Chapter 154 Sacrificing the Mother to Save the Child
Harriet was instantly exasperated. "Tristan, are you being reasonable?"
"Which part of what I said was unreasonable?" Tristan shot back.
"I really didn't expect you to think this way." Harriet's chest heaved with anger. "What about you? Do you have a clear conscience? I wondered why you've been willing to let me visit Griffin this past month. I thought you trusted me, but that wasn't it at all. It's because your mom tried to kill Griffin and you felt guilty, so you let me visit him. You've never truly trusted me!"
"Why would I feel guilty about a bastard?" Tristan laughed coldly. "Harriet, do you know that killing him would be easier for me than stepping on an ant?"
"Mr. Lancaster is all-powerful, of course I believe that." Harriet pushed him away and sat up, accusing him, "Anyway, you and your mother are cut from the same cloth—equally ruthless and intolerant. Your mom committed attempted murder, a crime, but you chose to cover for her, just like you covered for Lark! Because Griffin and I are the same—insignificant, and you can bully and hurt us however you want!"
A cold glint flashed in Tristan's eyes as he suddenly grabbed her shoulders. "Harriet, whose side are you on?"
"Griffin's, of course!" Harriet glared at Tristan, saying through gritted teeth, "Should I be standing with a murderer instead?"
"I'm only now realizing how incompatible our values are." Harriet slowly pushed his hands away. "I can never accept your way of disregarding the law and hurting innocent people."
Tristan sneered. "Griffin accepted the Lancaster family shares, which means he agreed to let this matter go. But here you are, protesting to your husband on his behalf. Harriet, you've really gone too far!"
Harriet closed her eyes as tears slid down her cheeks. "I'm tired. I don't want to argue with you anymore. Get out!"
Tristan's dark eyes stared at her face, and soon he got off the bed and left.
The door slammed shut.
Harriet flinched hard, tears flowing even more.
Tristan didn't come home all night.
With so much on her mind, Harriet didn't sleep well. When she went to work the next day, her eyes were still swollen.
"Harriet, what's wrong?" Ian came in. "Didn't you sleep well last night?"
Harriet smiled. "I'm fine."
"Griffin has been discharged and is living next door to you. Will you be taking care of his recovery?"
Harriet thought for a moment. "Mr. Jones, you've been looking after him these past days. Please continue doing so, though it's extra work for you."
To avoid giving Tristan baseless reasons to be upset, she hadn't personally cared for Griffin, but asked Ian to help instead.
"It's not that much work, I just visit once a day." Ian was curious. "I'm just surprised you're not handling it yourself."
Harriet said honestly, "I just don't want to cause more trouble."
"Mr. Lancaster is jealous?"
Harriet neither confirmed nor denied.
But it seemed that no matter how much distance she kept from other men, Tristan was never satisfied.
"By the way," Ian said, "I've temporarily stabilized Lark's condition."
After Harriet refused, Owen approached Ian again, asking him to treat Lark.
Harriet knew Owen's character well and worried he might take his anger out on the clinic, so she didn't stop Ian from treating Lark.
Her personal grudges shouldn't drag Ian into trouble.
Besides, as Owen's personal physician, it made sense for Ian to care for his child.
Harriet recalled, "Lark's pregnancy should be about three months along, right? After three months, the fetus is usually stable."
Ian shook his head. "Her physical condition isn't good. Even with all my medical skills, she'll have to stay in bed for the entire pregnancy."
Harriet said, "If she can successfully deliver the baby, bed rest is worth it."
"The problem is, even if she can carry to full term and deliver, given her condition, once the child is born, her life will be over."
Harriet frowned. "You mean she can only save one—herself or the child?"
"I've done my best." Ian sighed. "If she decides to save herself, she should terminate the pregnancy as soon as possible. If she keeps the child, her life will enter a countdown. Harriet, what do you think she'll choose?"
Harriet shook her head. "I don't want to put myself in Lark's shoes, and besides, she probably can't decide this alone, right? After all, Owen has a say in this child too."
"Exactly. I told them both yesterday. The choice is theirs to make."
At that moment, in the hospital.
Lark looked at Owen in disbelief. "What did you say? You want me to have this baby? Didn't you understand what Mr. Jones said? I'll die if I give birth!"
"Didn't you desperately want to keep this child?" Owen asked calmly. "Now Mr. Jones has done everything to save it, and you don't want it anymore?"
Lark was momentarily speechless, then said, "Owen, I do want to have our child, but I need to stay alive. If I die, how pitiful will this child be, all alone?"
Owen leisurely smoked his cigar. "You don't need to worry about that. My child won't become an orphan."
Lark looked at him pitifully. "Owen, don't you care about me at all? I love you so sincerely—don't you care about me even a little?"
"Lark, if you truly love me, you should have this child for me."
Lark fell silent.
She'd known all along that Owen was cold-blooded and heartless, that he just saw her as a plaything.
She'd hoped that having this child would elevate her status, but now she was facing a choice between her life and the baby's!
Lark didn't confront him directly, because she knew she couldn't stand up to him.
With this in mind, Lark got out of bed and walked over to him.
Tears streamed down her face, making her look especially pitiful.
"Owen." Lark cried silently, speaking obediently, "You're right. If I love you, I should have this child for you. Since we can't find the miracle doctor Aiden, my illness is hard to cure anyway. I'm willing to have this child for you, because I love you."
Owen was satisfied with her words. "Lark, I knew you were the most sensible. I haven't cherished you for nothing."
Lark shyly nestled into his arms. "Owen."
Though she was acting coy, intense hatred flashed in her eyes.
She would never let herself die giving birth to a child—it wasn't worth it!
For now, she could only appease Owen.
After all, the baby was in her belly—whether to keep it was her decision!
But if the baby suddenly disappeared, Owen would definitely be angry.
Lark's eyes darted around as she immediately thought of a good idea.
If Harriet caused her to lose the baby, wouldn't that kill two birds with one stone?
Harriet was perfect to take the blame!
Lark sniffled and looked up at Owen affectionately.
"Owen, didn't you say the Lancaster Group is holding a reception for Griffin next week? I want to go too."
"You're not well, don't go."
"Owen, I don't have much time left. I want to spend every moment with you." Lark acted coy. "Please let me go, okay?"
Owen could never resist a woman acting cute, and readily agreed. "Fine, I'll let you go!"
Friday evening, Harriet came home from work. Just as she stepped out of the elevator, she ran into Griffin coming out of his door.
"Harriet, the Lancaster Group is holding a reception for me tomorrow night. Come with me."
"I'd better not." Harriet declined politely. "Owen is hosting this reception for you. Tristan has broken with him, and I'm Tristan's wife—it would be awkward."
"But tomorrow is my big day. My mother is gone, your grandmother is gone—they can't see it. So I hope you'll be there."
Harriet couldn't bear to refuse and nodded. "Okay, I'll come."
"It's a deal. I'll come get you at five tomorrow afternoon."
"Okay."
Harriet opened her door and went inside. Rhea immediately came up to her. "You're back. Dinner will be ready soon."
"Good."
"Mrs. Lancaster." Rhea asked tentatively, "It's Friday, and you and Mr. Lancaster haven't been together for several days. Why don't you call him and ask him to come home for dinner with you?"
Harriet said expressionlessly, "My appetite has been good lately. I can finish the food myself. I don't need company."
Rhea fell silent.
The doorbell suddenly rang. Harriet opened the door and said with pleasant surprise, "Grandma, what brings you here?"
"I missed you both, so I came to visit." Haven walked in with a smile. "Where's Tristan?"
Before Harriet could speak, Rhea jumped in. "Mr. Lancaster isn't back yet, but he said he's on his way."
Harriet pressed her lips together slightly but didn't deny it.
Rhea said, "Mrs. Haven Lancaster, please sit down. I'll go make a couple more dishes."
"Good."
Haven took Harriet's hand and sat down on the sofa. "Harriet, how have things been between you and Tristan lately?"
"Pretty good."
The Lancaster family already had a pile of messy problems. Harriet didn't want Haven to worry more about her and Tristan. "Grandma, you don't need to worry about us."
"Good, you've always been the one who gives me the least worry." Haven smiled. "When will you two have a child and give me a great-grandchild? Then I can die without regrets."
"Grandma, don't say things like that." Harriet held her arm. "You'll definitely live a long life."
"Alright, I'll try to live long and walk a bit further with you all."