room and replied, "Okay."
In the end, she couldn’t resist.
Thomas Sterling sent her several photos of the baby by herself—sleeping, smiling... lissa was gorgeous. When she smiled, her big, bright eyes curved like crescent moons. She had a delicate nose, a small, tender pink mouth, and a tiny, fair face.
Looking at the photos, Rachel couldn’t stop her eyes from turning red.
She put down her phone.
She looked out the window, trying to calm herself down before sending Thomas Sterling a ssage: "Is Tristan Sterling good to her?"
That was her biggest worry.
Thomas Sterling: "He adores lissa. He takes care of her himself most of the ti. And he accepted the scarf and hat."
This was not what Rachel had expected, and she sighed in relief. "That’s good," she replied.
She didn’t ask anything else.
Thomas Sterling didn’t say any more about the baby either.
The group chat remained lively. Joanna Sutton kept tagging her, wanting to video call and show her the fireworks.
At ten o’clock that night, Florence Preston urged her to go to bed and get so rest.
Rachel wished them good night and lay down to sleep.
「The New Year arrived.」
Rachel could only stay at ho.
「On the first day of the New Year.」
Wendy Royce and Florence Preston went out for a walk, leaving Peter Preston at ho to look after Rachel.
Thomas Sterling ca to visit.
The three of them played cards all afternoon.
Rachel beat the other two single-handedly.
「Over the next few days.」
Thomas Sterling dropped by from ti to ti. It wasn’t always to keep Rachel company; more often, he was there to discuss work with Peter Preston.
Although it was the New Year holiday, Peter Preston hadn’t been idle. He was constantly busy, occasionally needing to go into the office. The next two years were a critical period for developnt, so he didn’t dare slack off in the slightest.
「In the blink of an eye.」
「The New Year passed.」
Businesses in the city began to reopen one after another.
Julian Jennings and Joanna Sutton ca to visit her as soon as they could. Joanna had been traveling abroad and brought back many gifts for her, all things beneficial for postpartum recovery.
Julian Jennings confird the details of her trip to the United States on March tenth. Professor Michael could arrange for her to start with online classes, allowing her to rest for a while longer after she arrived.
After all, the first three months after childbirth were crucial.
He would go with her then, as he had business to discuss over there anyway. His younger sister had married and now lived in the United States, and her own baby was due soon, so he could visit her as well. He said he could introduce the two of them.
Florence Preston decided to go with her to take care of her and would only return after Rachel had fully recovered.
Wendy Royce agreed.
With that, Rachel couldn’t object.
「In the blink of an eye.」
A month had passed since Rachel gave birth, and it was ti for the baby’s one-month celebration.
The Sterling family had made extensive preparations for the occasion.
They were hosting a banquet at a hotel owned by The Sterling Group, and the guest list included all the most prominent figures in Kingsland.
Relatives from the Sterling family’s side first went to the Silvermist Bay Villa to present their gifts and see the family’s only baby girl in several generations.
The villa’s living room was piled high with gifts for the one-month-old.
All eyes were on the tall, handso man in a formal suit as he descended the stairs, cradling a baby with a tiny face and big, round eyes.
She was as beautiful as an exquisite doll, clearly a future heartbreaker.
The typically cold and aloof man held his daughter with eyes full of fatherly tenderness.
The onlookers couldn’t help but murmur amongst themselves.
’Even if he doesn’t like his wife, he truly dotes on his daughter. And the child is absolutely beautiful.’
’But why isn’t Tristan Sterling’s wife here today?’
Everyone was puzzled but didn’t dare to ask.
Tristan Sterling placed the baby in her carriage. Madam Sterling and Master Sterling imdiately crowded around, their wrinkled faces unable to hide their joy as they gazed at their precious granddaughter.
Madam Sterling presented her gift to lissa—a collection of jewelry worth over a hundred million. "Does my little treasure like it?" she asked.
lissa just stared with wide eyes, her adorable little face showing no particular reaction.
"lissa, look at Great-Grandpa’s gift."
Master Sterling had a custom-made rattle drum. It was crafted from golden nanmu wood, and Master Sterling had even painted the drum’s surface himself.
Sylvia Shannon and Harrison Sterling had also prepared exquisite gifts, hoping to coax a smile from their granddaughter.
But lissa only blinked her big eyes, watching them.
Madam Sterling sighed. "She’s really just like you, Tristan."
Just then, Thomas Sterling dangled a safety lock he was holding. "lissa," he cooed, "do you like this?"
lissa looked at Thomas Sterling’s safety lock and suddenly giggled.
Everyone was delighted.
Madam Sterling smiled. "So lissa likes her uncle’s gift."
"Our little lissa will grow up safe and sound."
"..."
Thomas Sterling looked at the adorable lissa and said softly, "lissa knows this is a gift from her mother, doesn’t she?"
As soon as he said that, the air froze for a mont.
Evelyn Fitzwilliam stared at her son, exasperated.
Thomas Sterling pretended not to notice everyone’s reactions and continued speaking to lissa. "Your mother wants you to grow up safe and sound."
Hearing Thomas Sterling’s words, lissa giggled again.
Everyone heard what Thomas Sterling said, but no one responded.
Just as Evelyn Fitzwilliam was about to speak, Master Fitzwilliam, who had been observing from the sofa, said, "She’s an understanding child. She’ll surely rember her mother when she’s older."
"Well, go on and put it on her."
"..."
Hearing Mr. Fitzwilliam’s words, Master and Madam Sterling were montarily at a loss for how to respond.
The others certainly didn’t dare say a word.
Tristan Sterling said to Thomas Sterling, "Give it to ."
Thomas Sterling glanced at him and handed over the safety lock.
Tristan Sterling bent down and carefully fastened it around lissa’s neck.
Then he turned to the crowd and said, "Let’s head to the hotel now."
Sylvia Shannon added, "It’s getting late. We should get going."
The guests rose and began to leave.
Everyone departed one by one.
The living room instantly fell silent.
Soon, only Madam and Master Sterling, Harrison Sterling, and Sylvia Shannon were left in the room.
Tristan Sterling had placed the baby back in her carriage.
Madam Sterling said, "Tristan, for the baby’s sake, just go and bring Rachel Royce back."
Madam Sterling was extrely displeased with Rachel’s current attitude. ’She clearly didn’t listen to a single thing I told her before. I never thought soone who looks so ek on the surface could be so proud to the bone.’
Sylvia Shannon heard Madam Sterling’s words. Despite her own dissatisfaction, she knew it wasn’t the ti to say anything.
Harrison Sterling said, "A child still needs her mother’s care. Tristan, you should think more about what’s best for her."
Master Sterling snorted contemptuously. "She thinks that just because she bore a child for the Sterling family, she’s suddenly so great person? That we need to roll out the red carpet to beg her to co back?"
Madam Sterling said, "That’s enough. Don’t let Glenn hear you talking like that."
Tristan Sterling stroked the baby’s tiny hand. "Grandma, Grandpa, Dad, Mom, you should all head over first. I know what to do."
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