Chapter 184 Will Not Disturb
Neither of them expected to see each other. The moment they stopped in their tracks, both froze.
Harriet was wearing all black leather today - jacket and pants - looking cool and edgy, her long curly hair adding a touch of allure.
Tristan thought of last night's uncontrollable kiss, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
After a long pause.
Tristan spoke first, breaking the silence in the air. "How's Grandma?"
"Her fever's gone down. She's pretty weak and just fell asleep."
Tristan nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."
Harriet said nothing and went straight downstairs.
She found Iris in the kitchen. "Grandma will probably sleep a while longer. I'm heading back to the clinic. Call me when she wakes up."
"Okay, Mrs. Harriet Lancaster."
"Keep lunch light."
"Okay."
Harriet walked out of the Lancaster Manor and had just picked up her helmet when Tristan came out of the house.
"Harriet!"
Tristan called out to her.
Harriet frowned slightly. "Mr. Lancaster, what is it?"
Tristan walked up to her. "Thank you for coming to take care of Grandma."
Harriet replied coldly, "It's what I should do. No need to thank me."
Tristan looked at her. "You don't need to sell your house and leave Emberfall. I won't bother you anymore."
"That's for the best."
Harriet put on her helmet and quickly rode off on her motorcycle.
Harriet was busy at the clinic until after three in the afternoon when Iris called.
"Mrs. Harriet Lancaster, Mrs. Haven Lancaster is awake. She's running a low fever again and coughing badly."
"I'll come over soon."
After finishing up her work, Harriet headed straight to the Lancaster Manor.
"Mrs. Harriet Lancaster." Iris came out to greet her. "Mrs. Haven Lancaster's fever had gone down, hadn't it? Why is it back?"
"Grandma's getting on in years, and she's probably been unhappy these past two years, right?"
Iris nodded. "That's right. Whenever Mrs. Haven Lancaster thinks of you and Mr. Tristan Lancaster, she sighs. When she thinks of that child, she secretly cries."
Harriet's heart ached. "She's carrying things in her heart. Her mood affects her body. Fortunately, Grandma has a strong constitution. Otherwise, with this illness, even after recovery, her health would take a serious hit."
Iris dropped to her knees. "Mrs. Harriet Lancaster, I'm begging you to stay and help Mrs. Haven Lancaster recover!"
"What are you doing?" Harriet quickly helped her up. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of Grandma. I'll stay tonight."
"That's wonderful!" Iris said happily. "I'll go tell the kitchen right away to make some of your favorite dishes!"
Harriet went to Haven's room and took her temperature. She was indeed running a low fever.
Haven leaned weakly against the headboard. "Harriet, I'm fine. Go take care of your own business, don't let it interfere with your work..."
"Grandma, taking care of you is also my responsibility." Harriet smiled and touched her face. "I'm sorry, Grandma, for making you sad for so long. I'm partly responsible too."
"It's not your fault." Haven sighed. "If anything, I'm the one who wronged you. I was the one who asked you to marry Tristan. If you hadn't married him, so many sad things wouldn't have happened."
Harriet shook her head. "I married him willingly. You can't be blamed for that."
"Grandma, what's done is done. Nothing can be undone." She leaned into Haven's embrace. "It's been two years, that's long enough. Let's both let go and stop torturing ourselves over this, okay?"
Harriet's voice carried a hint of tears.
She was saying this to Haven, but also to herself.
Haven held her. "Okay, we'll both try to let go."
In the evening, Griffin came to the Lancaster Manor to visit Haven.
Haven asked him to stay for dinner. "I can't get out of bed. You two go eat."
"Okay. Your meal isn't ready yet. I'll bring it up to you later."
Harriet and Griffin went downstairs together to the dining room.
"Harriet, I heard from Iris that you're staying tonight. Grandma's health isn't in serious trouble, is it?"
"No serious trouble, but Grandma's getting older and won't recover as quickly. Plus, her fever might come back at night. I'm a bit worried and want to stay to look after her."
"I feel better knowing you're here."
After dinner, Harriet brought Haven's meal upstairs and fed her.
Griffin sat nearby chatting with Haven.
At the doorway, Tristan watched the three people laughing and talking in the room, his eyes filled with bone-chilling coldness.
Xavier beside him pouted. "Tristan, Grandma's barely talked to you these past two years. She wouldn't even come back to Emberfall for Christmas with us, but she gets along so well with Griffin. What's that about? People who don't know would think the three of them are the family and we're the outsiders!"
Tristan's expression darkened further. "If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."
Xavier: "Tristan, I'm telling the truth!"
Tristan irritably tugged at his tie and turned to leave.
Xavier's voice carried into the room, and everyone turned to look.
Xavier had no choice but to bite the bullet and go in. "Grandma, I heard from Iris you were sick. I came back to see you."
"Good." Haven looked at him. "You seem to have lost weight?"
"I took on a role that requires weight loss."
Haven felt sorry for him. "Losing weight hurts your body. Don't take roles like that anymore."
"I know what I'm doing, Grandma. Are you feeling better?"
"With your sister-in-law here, I'm much better."
Xavier glanced at Harriet. "I hope she still remembers she's my sister-in-law and doesn't do anything inappropriate with certain illegitimate children."
Haven's face darkened. "Xavier, what nonsense are you talking about? Griffin is my grandson, which makes him your brother."
Xavier sneered. "So Grandma's saying that if Harriet messes around with him, she's still my sister-in-law?"
Haven started coughing from anger.
"Grandma!" Harriet quickly patted her back. "Don't get upset."
Griffin turned his head and looked coldly at Xavier. "Did you come back to see Grandma or to upset her?"
"You say Harriet and I are messing around, then show me proof instead of making accusations here."
"I'm making accusations?" Xavier actually laughed in anger. "Griffin, what are you to dare insult me like this?"
Griffin said calmly, "I'm nothing, but I'm more surprised that the Lancaster family could produce something as brainless as you."
"You..."
Xavier had just started when Harriet cut him off sharply. "Enough! Both of you get out and stop upsetting me!"
Only then did Xavier force himself to hold back. "Come out with me. Let's settle this one-on-one!"
Griffin turned to Haven. "Grandma, rest well. I'll come see you again tomorrow."
"Okay."
Xavier saw Griffin leave and immediately chased after him.
Haven was deeply upset. "Although I knew that acknowledging Griffin would make other members of the Lancaster family unhappy, I didn't expect Xavier wouldn't even keep up appearances and would make a scene right in front of me."
"Grandma, they're all adults now who can make their own decisions. You shouldn't worry about them."
"That's what you say, but my heart hurts."
Harriet consoled Haven for a long time, coaxing her to eat and take her medicine, and only left after she fell asleep.
"Mrs. Harriet Lancaster, you've worked hard." Iris came up. "Following your instructions, I went to Lakeside Gardens to get your change of clothes. Please go back to your room and rest."
Only then did Harriet remember something. "I'll just stay in a guest room on the first floor."
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Harriet Lancaster. Because no one's been living here, the servants all went to serve Mr. Owen Lancaster. Mrs. Haven Lancaster just came back, and we're short-staffed. The guest rooms haven't been prepared. I'm afraid you'll have to stay in your original room on the third floor."
Harriet sighed. "Fine."
"Then please rest early."
"Okay. If there's any problem with Grandma during the night, come get me immediately."
"Okay."
Harriet went to Tristan's room on the third floor.
Whether it was because she was close to home or not, when she reached the door, Harriet suddenly stopped.
Her hand gripping the doorknob trembled slightly at the fingertips. After a long moment, she finally turned the knob and walked in.
The room was pitch black.
Harriet had just closed the door when she suddenly heard a noise behind her.
Before she could turn on the light, she was suddenly pulled into a firm embrace!