Chapter 128: Love Without Knowing
From the window to the bathroom, then back to the bed again, Tristan kept tormenting Harriet in different ways.
From dawn until dark, and finally when Harriet begged for mercy, Tristan reluctantly stopped.
Harriet was covered in sweat, but still forced herself to sit up. "We've made a mess of someone else's bed. Come on, get up and help clean it. By the way, how come you're here? How did they let us stay here so long, and even..."
She couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.
Tristan had been too crazy, having sex so recklessly on someone else's property.
"Aren't you tired?" Tristan pulled her into his arms. "Rest for a bit."
"No." Harriet said seriously. "We have to help clean up."
"Still have energy to clean? Looks like you're not tired." Tristan raised an eyebrow. "Want to go again?"
Harriet was so scared her legs were shaking. "No, I'm tired!"
"Then just lie still."
Harriet could only lean against him. "Tristan, you still haven't answered me. How come you're here?"
"You trust people too easily. I had to teach you a lesson."
As his wife, Harriet would face countless dangers in the future, and her guard seemed only up against people who were hostile to her, like Lark.
As long as people didn't show hostility toward her, she trusted them easily, like Finnegan.
That wouldn't do.
Harriet suddenly realized. "You arranged today's events. You deliberately scared me!"
"I'm teaching you to be more careful. Trusting strangers so easily can get you into real trouble."
Harriet knew she had been careless today, but she really wanted to help Tristan secure the partnership.
Tristan was right—if someone else had set her up today, she would have been in serious trouble.
"I understand. I won't be so impulsive again." A flash of delight crossed Harriet's eyes. "So you know Mr. Savoy? We've been able to stay here so long—don't tell me you also know the boss of that consortium?"
Tristan didn't deny it. "I do know him."
"Why didn't you say so earlier? I was trying to help connect you!" Harriet said excitedly. "Since you know him, that's great! You don't have to worry about Owen's pressure anymore!"
"Owen?" Tristan sneered. "I've never taken him seriously."
Tristan reached up and pinched her cheek. "But seeing Mrs. Lancaster so concerned about my affairs makes me very happy."
Harriet leaned against him. "I wasn't planning to get involved in your business, but I didn't expect Owen to actually pressure you. You're so capable—if you don't get the chance to show your abilities because of his pressure, that would be such a shame. So we should think of ways to get out of this situation."
"Don't worry, I'll handle it."
"Okay."
As they talked, Harriet's stomach growled at an inopportune moment.
"You're hungry?"
Harriet felt a bit embarrassed. "After all that, how could I not be hungry?"
"Get up, I'll take you to eat."
"No, I need to clean up here first."
"No need, someone will clean it."
Harriet was taken by Tristan from the skyscraper to a private restaurant.
Harriet was already starving. The two ate and chatted, not leaving until after eight.
Tristan asked, "I have a drinking party later. Want to come with me?"
Harriet shook her head. "I won't go. You go ahead. I can just take a cab home."
"I'll take you home first."
"No need, it's not good to keep people waiting. Taking a cab is very convenient for me."
"They're not important people. I'll take you first."
Harriet couldn't argue with him and had to agree.
Harriet wanted to take a walk, so Tristan parked the car at the community entrance.
He watched Harriet enter the complex, and just as he was about to turn around and leave, something caught his eye. He suddenly turned his head toward the opposite side of the street.
A figure watching the community entrance quickly turned and disappeared into an alley.
Tristan's eyes darkened slightly, then after a moment he drove away.
Half an hour later, Tristan arrived at Opulence Club.
"Why so late?" Finnegan teased. "Did your wife keep you busy?"
"She was tired. I took her home."
Finnegan was a bit surprised. "Lakeside Gardens and here are in opposite directions. Taking her there and coming back here wasted at least an hour. Tristan, have you calculated how much money you can make in an hour? And you wasted an hour on something like taking someone home?"
Tristan picked up his glass and took a sip. "Not everything can be measured in money."
Finnegan was even more shocked. "You're in love with her?"
"What I can say for sure is, I really like her." Tristan's fingertip lightly tapped his glass. "Whatever she wants, I'm willing to give."
"Just like with Lark?"
"How can Lark compare to her." Tristan pulled out a cigarette and lit it. "Lark isn't even worthy of carrying her shoes."
"Then it's more than just liking." Finnegan smiled. "You've always been generous with women. Lark saved your life, and you've never shortchanged her materially, but with this Ms. Getty, what you're giving isn't just money."
After all, he even took a knife for her—how could it be just liking?
Tristan had never fallen for a woman before, so maybe he didn't even know what falling in love meant.
So he loved without knowing it.
Tristan didn't deny Finnegan's words.
Money meant nothing to him. The luxury goods Lark liked were nothing to him, so naturally he gave her whatever she wanted.
But with Harriet.
He seemed to really need her.
Tristan couldn't help wondering if, for a man, the first woman in his life was always special.
Otherwise, how could he possibly need a woman so much?
Lakeside Gardens.
Harriet had just removed her makeup and showered, preparing to sleep, when Jasper's call suddenly came in.
"Uncle Jasper." Harriet immediately answered.
"Harriet, I'm not disturbing your rest, am I?"
"I'm not asleep yet. Is something wrong, Uncle Jasper?"
Jasper sounded a bit sad. "In a few days it's your grandmother's memorial day. According to our hometown customs, we should go back, and also inform relatives and neighbors about your grandmother's passing."
Harriet immediately agreed. "That's fine with me. I can take time off."
"That's best. It's just that my shop has been really busy lately, and I really can't get away. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to make the trip."
"Uncle Jasper, you focus on your business. Leave the hometown matters to me."
"Okay, call me if anything comes up."
"Okay."
Harriet hung up and found the key to the old house in her dressing table drawer.
Along with the key was the charm Cleo had left her. She didn't have a habit of wearing jewelry, and was afraid of damaging it, so she'd kept it carefully in the drawer, even putting it in a nice box.
Harriet stroked the charm, thinking of Cleo again, her eyes moistening.
She put away the charm, took out the old house key, and went to the closet to pack.
Tristan came home early. As soon as he entered the master bedroom, he saw the suitcase at the foot of the bed.
He went to shower, then lay on the bed and kissed Harriet awake.
Harriet groggily opened her eyes. "Stop it, I'm so sleepy."
"Why are you packing?"
"Uncle Jasper wants me to go back to the hometown. I already got time off from Mr. Jones. I'm leaving tomorrow."
"I'll go with you."
"No need, you're in the early stages of starting your business. Don't get distracted by these things."
"I'm not busy. Being with you is more important."
Harriet touched his face. "Are you sure it won't interfere?"
"It won't."
"Okay then." Harriet kissed the corner of his lips. "Let's sleep."
"Okay."
The next morning, they set off for Luminara City.
After the plane landed in Luminara City, the car Tristan had arranged picked them up at the airport and drove them directly to their destination.
The Getty family's hometown was in a small town called Dewdrop Town in Luminara City. Dewdrop Town wasn't exactly prosperous, but the scenery was beautiful.
They arrived in town just as evening fell.
With the setting sun, the slow-paced Dewdrop Town was exceptionally beautiful and peaceful.
Harriet gave Tristan a tour. "This road was my route to school when I was little. I walked it back and forth for six years. Later, my grandparents took me to settle in Luminara City for a better education. I only came back during the New Year."
Tristan smiled. "It's beautiful here. No wonder Mrs. Lancaster is so gentle—you grew up in this kind of environment."
Harriet blushed. "You're making fun of me!"
"I'm complimenting you."
"You must be hungry, right?" Harriet pointed ahead. "There's a noodle shop over there that's really good. Let me treat you to dinner."
"Okay."