Chapter 100: Do You Have No Feelings for Me at All
Harriet winced in pain and instinctively tried to push Tristan away, but her hands were easily controlled by him.
She was firmly pressed against the wall by Tristan, both her wrists effortlessly held in one of his hands.
His kiss gradually became gentler, each one drawing Harriet slowly deeper into surrender.
Everything in the world seemed to disappear. All Harriet could hear was Tristan's heavy breathing growing louder and louder in her ears.
But at that moment, Tristan suddenly released her and stepped back two paces.
Harriet had no strength left in her body and slowly slid down the wall to sit on the floor.
Tristan's mocking voice came from above her head, "Harriet, you're really pathetic."
Harriet curled up, hugging her shoulders as tears rolled down her face.
The next second, he lifted her chin.
Tristan crouched in front of her, his handsome face wearing an ambiguous smile, "Tell me, between me and Nolan, who makes you feel better?"
Harriet saw her current state reflected in his eyes.
Her shoulder-length hair was messy, her lips slightly swollen from kissing—she looked like someone who had been ravaged.
"Don't want to answer?" Tristan smirked, raising his right hand, "Harriet, you've dirtied me. What do you think we should do about that?"
Harriet tried to calm herself, but her voice still trembled when she spoke, "I'll wipe it clean for you."
Just as she was about to get tissues from her bag, Tristan suddenly grabbed her face.
Harriet's whole body shook.
Her heart felt like it was being pricked by countless needles, the pain suffocating.
It wasn't just humiliation, but also agony.
She never knew Tristan could have such a cruel side.
"Feel wronged?" Tristan looked at the tears on her face, "Harriet, your tears are as cheap as you are, so I suggest you save them. Save your tears to cry in front of Nolan."
Tristan released her, took out a gray handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped his fingers.
He looked down at her from above, "Listen carefully. Before we're officially divorced, if you dare to have anything unclear with Nolan again, the consequences won't be as comfortable as today."
With that, Tristan threw the handkerchief onto her body, turned around, opened the door, and left.
Harriet picked up the handkerchief, hugged herself tightly, and cried silently.
It took her a long time to pull herself together before she got up and returned to the restaurant.
"Why were you gone so long?" Nolan had been waiting anxiously, "I thought something happened to you. I was about to go look for you."
"I drank too much and went to sober up for a bit."
"Then don't drink anymore. Eat something to feel better."
"Okay."
Throughout the meal, Harriet ate absentmindedly.
After dinner, Harriet declined Nolan's suggestion to visit Chase.
When Nolan offered to drive her back to the clinic, remembering Tristan's warning, she lied that she still had to see patients, hailed a cab on the street, and went straight back to the clinic.
She went directly into the bathroom to shower.
The scene from the storage room flashed through her mind, and Harriet's legs couldn't stop trembling.
She had originally thought she and Tristan would become like strangers.
She never expected him to be this crazy.
It seemed she would have to avoid him as much as possible from now on.
The next afternoon, an uninvited guest arrived at Cloud Bay.
When Tristan came downstairs, he saw Owen already sitting on the sofa drinking coffee.
Tristan walked over and sat on the sofa opposite him, "What's up?"
Owen smiled, "What, just because I suspended your work, you won't even call me Dad anymore?"
Tristan's face was expressionless, "Stop beating around the bush. Get to the point."
Owen's face turned a bit cold, "Lark told me you don't want to marry her?"
Tristan raised an eyebrow, "When did I ever say I would marry her?"
Owen said seriously, "The Lancaster family owes the Brown family two lives. You two were betrothed before birth as an engaged couple. What's the problem with you marrying her?"
"Grandpa has already repaid the favor owed to the Brown family." Tristan said flatly, "Without the Lancaster family's support over the decades, would the Brown family be where they are today? As for what I owe Lark, I'll handle it myself, but I definitely won't marry her."
"Why don't you want to marry her?" Owen didn't understand, "Even if you don't like her, you don't have to live together. She'll just have the title of Mrs. Lancaster, it won't affect your life. Besides, your body is ruined now anyway, you don't need women anymore."
"That makes a lot of sense, but I just don't want to marry her."
Owen's face darkened, "Tristan, this isn't up to you. As the Lancaster family heir, accepting the family's arranged marriage is your duty. After you and Harriet officially divorce in a few days, go get a marriage certificate with Lark. If you don't want the hassle, we can skip the wedding, but you must get married."
Tristan smiled faintly, "If Mr. Owen Lancaster is so keen on a marriage alliance and has so many mistresses, you could marry Lark yourself. Why force me?"
"Tristan, what are you saying!" Owen said angrily, "I came here today to officially inform you, not to discuss it with you."
Tristan raised an eyebrow, "What if I don't agree?"
Owen looked at him with a warning, "Tristan, you need to know that everything you have was given to you by the Lancaster family. Without the Lancaster family, you're nothing."
Tristan laughed softly, "I understand. You're saying that if I don't agree, you'll kick me out of the Lancaster family and make me a stray dog."
Owen neither confirmed nor denied it, "You've been a genius since childhood. In all of Emberfall, your abilities are unmatched, but you need to understand one thing—personal ability is important, but the platform is more important."
"You were born as the Lancaster family heir, which is why you have today's achievements. But if you weren't my son Owen, if you were born into an ordinary family and didn't receive excellent education, you might not even have had the chance to work at the Lancaster Group."
Tristan readily agreed, "You're absolutely right. I was just born at the top, which is why I have today's status."
"Good that you know." Owen's expression softened a bit, "After you get married, I'll have Mr. Jones move into Cloud Bay to treat your sexual problems. Once you're cured, since you don't like Lark, you can find mistresses outside, play however you want. I absolutely won't interfere."
Tristan laughed coldly, "You want me to live like you?"
"For men, besides career, it's just women. You can have both."
"Mr. Owen Lancaster certainly lives with clarity and understanding." Tristan looked at him, his handsome face expressionless, "It's just a pity that I hate most when people try to arrange my life, and I find the way you live disgusting."
"Tristan, you're clearly going against me, aren't you?" Owen's face was dark, "Do you know the consequences?"
"Didn't Mr. Owen Lancaster just make the consequences very clear? I'm not deaf." Tristan said with a faint smile, "Besides, I'm tired of being the golden boy. I just happen to want to be an ordinary person now."
"Good, I really underestimated you. You even have the guts to give up the family." Owen's eyes were cold as a snake's, "But if you want to be an ordinary person, I'm afraid you'll have to send your mother away first."
Tristan's brow furrowed.
Owen took out a cigar and lit it, "Come to think of it, your mother has been recuperating abroad for a year now. I hear her condition is fairly stable. I just don't know if she'll still be in the mood to rest quietly when she receives my divorce papers, or if she'll try to kill herself again like she did before."
Tristan's eyes flashed with murderous intent, "Because of you, she's already living neither as a person nor a ghost, barely clinging to life. Are you going to push her to the brink?"
"I don't want to divorce her either. I want our family to live happily together, but you're the one who won't agree." Owen exhaled white smoke, "Your wedding with Lark is set for next Sunday. The day before happens to be when you and Harriet get your divorce papers. You can get the divorce papers in the morning and the marriage certificate with Lark in the afternoon—no time wasted."
"I'll personally bring your mother back from abroad to attend the wedding. She'll be so happy."