Chapter 171 Forever Disappeared
Griffin leaned back in his chair, studying him with a probing gaze. "For Harriet, you're actually willing to give up your business empire?"
"Is there a problem?" Tristan shot back. "Or are you not planning to accept this condition and want to be the father of my child instead?"
"I wasn't thinking that. After all, given the relationship between us two, it would be against ethics." Griffin lit a cigarette and took a drag. "But I'm not planning to leave Athenia."
"I finally found my own family and came back to the Lancaster family. I don't want to leave my relatives."
Tristan let out a low laugh. "That kind of talk might fool Harriet, but do you believe it yourself? Have you forgotten your mother's tragic fate? Or have you gotten so used to lying that you actually believe she accidentally got infected with AIDS from selling blood?"
Griffin's hand holding the cigarette froze. "What did you say?"
"Even though you moved countless times, this kind of thing isn't hard to find out if I put in some effort." Tristan played with the playing cards beside him. "Your mother Amara did get AIDS, but it was from being a prostitute. You hate the Lancaster family more than anything - how could you possibly treat the Lancaster family as relatives?"
"Also, I heard Grandma always thought your mother was pure and innocent. I wonder what her reaction would be if she knew your mother's true nature?"
Griffin's eyes grew colder inch by inch. "Tristan, anyone in this world has the right to mock her and look down on her, except the Lancaster family, especially you. Tristan, do you know why my mother became a prostitute?"
Tristan's brow furrowed slightly. "Because of my mom?"
"Yes, it was your noble mother Gemma. She was afraid that after my mom gave birth to me, Owen would marry her, afraid I would become the heir of the Lancaster family."
"So your mother first had someone gang-rape my mother, then sent her to be a prostitute, personally pushing her into the abyss."
"Later she finally escaped from that hell and fled to the countryside with me. She wanted to kill herself countless times, but gave up the idea just as many times, because she had to raise me."
"But your mother didn't let us go. Wherever we went, she followed. She wouldn't let my mother find decent work. My mother had no choice but to watch me starve to death, so she could only continue selling her body."
Griffin closed his eyes in pain. "Later she discovered that only when she went back to that work would your mother back off. That's when she realized - your mother didn't want to drive us to death, she wanted to watch my mother suffer with nowhere to turn."
"Later on, she finally caught that damn disease and ended her tragic life."
Griffin slowly opened his eyes, full of mockery. "Oh, and you probably haven't found out my mom's real identity yet, have you? She was actually your mother Gemma's cousin. My grandmother and your grandmother were sisters. Otherwise, why do you think we look so much alike?"
Tristan's brow furrowed deeper.
Ryder had been investigating Griffin but hadn't found out at all that Amara and Gemma were cousins.
"So what exactly do you want?" Tristan asked. "To take my mom's life and avenge Amara?"
"Isn't Gemma's current state worse than death?" Griffin smiled faintly. "So you can rest assured, I'm not planning to do anything to her."
"Your goal isn't that simple." Tristan looked at him. "But no matter what your purpose is, Harriet is mine. I won't allow you to have designs on my wife and child."
"Is that so?" Griffin raised an eyebrow. "What if I insist?"
Tristan picked up the diary on the table and threw it into a nearby trash can.
He casually grabbed a bottle of alcohol, opened it, and poured it into the trash can, then lit a lighter.
"Then you'll end up like this diary - gone forever."
Tristan released his hand, and the lighter fell into the trash can. The diary instantly burst into flames.
Griffin stared at the burning diary, the firelight reflected in his pupils.
Tristan got up and left directly.
When he reached the door, Griffin's voice came from behind.
"Don't tell Harriet about my mom." Griffin spoke with difficulty. "I don't want to destroy her beautiful image in Harriet's mind. I don't want her to know that the Ms. Wallace she likes had such a shameful past."
Tristan said nothing and strode away.
Tristan got into the Rolls-Royce and leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed.
The driver asked, "Mr. Lancaster, are we going back to the office now? Or home to see your wife?"
Tristan's thin lips parted slightly. "Go to the hospital."
Gemma was quite surprised to see Tristan.
She hadn't seen her son since Christmas.
But she didn't know if it was her imagination - she felt like Tristan was in a bad mood.
Gemma spoke first. "I heard from your grandmother that Harriet is pregnant? That's good news. Have her take good care of herself. I had Uma buy some supplements - take them back to her later."
"She doesn't lack anything." Tristan sat down on the sofa and got straight to the point. "Did you do something to Amara?"
Gemma froze, then denied it. "No, where did you hear that?"
"Still lying!" A trace of coldness crept into Tristan's eyes. "You had someone gang-rape her and sent her to be a prostitute. I can't believe you did that!"
"Owen couldn't control his lower half - you should have castrated him, not hurt a woman!"
Gemma's face turned red, whether from anger or not.
She said through gritted teeth, "She seduced a married man. Shouldn't she get what she deserved? I'm the victim!"
"Owen had so many women outside, but I've never seen you be this vicious to anyone else. Why were you so cruel specifically to Amara?"
"No reason. Just to send a warning."
"Really?" Tristan smiled. "If it was a warning, why don't those other mistresses know about Amara's existence? Never mind them - even Owen only found out twenty-something years later that he had a son like Griffin."
"Tristan, don't push me. Stop talking, okay!" Gemma's emotions suddenly became agitated. "Amara is already dead. Just kill Griffin and there won't be any problems!"
Tristan said nothing, just silently observed her.
Gemma felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze. "What kind of look is that? Why are you looking at me like that!"
Tristan said coldly, "You went to such lengths to kill him because you feel guilty, afraid he'll come for revenge, so you're striking first."
"I told you, she seduced Owen first. She was in the wrong!" Gemma emphasized emotionally. "Tristan, Griffin returning to the Lancaster family definitely isn't as simple as it seems. Only by killing him can we eliminate future trouble!"
Tristan stood up. "Now I finally understand why Grandma protects him - because not only is your body broken, your heart is broken too."
"I won't let Griffin hurt you because you're my mom. But I also won't be your executioner, because in this matter, you're the one who's wrong."
"Also, you better behave yourself and stop causing trouble. I don't want my child to know they have such a shameful grandmother."
After Tristan finished speaking, he left directly.
Gemma was already in tears. "Uma, did you hear that? Tristan said I'm shameful. Am I really going to end up abandoned by everyone?"
"But why? I'm clearly the biggest victim. Why am I the one suffering in the end?"
Only Uma's silent sigh answered her.
In the evening, Tristan came home to Lakeside Gardens right on time.
When he walked into the master bedroom, Harriet was reading.
"How are you feeling today?"
"Fine."
Tristan touched her face. "I asked around. The doctor said as long as you're not an alcoholic, it won't affect the baby. Plus you only drank some red wine, not hard liquor, so there definitely won't be any problems."
Harriet nodded slightly.
After a moment of silence, Tristan suddenly spoke. "I went to see Griffin today."