Chapter 198: No Debt Owed
When the two of them arrived at Cloud Bay by taxi, it was already dark.
Harriet looked at the brightly lit villa and felt like she was in another lifetime.
She collected herself and went straight to ring the doorbell.
No one came to open the door for quite a while.
Harriet was just about to take out her phone to call Tristan when the door suddenly opened.
Standing inside was a beautiful woman who looked only a few years older than Harriet.
The woman was wearing only a white bath towel, which wrapped around her curvy figure, with her long slender legs exposed.
Harriet was completely unprepared for such a scene, and her heart trembled violently!
She didn't know what this woman's relationship with Tristan was.
But it was hard not to imagine.
The woman looked at Harriet and asked with a smile, "May I ask who you are?"
Harriet collected herself and said, "I'm looking for Tristan."
"Tristan is taking a shower. If you have something urgent, I can pass on the message."
Harriet's head was buzzing.
"No need." Harriet's fingertips trembled slightly. "Sorry for disturbing you..."
Just as Harriet turned to leave, she suddenly heard a deep, cold voice, "Who is it?"
Harriet's feet felt like they were filled with lead, unable to move.
The woman turned around and responded gently, "Tristan, I don't know her either."
She hurriedly closed the door, "Tristan, let's get back to business."
Harriet was shut out.
Her face turned pale, feeling like she was a complete joke.
Rhea was also confused, then suddenly realized, "Mrs. Lancaster, Mr. Lancaster isn't that kind of person, right? Isn't there some misunderstanding here?"
Harriet's mind was in chaos, unable to think at all.
Rhea quickly pressed the doorbell.
After a while, the door opened, and this time it was Tristan who opened it.
Their eyes met, and both froze.
Harriet saw that Tristan was wearing a white shirt and black pants, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She was so afraid of seeing him disheveled.
He seemed to have lost some weight and gotten a bit darker.
"Tristan," Harriet spoke, breaking the silence in the air, "I have something I want to tell you."
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Tristan say coldly, "I have nothing to say to you, and I don't want to hear what you have to say! Harriet, just leave!"
"Mr. Lancaster, how can you treat Mrs. Lancaster like this?" Rhea asked. "Who is that woman in the house? How can she be taking a shower at your home? She said some suggestive things, saying you two need to get back to business. What does that mean?"
Tristan said coldly, "Exactly what it sounds like."
Harriet frowned, "What?"
Tristan looked at her, "You're an adult, you know what it means. Harriet, it's exactly what you saw. I have another woman now, and I'll never bother you again."
Harriet felt dizzy, with something buzzing in her ears.
Rhea was shocked, "Mr. Lancaster, are you crazy? Do you know what you're saying?"
"I'm a normal man. Having sexual needs is normal, isn't it?" Tristan took out a cigarette and lit it, his handsome face showing some carelessness. "Harriet, I admit, you got me addicted. I enjoyed having sex with you. But there are thousands of women in the world. Turn off the lights and they're all the same. You're not irreplaceable..."
A crisp slap interrupted his words.
Tristan's head turned to the side from the impact.
Harriet's palm was numb, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably.
Tristan smiled and slowly turned his head to look at her, "Alright, now we're even."
The door closed again.
Rhea snapped out of her shock and quickly knocked on the door, "Mr. Lancaster, open the door! Explain yourself!"
"Rhea!" Harriet stopped her. "Leave me some dignity."
"Mrs. Lancaster..."
Harriet held back her tears, "Let's go."
Rhea had no choice but to follow her away.
Inside the villa, Quinlan Stewart had heard the entire conversation at the door.
A mysterious smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
Seeing Tristan come in, Quinlan tugged at her bath towel, "Tristan, the documents are printed. Let's continue."
Tristan's gaze never fell on her, and he said flatly, "Go change your clothes first."
Quinlan felt a bit disappointed, "Okay."
When she came out again, she had changed into a neat professional outfit and sat beside Tristan, reporting work to him."Everything abroad is stable. The professional manager was personally selected by you and is capable enough. I'll also make regular inspections."
Tristan looked through the documents, "Thank you for your hard work, coming to report right after getting off the plane."
"Tristan, between us, there's no need to say such things." Quinlan smiled gently. "I haven't found a place yet. Can I stay at your place tonight?"
Tristan glanced at the two suitcases beside her, "That's not appropriate."
Quinlan was stunned, "Why not? Didn't you just tell her..."
"Of course I was lying to her." Tristan said without hesitation.
Quinlan bit her lip, and after a moment, put on a smile and said considerately, "I understand. But Tristan, since we're putting on a show, we should see it through. If I leave now, won't the act fall apart?"
Tristan was silent for a moment, then got up and went upstairs, "You sleep in the guest room and leave first thing tomorrow morning."
Quinlan smiled, "Okay."
Harriet sat on a bench not far away, quietly watching the villa's main door.
She was waiting, waiting for that woman to come out, waiting to prove Tristan's lie.
But she waited until after eleven o'clock. All the lights in the villa went out, and the woman never came out.
Harriet's heart grew cold inch by inch.
Just like two years ago, when she waited downstairs at Apex Global Group, wanting Tristan to give her an explanation.
She didn't get it two years ago, and she didn't get it today either.
"Mrs. Lancaster, you don't look well." Rhea said worriedly. "Let's go home. Don't sit here anymore."
"There's really no need to wait anymore." Harriet forced a smile. "Maybe he and I are just destined to have fate but no future together."
"Mrs. Lancaster, I always feel that Mr. Lancaster isn't that kind of person. He's always been proper, and toward you he's also..."
"It doesn't matter anymore." Harriet said flatly, interrupting her. "Let's go."
Rhea originally thought Harriet would be depressed.
But unexpectedly, she worked hard to adjust, tried hard to eat and sleep, to help her body recover as soon as possible.
Half a month later, Harriet had recovered and was able to go back to work.
Life seemed to have returned to calm, but only she knew that her heart was empty.
In the afternoon, Harriet went to the hospital.
As she came out of the elevator, she ran into Tristan and that woman from that day.
"What a coincidence!" Quinlan greeted with a smile. "I only found out later that you're Tristan's wife... no, to be precise, ex-wife. That day I didn't know your identity and didn't greet you. Don't mind it."
Harriet looked at the flawless smile on her face.
That's right, she and Tristan had been separated for two years. They just needed to go through the process to officially divorce.
She should smile back and say it's okay.
But she realized she wasn't that generous.
Harriet turned her eyes toward Tristan.
Tristan was expressionless, not even looking at her face.
Right, with a beauty by his side, he really didn't need to spare her a glance.
Harriet let out a self-mocking laugh and walked past him in her high heels.
Tristan's heart was stabbed with pain!
He suddenly turned around and took long strides to catch up!