Chapter 148: Illegitimate Child
Before they knew it, Christmas Eve had arrived.
Although Tristan and Owen had their falling out, Christmas was a day when Tristan had to return to the Lancaster Manor to be with Haven.
Harriet naturally went along with him.
She was even worried that if a fight broke out, Haven wouldn't be able to handle it, so she prepared a medical kit in advance.
Early in the morning, Harriet went to the dressing room and picked out a red sweater to match with a black skirt, then did simple and proper makeup.
Tristan walked up behind her, bent down and kissed her hair. "Mrs. Lancaster looks beautiful."
"It's a holiday today, so I dressed up nicely to make Grandma happy."
"Let's go."
"Okay."
Harriet helped Tristan straighten his clothes, and the two of them walked out hand in hand.
The door next to theirs opened almost at the same time, and both sides instinctively looked at each other.
The two men's eyes met in the air - sparks flew instantly, and the atmosphere was thick with tension!
Griffin's gaze fell on their intertwined fingers. He smiled slightly. "Harriet, where are you going?"
"Back to the Lancaster Manor... are you too?"
"I'll go this afternoon."
"Then we'll head out first."
After getting in the elevator, Harriet secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She turned her head and saw Tristan's gloomy face. She couldn't help reminding him, "Grandma will worry if she sees you like this."
"I know."
The two spent most of the day with Haven at the Lancaster Manor, and before they knew it, afternoon arrived.
Gemma had been in poor health recently and had been staying in the hospital. The doctor didn't recommend she leave the hospital for too long, so she only came back in the afternoon for dinner.
When she saw Harriet, she didn't look pleased, but for Haven's sake, she held back and didn't make a scene.
At four o'clock in the afternoon, Owen and Griffin arrived at the Lancaster Manor.
Owen ignored everyone else and went straight to introduce Griffin to Haven. "Mom, this is Griffin."
Griffin greeted her politely. "Grandma, this is a gift I prepared for you. I hope you like it."
Haven was stunned when she saw Griffin.
"Mrs. Haven Lancaster." Iris quietly reminded her.
Only then did Haven snap back to reality. "Put it down. I don't need anything, you don't have to spend money in the future."
Gemma frowned.
Although Haven's tone was flat, she didn't refuse Griffin's gift.
Out of courtesy, she wouldn't lose control emotionally in front of an illegitimate child, so she forced herself to hold back.
Owen and Griffin sat down.
"Mom, Griffin is very smart and capable." Owen's face was full of pride. "If he had good educational opportunities from childhood, he would definitely be outstanding too."
The word "too" was particularly subtle.
Even Harriet could hear the implication.
Owen was hinting that Griffin was no worse than Tristan, he just wasn't born into the Lancaster family like Tristan was.
Owen continued, "Mom, Griffin suffered a lot outside. He was even sold to Vesperia once and almost didn't make it back alive."
"How could that happen?" Haven was surprised. "How could he be so careless and get sold?"
Owen's expression darkened. "Someone wanted him dead. The fact that he's alive now is already fortunate."
Haven didn't respond. She picked up her teacup and took a sip of hot tea, her eyes inadvertently glancing at Gemma.
Gemma sat in her custom wheelchair, expressionless.
"Grandma, I'm back!"
A cheerful, pleasant voice came from the doorway.
Xavier walked in whistling, but when he saw Griffin, his expression changed dramatically. "What's he doing here!"
"Xavier, watch your attitude." Owen warned coolly. "Since he can step through the Lancaster Manor's door, it's not your place to question it."
"You know this is the Lancaster Manor too, yet you bring an illegitimate child back here - where does that leave my mother's dignity!"
"This is between your mother and me. You don't need to get involved."
Xavier's face turned pale with anger. "Fine, you have no shame, but I have an appetite! I can't eat this meal. You all enjoy yourselves!"
"Xavier, stop!"
Gemma called out to Xavier as he turned to leave, speaking sternly. "How did I teach you? Don't be impulsive when things happen. Why can't you learn?"
"You're the legitimate son of the Lancaster family. It's not your turn to leave."
Harriet instinctively looked at Griffin.
Gemma's words were clearly meant for him to hear.
Griffin was an illegitimate child - his presence here was improper.
But Griffin's face showed no emotion at all. He maintained his gentle smile, as if he hadn't heard anything.
Harriet wasn't surprised.
Perhaps due to his family background, Griffin had always been calmer and more composed than his peers.
And he must have been able to imagine what he would face coming to the Lancaster Manor today, so he definitely came prepared.
As Harriet was lost in thought, she suddenly felt a pain in her hand.
She instinctively turned her head and saw Tristan gripping her hand.
Harriet looked up and saw displeasure in Tristan's deep, cold eyes.
"What are you looking at?"
Harriet was stunned for a moment.
"Nothing." Harriet didn't want to stay there anymore. "I'm going to call Mr. Jones to wish him well."
She got up and went upstairs, escaping the suffocating living room.
Haven stood up. "Griffin, come with me for a moment."
Griffin got up and followed Haven upstairs.
Xavier looked at Tristan. "Tristan, aren't you going to do something about this?"
"I came today to have dinner with Grandma. Lancaster family matters have nothing to do with me." After Tristan finished speaking, he also got up and went upstairs.
Xavier felt frustrated.
Haven brought Griffin to the master bedroom on the second floor and looked at the tall, handsome Griffin in front of her. "Have a seat."
Griffin sat down on the sofa across from her.
Haven got straight to the point. "Your mother - is she Amara Wallace?"
Griffin nodded. "Did you know my mother?"
"Yes." Haven's eyes moistened slightly. "You look a lot like her."
"Yes, Harriet's grandmother said the same thing."
"You both suffered." Haven sighed. "Tell me, how did your mother pass away?"
"To support me, she sold her blood. She didn't expect to get infected with HIV."
Haven trembled violently. "Griffin, you suffered so much. The Lancaster family wronged you."
"It's all in the past." Griffin smiled calmly. "For my mother, death was a release, so I never thought her death was something to regret."
Haven was startled. "Griffin, can you promise me something?"
"Please go ahead."
Haven choked up. "I don't know how to make up for what you suffered, and I know nothing can make up for what you and your mother went through. But I still want to selfishly ask you - if you can't get along well with Tristan and Xavier, please don't hurt them either. Like you, they couldn't choose their birth."
Griffin smiled calmly. "Grandma, why do you think I would be the one to hurt them? From the looks of it, aren't they the ones who want to hurt me more?"
"Xavier doesn't have the ability to hurt you, and as for Tristan, he has his own principles. As long as you don't interfere with each other, he won't easily move against you."
Griffin's handsome face showed no extra emotion, and his tone remained level, as if always on a flat line. "Grandma knows him well."
"He's my grandson, naturally I know him." Haven looked at him. "I hope to get to know you soon too."
"Would you be willing to move into the Lancaster Manor and live with me? I'll formally announce your identity publicly and give you all the Lancaster Group shares under my name."
Griffin remained unmoved. "Grandma, I've been poor all my life. Even if you transfer the shares to me, I wouldn't know how to spend that much money, so let's forget it. My current place is fine - I live right next to Harriet, and we can look out for each other."
Haven nodded. "You're a person who values relationships, just like your mother. That puts my mind at ease, because you'll definitely agree to my request just now."
"Why do you say that, Grandma?"
"Because Harriet won't allow anyone to hurt Tristan, and you won't hurt Harriet, right?"
Griffin smiled but didn't confirm or deny it.
The door was suddenly knocked on.
Haven, annoyed at being interrupted, said, "What is it?"
"Mrs. Haven Lancaster, Lark is here."
"Why is she here?" Haven closed her eyes. "I understand."
"Looks like our conversation will have to pause for now." Griffin stood up. "We should go downstairs and see what's happening."