Chapter 178: Ask Clearly
Haven found Tristan drinking alone at Apex Global Group.
He sat slumped on the floor, tilting a bottle to his mouth.
Haven demanded, "You better explain yourself. Why would you hurt Harriet like this! That's your own child she was carrying! How could you do it!"
Tristan let out a low, hoarse laugh that gradually grew louder, echoing through the huge, luxurious lounge.
Haven felt both sad and heartbroken. She grabbed a bottle and poured it over his head, "Snap out of it! If you have your reasons, go explain them to her!"
"There are no reasons!" Tristan drained the bottle in one gulp and smashed it hard on the floor. "I just don't want this anymore, okay!"
Haven trembled with anger. "You... you've gone too far! That was a child, a living life! What did Harriet do wrong that you have to torture her like this? What did the child do wrong that you had to sentence them to death!"
"Get out!" Tristan's cold eyes filled with icy fury. "Everyone get out!"
Haven felt dizzy with rage.
Iris quickly steadied her, crying, "Mr. Tristan Lancaster, how can you talk to Mrs. Haven Lancaster like that? Do you know that when Mrs. Haven Lancaster found out you personally had Mrs. Harriet Lancaster's child aborted, she fainted on the spot and was bedridden for two days?"
"So much has happened to the Lancaster family in the past six months. Her only comfort was that you and Mrs. Harriet Lancaster were doing well, and now even that last bit of comfort is gone."
"Mr. Tristan Lancaster, you're breaking Mrs. Haven Lancaster's heart!"
Tristan leaned back on the sofa and said coldly, "I'll say it one more time. Get out!"
Haven shook her head painfully. "Iris, let's go."
Tristan grabbed another bottle from the coffee table, opened it, and continued pouring it down his throat.
When Harriet woke up, she saw Ian sitting in the living room.
Harriet walked over and asked, "Mr. Jones, what are you doing here?"
"I'm worried about you. Griffin, Niamh, and I worked it out—Griffin and I will take turns looking after you during the day, and Niamh will sleep with you at night."
Harriet felt guilty. "I'm sorry, Mr. Jones, for making you worry."
Ian stood up and patted her shoulder gently. "Harriet, there's no obstacle in this world you can't overcome. Even if you really can't get past it right now, time will help you."
Harriet closed her eyes in pain, tears sliding down her cheeks. "Mr. Jones, just give me some time."
"Okay, we'll all be here with you."
After resting at home for two weeks, Harriet's body had mostly recovered.
She looked at herself in the mirror—her complexion was still poor, and she'd lost weight.
Harriet washed her face, sat down at her vanity to put on makeup, and looked much better.
When Harriet came out of the master bedroom in fresh clothes, Niamh immediately got up to greet her. "Harriet, are you going out?"
"Yes."
"Where are you going? I'll come with you."
"Okay."
Griffin had arranged a car for Niamh. The two of them drove to Apex Global Group.
"Mrs. Lancaster, I'm sorry." The security guard looked uncomfortable as he stopped Harriet. "Mr. Lancaster has instructed us not to let you in."
Niamh was furious. "Tristan is too much! He did something so cruel and now he's hiding and won't see us! Shouldn't he give Harriet an explanation?"
Harriet said calmly, "Please go ask again for me. I must see him today."
The guard nodded. "Okay."
"Harriet, your body hasn't recovered yet. Let's go sit over there and wait."
Niamh helped Harriet to a bench in the central garden.
After more than ten minutes, the guard came back to report, "Mrs. Lancaster, I'm sorry, Mr. Lancaster won't see you. Please leave."
"I'm not leaving." Harriet sat quietly. "I'll wait right here until he agrees to see me."
The guard shook his head helplessly and left.
"Harriet, he's being so cold. Why do you have to see him?" Niamh urged. "Let's go home. Mr. Jones said you need to rest in bed more."
"I want an answer." Harriet lowered her eyes and said softly, "I still can't believe he could be so cruel to his own child. I don't believe his earlier excitement about the baby was fake, or that his kindness to me was fake."
"Harriet, wake up! Stop believing in him! The facts are right in front of you—what's the point of not believing!" Niamh was frustrated. "He personally sent you to the operating table and arranged for the doctor to perform the abortion. The baby was fine, and now it's gone!"
Niamh sighed. "Maybe it's better this way. If the baby had been born only to be rejected by its own father, that would be even more pitiful."
Harriet didn't speak. She just looked up at the towering building before her.
Tristan was up there. Her child couldn't have died for nothing—she had to get answers from him!
They waited from morning until after eleven at night, but Tristan still refused to see Harriet.
Niamh bought food, but Harriet had no appetite. All day she only ate two bites of bread and drank some water.
Niamh grew angrier as they waited. "Today I'm going to force my way in and drag him down to see you!"
"Niamh." Harriet held her back. "Forget it, let's go."
Niamh looked at her with concern. "Harriet, are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Harriet stood up, raised her head to look once more at the top floor, then turned and left.
Niamh quickly followed to support her.
When they returned to Lakeside Gardens, Nolan was waiting at the door with Chase.
"Harriet!" As soon as Chase saw Harriet, he ran over and hugged her.
"Chase." Harriet touched his head. "Have you been waiting long? Why didn't you call me?"
"Dad said we couldn't disturb you and told me to wait here quietly."
Harriet quickly opened the door. "Please come in."
"Harriet, how are you feeling?" Nolan said. "I brought you some supplements. Take them to help your body recover faster."
"Thank you."
"Harriet." Nolan looked at her. "I understand that the pain of losing a child can't be healed by others' comfort—you can only save yourself."
"I know." Harriet held Chase. "To save myself sooner, I'm afraid I won't be able to see Chase for a while."
Nolan frowned. "You're leaving Emberfall?"
"I've stayed in Emberfall for too long." Harriet smiled. "And Tristan's shadow is everywhere here. It's hard not to feel sad."
"A change of environment would indeed be good for you." Nolan suggested, "Why don't we go back to Luminara City together? Having Chase by your side might help you feel better."
Harriet shook her head. "Chase just got used to life in Emberfall. How could I make him go through all that upheaval again for my sake?"
"Besides, I'm not planning to go back to Luminara City. I'm going abroad—the farther from Emberfall, the better."