Chapter 144 Taking Birth Control Pills
Gemma froze.
She hadn't thought of that.
Gemma looked at Tristan and saw he didn't deny it. Her eyes widened in shock.
"Tristan, don't tell me Uma's guess is right. You'd disregard my feelings for Harriet's sake?"
Tristan pulled out a cigarette and lit it, trying to calm his irritation.
He didn't need any reason to go after Griffin.
But given Harriet's feelings for Griffin, she wouldn't allow it.
If he really went after Griffin, Harriet would definitely hate him, wouldn't she?
He'd experienced Harriet's determination before.
He didn't like Harriet's determination.
Tristan took a drag and said, "I'll handle this myself. You just focus on getting better here."
"You're admitting it?" Gemma couldn't believe it. "You'd really go against me for a woman? And for someone like Harriet!"
"What do you mean 'someone like her'?" Tristan's eyes turned cold. "I've said this before—she's my wife. You don't have to like her or accept her, but you must give her the respect she deserves. I won't let her feel that as my wife, she can be insulted and criticized by anyone, not even by you."
Gemma laughed, tears streaming from her eyes. "People say men forget their mothers after getting married. I always thought maybe Xavier might be like that, but never you. Because you've been more rational than your peers since childhood, cold and distant in dealing with people. But it turns out that you, who's been indifferent to everyone and everything, can be so crazy when it comes to love. I'm afraid Harriet already weighs more in your heart than I do, right? Tristan, don't forget—no matter how beautiful she is, she's just a woman! Women are like clothes, they can be replaced anytime. She's not worth all this effort!"
Tristan's eyes narrowed. "So you want me to become like Owen?"
Gemma was instantly speechless.
"I never said Harriet is more important than you, so you don't need to be so upset." Tristan blew out a smoke ring and emphasized, "As for Griffin, I'll wait and see what he and Owen are up to for now. Don't go running around if there's nothing urgent, and especially don't go looking for trouble with Harriet."
Tristan finished his cigarette, stubbed it out in the ashtray, and got up to leave.
Harriet had lunch with Griffin. During the meal, Nolan called to say Chase had caught a cold and couldn't be sent to Lakeside Gardens today.
After lunch, Harriet went to the clinic to get some medicine, then took a cab to the Johnson Mansion.
Chase's cold wasn't serious—just a slight fever. He lay limply in bed.
When he saw Harriet, Chase perked up immediately. "Harriet, I was just about to call you. We're totally in sync!"
"Where did you learn to say things like that?" Harriet smiled and touched his face, then took his temperature with a thermometer. He still had a slight fever.
She handed the medicine she brought to a servant. "Boil this for twenty minutes and use it to wipe Chase down."
"Yes, Ms. Getty."
Nolan knocked and came in. "Harriet, when did you get here?"
"Just now." Harriet said, "Chase has a bit of a cold, but it's not serious."
"I feel better now that you're here." Nolan gestured for her to sit on the sofa. "Tristan and Owen are officially at odds now. Owen's not someone to mess with—I'm worried he might come after you in anger. You need to be extra careful."
"I will, thank you."
While pouring her water, Nolan asked, "Are you old friends with the Lancaster Group's new CEO?"
"How did you know?"
"I didn't attend the dinner, but photos got out. I saw you talking with him."
"We are old friends." Harriet said. "But he's been out of touch for five years. I just saw him recently. I had no idea he had this connection to the Lancaster family."
"Harriet, as a friend, I hope you'll always leave yourself a way out, no matter what."
Harriet looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"The Lancaster family is too complicated. Tristan seems to have left them, but how could he really cut ties completely? Now your old friend has become his half-brother, which makes things even more complicated. So I hope you won't give everything to anyone without holding something back, or you'll be the one who gets hurt in the end."
Though Harriet didn't fully understand, she knew Nolan meant well.
"Thank you, Mr. Johnson. I'll remember what you said."
Harriet wiped Chase down and waited until his fever broke before returning to Lakeside Gardens.
As soon as she entered, she saw Tristan sitting on the living room sofa.
"Tristan, don't you have to work today?" Harriet changed into slippers and sat down beside him.
"No."
"Then should we cook dinner ourselves tonight?" Harriet suggested. "Rhea has the day off anyway."
Tristan turned to look at her and suddenly kissed her lips.
Harriet was pressed back into the sofa, receiving his gentle, teasing kiss.
When she felt his breathing become hard to control, Harriet gently pushed him away. "It's daytime. Stop fooling around."
"Does Grandma know I'm fine now?"
"Yes, I told her yesterday."
"Then let's have a baby soon." Tristan's fingertips caressed her flushed cheeks. "Grandma will be so happy."
Harriet's expression froze slightly, then she smiled. "Okay."
"You agreed pretty quickly." Tristan's eyes suddenly turned cold. "Then why don't you explain why you've been secretly taking birth control pills?"
Harriet froze.
Tristan sat up and looked at her coldly. "Long-acting birth control pills, no less. Harriet, do you really not want to have a child with me that badly?"
If they were short-acting pills, he wouldn't be this disappointed and angry.
But the pills she was taking—one pill prevented pregnancy for half a month. That meant she had no intention of having a child with him anytime soon.
Griffin's appearance had stuck in Tristan's throat like a bone, but he'd been trying to convince himself that even if he was just a substitute, Harriet's body belonged to him.
He'd made up his mind that someday he'd make sure he was the only one in Harriet's heart.
For her sake, he'd rather upset his mother than go after Griffin.
And how did she repay him?
She took long-acting birth control pills because she didn't want to have his child!
Was it because Griffin came back that she didn't want to have his child?
How dare she!
Harriet sat up and explained, "Tristan, Mr. Jones said the clinic has been busy lately and that I shouldn't try to get pregnant right now. That's why he gave me the pills."
"Plus, you just started working at Apex Global Group. We're both very busy. This really isn't a good time to have a baby, so that's why I took the birth control."
Tristan said coldly, "Mr. Jones has never been one to meddle in other people's business. Why is he suddenly so involved that he's managing whether we have kids or not? Besides, being busy is an excuse not to have children?" Tristan couldn't accept this flimsy excuse. "I don't need to work for money. If you get pregnant and need me to take care of you, I can drop everything and come home to look after you. So Harriet, don't you think your reason is too far-fetched?"
Harriet frowned. "I thought you needed to earn money too."
"You think I'm short on money? So are you going to use financial conditions as another excuse not to have kids?" Tristan laughed coldly. "Harriet, forget one child—even if you had dozens, I could still afford to raise them! Or is this all just an excuse, and you simply don't want to have a child with me!"
Tristan grabbed her shoulders and demanded loudly, "Harriet, tell me the truth—do you not want children, or do you not want to have children with me!"