Chapter 376 Unprecedented Initiative

Chapter 376 Unprecedented Initiative

"Why?" Harriet frowned. "You're taking Qiana with you?"

Coralie shook her head. "I've thought about it over and over. Caspian would never let me take Qiana. I'm not strong enough right now to stand up to him. If I take Qiana, with his resources, he'll find me wherever I go and take her back. It'll just be hard on Qiana, and I still won't be able to keep her with me."

"So you mean you're leaving by yourself?"

"That's all I can do." Coralie broke down crying. "Harriet, I can't bear to leave Qiana, but I have no choice..."

"Then you can choose to stay." Harriet was puzzled. "Even if things aren't great between you and Caspian, the Romanov family won't treat you badly. I don't think they would do anything to wrong you."

"Harriet, you're right. The Romanov family won't treat me badly. Even if Caspian doesn't want me, Grandpa won't let him marry another woman. I could stay with the Romanov family and be there for Qiana as she grows up."

"But Harriet, that wouldn't just trap me—it would trap Caspian for life too."

Coralie tried to force a smile, but tears kept streaming down her face. "These past few days, I learned something from someone—loving someone doesn't mean you have to possess them."

"Letting go and accepting things is also love."

"Caspian is a person, not a doll I can have just because I want it. All these years, I've shamelessly stayed with the Romanov family, but I've never won his heart. That shows he really doesn't belong to me."

"So I can't keep forcing it. I'm letting him go, and I'm letting myself go too."

"What about Qiana?" Harriet asked. "How can you bear to leave her?"

Even though she had lost her memory, her maternal love couldn't be erased.

When she got divorced, she still wanted to keep Della with her.

She didn't believe Coralie could bear to leave Qiana.

"Of course I can't bear it!" Coralie said, full of self-blame. "That's what I hate most about myself. I brought this child into the world, but I can't give her a complete, warm family, and I can't take her with me either."

"Harriet, I really hate myself." Coralie cried out in pain. "Since I was little, it seems like all I could see was Caspian. I forgot everything else, including myself. I really regret it now. If I wasn't so useless, couldn't I just take Qiana with me?"

"Coralie, don't cry." Harriet wiped away her tears. "Calm down first and tell me—where are you planning to go?"

"I don't really know." Coralie sobbed. "I just want to get away from Caspian, find myself again, and when I'm strong enough, bring Qiana back to me."

"Then you just need to move out of the Romanov family's house and live in Emberfall, right?"

"No." Coralie cried. "If I stay in Emberfall, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself from going back."

"So you're planning to leave Emberfall completely to prevent yourself from returning to the Romanov family?"

"Harriet, I need time. I have to break away from the Romanov family and become strong on my own. Only then can I be a good mother and have the right to bring Qiana back."

"I don't agree with what you're saying." Harriet spoke up. "You went through so much to carry her, risked your life to give birth to her—you're already a good mother. You don't need to become one."

"Of course, you're right about needing to become stronger."

"In your relationship with Caspian, there's clearly an imbalance. He's way up high, and you're down in the dust. With that kind of setup, even if Caspian married you because of pressure from Grandpa, you wouldn't be happy."

Coralie nodded hard. "Harriet, you're absolutely right. I used to dream about marrying him every day, but gradually I understood that even if I got my wish and married him, if he's not happy, I won't be happy either."

"Coralie, in this world, love isn't the only thing worth pursuing." Harriet took a tissue to wipe her tears. "Without romantic love, you still have family and friendship. Even if all of those leave you, you still have yourself. You have to love yourself first before others will love you."

"You're right. I gave all my love to Caspian and forgot who I even was." Coralie pulled at her lips. "If only I'd realized earlier that he doesn't belong to me and let go sooner."

"Life is unpredictable, and what we should do is never look back, but look forward. Coralie, as long as you're willing to start over, it's never too late."

"Harriet, thank you." Coralie wiped the tears from her face. "I couldn't say these things to anyone else, only you."

"We're friends, of course we can be completely open." Harriet promised. "Don't worry, you asked me to keep this secret, and I won't say a word to Caspian. But you have to promise me that wherever you go, you'll contact me right away and let me know you're safe."

"Okay, I won't lose touch." Coralie hugged her gently. "Harriet, I'm sorry. I haven't even comforted you, and instead I'm dumping all this negativity on you."

"I don't need comfort." Harriet smiled and patted her back. "Tristan is in the past for me."

"Harriet, you're so strong inside. You can just stop wanting something when you say so, let go when you say so. If I had your strength, maybe I wouldn't be suffering like this."

"I wouldn't call it strength." Harriet smiled. "I just don't want to keep dwelling on a rotten heart. Tristan likes Tamsin, so I'm accepting that and letting myself go too."

Coralie's nose tingled.

Though Harriet spoke calmly, she could sense that Harriet still had resentment inside.

Harriet resented Tristan, which was completely understandable.

And yet Tristan was so innocent.

But all the truth had to stay buried—she couldn't reveal anything to Harriet.

Seeing her strange expression, Harriet couldn't help asking, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Coralie quickly said. "Harriet, after I leave, can you visit Qiana often for me?"

"Okay."

"I'll find a way to bring Qiana to me as soon as possible."

"Okay."

Della kept talking about Tristan every day, which made Harriet think about him too, and about their unsuccessful divorce.

At dinner, Caspian was there, and Harriet asked again.

"Caspian, has Tristan said when we can get divorced?"

"He went abroad."

Harriet raised an eyebrow. "With Tamsin?"

"You're overthinking it." Caspian explained. "It's a business trip. But I don't know when he'll be back."

"Harriet, according to the divorce agreement, half of Apex Global Group is yours. Tristan running Apex Global Group well is good for you, not bad."

Harriet didn't think much of it. "I don't think I'll starve without him."

Caspian smiled. "Of course not. I've got your back."

"I didn't want the shares originally, but if I don't take them, it just benefits Tamsin. Every year when the money comes in, except for the part I'm saving for Della, I'll donate the rest to charity."

"Whatever makes you happy."

Harriet took a bite of food and asked, "Caspian, how's Coralie doing lately?"

"I heard she came to see you a few days ago?" Caspian answered with a question.

Harriet wasn't surprised.

Caspian wouldn't pay attention to Coralie's whereabouts, but he knew everything that happened here.

The servants and bodyguards were all his people.

"She did come once." Harriet said. "She came to chat with me and see Della. I haven't seen her in several days, so I'm asking. I want her to bring Qiana over to play."

"I haven't really run into her these past few days. Besides taking care of the baby at home, what else could she be doing?"

Harriet said seriously, "Caspian, taking care of a baby is hard work. You shouldn't put down Coralie's efforts."

"There are three professional nannies taking shifts to care for Qiana at home, plus so many servants helping out. How hard could it be for her?"

"Even with nannies, Coralie is the mother. She still has to put in a lot of effort, and she loves Qiana so much."

Caspian looked impatient. "Qiana is a tool she used to trap me. Of course she loves her."

Harriet frowned. "Caspian, is Coralie really that terrible in your eyes?"

Caspian used the serving utensils to add food to her plate. "I know you two are close, but I'm stating facts."

"I think you have a prejudice against Coralie. She's not really what you think. Maybe you two could sit down and have a good talk."

Caspian's eyes darkened slightly. "Did she ask you to say this to me?"

"Of course not." Harriet explained. "I'm just saying this from an outsider's perspective."

Caspian drank his wine. "Harriet, the company has been really busy these past few days. It's rare that I have time to have dinner with you two. Can we not talk about this?"

Harriet nodded. "Okay."

After dinner, Caspian went to a drinking party and didn't return to the Romanov family's house until after one in the morning.

He opened the master bedroom door and saw Coralie and Qiana sleeping soundly.

Caspian reached out and touched Qiana's little head.

Qiana moved a bit but didn't open her eyes. She changed positions and quickly fell back asleep.

Qiana didn't wake up, but Coralie beside her did.

When their eyes met, Coralie was stunned for a moment before she reacted.

"Why are you back so late? Have you been drinking?"

"Yes."

Coralie threw back the covers and got up. "Go take a shower first. I'll make you some hangover soup."

When Coralie brought the hangover soup into the study, Caspian had already showered and was using a towel to dry his hair.

Coralie set down the soup and got the hairdryer to blow-dry his hair.

Men's hair is short, so it dried quickly.

Coralie put away the hairdryer and said, "Drink the soup while it's hot and get some rest early. I'm going back to be with Qiana."

Just as she turned to leave, her wrist was grabbed.

Coralie turned around curiously. "What's wrong?"

Caspian didn't say anything. With one pull, he yanked Coralie back into his arms.

Before Coralie could react from her daze, her lips were kissed.

She quickly guessed what he wanted to do.

After drinking, Caspian's sexual desire was usually stronger.

And they hadn't made love in quite a while.

In the past, when he was willing to be intimate with her, Coralie would be overjoyed.

But now, she wanted to push him away.

Before, she felt happy because she thought it was a sign of love.

But now, she already knew he couldn't possibly love her, so his intimacy with her could only be drunken release.

In his eyes, she was just a tool for release, to be used whenever.

Coralie's heart felt desolate.

She looked at Caspian kissing her, and tears instantly blurred her eyes.

This was the man she loved with everything she had. After leaving here, she would never be able to love another man the way she loved him.

Coralie gently pushed against his chest, dodging his kiss.

"What's wrong?" Caspian's voice was hoarse from the alcohol, sounding somewhat gentle.

Coralie couldn't help but ask, "Caspian, do you love me?"

Caspian frowned, looking displeased.

He rolled over and sat against the headboard, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. "If you don't want to have sex, you don't need to be such a buzzkill."

Coralie laughed at herself.

Knowing the answer, she didn't know what she was hoping for.

She was just humiliating herself.

Coralie wiped away the tears that hadn't yet fallen from the corners of her eyes.

Not crying or making a scene was her way of maintaining her last bit of dignity.

Coralie put on a smile and climbed onto Caspian, more proactive than ever before.

Caspian's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her with interest.

Coralie was actually a very traditional woman, especially when it came to sex. She had always been guided by him.

This was the first time she was this proactive.

Caspian enjoyed her initiative.

A night of passion.

The next morning.

When Caspian woke up, Coralie was no longer in the study.

He didn't think much of it. He went downstairs for breakfast and headed straight to work.

Work was busy for the next few days, and he never went back to the Romanov family's house. He either slept at the office or went to Harriet's place.

It wasn't until several days later that Mason called.

"Caspian, what happened to Coralie?"

"Coralie?" Caspian was puzzled. "What could have happened to her?"

"If nothing happened, why can't I reach her?" Mason said. "She said she was going back to her hometown to pay respects to ancestors. She's been gone for days. Qiana can't see her and cries every day. I called her, but her phone is off. Why would it be off for no reason? Something must have happened!"

"Going back to her hometown to pay respects?" Caspian frowned. "When was this?"

"You're never home, of course you wouldn't know." Mason said. "That night you came home to stay? The next day, right after you left, Coralie went out. I specifically asked about how you two were doing, and she said you were fine and told me not to worry. Caspian, did you two fight that night?"

Caspian's frown deepened.

Not only did they not fight that night, they had sex several times, and Coralie was more proactive than ever, giving him a different kind of experience.

"Caspian, I'm asking you a question." Mason pressed. "Did you two really fight?"

"No." Caspian collected himself. "We didn't fight."

"Then something must have happened to Coralie. Otherwise she wouldn't lose contact, and she definitely wouldn't not call to check on Qiana!" Mason immediately became anxious. "Send people to find her right away. You have to bring her back safely!"

"Grandpa, don't worry." Caspian tried to calm him. "She'll be fine."

Caspian hung up and immediately dialed Coralie's number.