Chapter 192: Has She Ever Regretted
When Harriet got home, it was already past ten.
Rhea was prepping ingredients. Seeing Harriet return, she poured a glass of water and came over to ask, "Why were you gone so long?"
"I haven't been back in a while, so I walked around a bit more."
"Dewdrop town has changed so much. I've gotten to know people here pretty well now, and I go for walks in the evening."
"That's great. You never had time for yourself in Emberfall."
"Now that you're back, of course, I need to return to Emberfall to take care of you." Rhea said. "Whenever you go back to Emberfall, I'll go with you. We can just have a cleaning service come here regularly."
Harriet took a sip of water. "I might not stay in Emberfall for long."
Rhea froze.
She saw Tristan behind Harriet, her expression changed, and she immediately went back to the kitchen to keep busy.
Harriet turned around and saw Tristan standing at the master bedroom door.
Their eyes met.
Harriet felt all kinds of emotions.
She looked away and headed upstairs.
As she walked into the room, Tristan's low, husky voice came from behind her, "It's okay if you don't want to stay in Emberfall."
Harriet paused.
His voice continued, "Wherever you go, I'll be with you."
Harriet turned to look at Tristan following her upstairs.
She suddenly couldn't control the impulse in her heart. She took two steps forward, wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed his lips.
Tristan froze for a moment.
Then what responded to Harriet was an even more passionate deep kiss.
But the next second, Harriet suddenly felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen.
She frowned, feeling a warm flow.
"I got my period."
Although Harriet was taking Ian's medicine, her stomach still hurt badly.
Rhea brought a hot water bottle to apply heat and made hot cocoa, even preparing painkillers.
Tristan brought lunch upstairs and fed it to Harriet.
She was in so much pain that after taking a few bites, she lay down and fell into a drowsy sleep.
Tristan tucked her in, got up, and walked out.
He came to the yard, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a hard drag.
His chest felt tight and uncomfortable, like a huge stone was pressing on it, making it impossible to breathe.
Harriet had gotten the cold invasion in her body because she saved Griffin, which is why she was in so much pain every time she got her period.
Although he loved Harriet.This matter still stuck in his throat.
He couldn't help wondering if Harriet, who loved children so much, had ever regretted it? Regretted saving Griffin back then.
He wanted to know the answer, yet was afraid to know it.
Harriet lay in bed for two days. It wasn't until the third day that her stomach didn't hurt as much and she could go downstairs.
During these two days, Tristan took care of her attentively.
It was like they had returned to the time two years ago when she was pregnant—that was also the happiest time of their marriage.
But Harriet knew very clearly in her heart that the happiness of becoming a mother for the first time would never be hers again.
A week later, the three of them returned to Emberfall.
Rhea insisted on coming back to Emberfall to take care of Harriet.
Harriet couldn't argue with her and had to agree.
When they got back to Lakeside Gardens, it was already evening.
After dinner, Harriet went to the hospital to visit Ewan.
Ewan's condition was normal, his spirits were good, and after a few more days of rest he could be discharged and go home.
"Harriet, I heard about Zephyr proposing to you. He's brainless, don't take it personally."
Harriet checked his vitals. "Someone who's filial definitely has good character. He's a really nice young man. You're very blessed."
Ewan waved his hand, but couldn't hide the pride on his face. "Zephyr is average in other ways, but there's no question about his filial piety. Actually, I really hoped he would succeed in his proposal. Whoever marries you is the one who's truly blessed."
"You're giving me too much credit."
"I don't have other skills, but I'm the best at reading people. You're pure-hearted and very blessed. That Lancaster family really hit the jackpot." Ewan reminisced, "Tristan has had a cold personality since he was young, not outgoing like Xavier, so Zephyr and Xavier became good friends, but always kept their distance from Tristan."
Harriet couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
Tristan must have been very lonely since childhood, right?
Although she had no parents, she lived very happily.
But Tristan had living parents yet received no love from his family.
She also had no family left to give her love.
Could two people in the same boat really keep each other warm?
Or would they not only fail to warm each other, but keep hurting each other instead?
When Harriet got home, Tristan had just come out of the study.
"How's Mr. Ewan Habsburg?"
"He's recovering well. He'll be discharged soon."
"That's good."
Harriet said, "I'm going back to my room."
"Harriet." Tristan grabbed her arm. "Can I sleep in the room tonight?"
Harriet was slightly stunned.
During those days at their hometown, he had slept downstairs.
Tristan looked at her with deep eyes. "That day at home, you started a fire in me, and it still hasn't gone out."
Harriet couldn't help but laugh. "How can it be that dramatic?"
"You don't believe me?" Tristan picked her up horizontally. "I'll prove it to you."
Only a warm wall lamp was on in the master bedroom, adding some intimate atmosphere.
The temperature in the air kept rising. Harriet closed her eyes and kissed him.
Harriet passed out later.
The moment her consciousness blurred, she seemed to hear Tristan whispering in her ear.
"Harriet, I love you..."
Before Harriet could figure out if she had heard wrong, she lost all awareness.
Tristan held Harriet and kissed her, tucked her in, and pulled out a cigarette to light. It was already bright outside, but he had no desire to sleep.
His phone suddenly rang. He answered, "Speak."
"Mr. Lancaster, Griffin has started two more real estate projects. Should we make a move?"
Tristan blew out a smoke ring. "The fun of cat and mouse isn't the cat killing the mouse right away, but making it think it survived again and again."
"I understand."
When Harriet woke up, it was already evening.
Scenes from last night flooded her mind, making her heart tremble.
Harriet was about to get up and wash when the bedroom door was suddenly pushed open.
In this house, only Tristan would come in without knocking.
"You're awake?" Tristan walked over with long strides and touched her hair. "I already gave you a bath."
Harriet felt a bit uncomfortable. "Thank you."
Tristan chuckled softly. "Last night was my fault. I lost control."
Harriet pressed her lips slightly. "Tristan, it's not appropriate for you to live here. You should go back to Cloud Bay."
Tristan froze, slowly crouched down. "Harriet, you're kicking me out?"
Harriet lowered her eyes and said softly, "I've been to many places these past two years, seen through many things. My mindset is very different from before."
"Now I just want to work well, run MediQuest Group well, and travel the world in my spare time. I don't want to be consumed by marriage and romance."
Although before returning Emberfall, she had expected to run into Tristan, she hadn't expected that he would so easily disturb her peace of mind again.
It shouldn't be like this.
She didn't want to be that lovesick person from before.
Only by staying away from him could she stay clear-headed.
Tristan held her hand. "Harriet, I know you've been through a lot and changed a lot, but what you're saying doesn't conflict with us being together."
"You can work well, run MediQuest Group well. I can even help you run MediQuest Group well—I have that ability."
"As for traveling the world, that's even less of a problem. I'll go with you."
Harriet looked into his deep eyes.
She could feel his sincerity and expectation.
But...
Harriet shook her head gently. "But I want to do these things on my own."
Tristan frowned. "So what you're saying is, I'm not in your future plans, right?"
"Tristan." Harriet looked up at him. A thousand words condensed into one sentence: "Let's just forget it."