Chapter 230: The Deeply Loved Woman
"I can arrange for your parents to go over and keep you company," Tristan added. "I won't treat you unfairly. After you go abroad, your position will remain the same, but your salary will increase."
Quinlan realized there was no way out and could only say, "Okay, I can go abroad to continue working, but can you let me stay in the country for a while first?"
"As you said, Aunt Gemma is about to start treatment, and the process will be painful. She needs family by her side at a time like this."
"You and Xavier are both so busy with work, you can't spare the time, so it's best if I stay with her during treatment. I'm a woman, so it's more convenient for me to take care of her personally."
Tristan thought for a moment and agreed. "Alright, hand over your current work as soon as possible. During the time you're with my mom for treatment, you'll still get your salary."
Quinlan took the opportunity to ingratiate herself. "I'm taking care of my aunt out of respect, not for the salary."
"I know, but I won't let you take care of her for nothing."
Quinlan didn't dare argue further and could only nod. "Then thank you, Mr. Lancaster."
"Just one thing, Mr. Lancaster—I think it would be better to bring Aunt Gemma here for treatment," Quinlan analyzed. "Lark is dead, and the Romanov family definitely won't let us off. I'm worried Aunt Gemma might get caught up in it."
Tristan said, "Dr. Smith needs to treat both Harriet and my mom. Here is indeed the safest and most convenient place, but those two shouldn't meet."
"Apex Global Group is so big—as long as they're on different floors, they naturally won't run into each other."
"Then make the arrangements and bring my mom to Apex Global Group for treatment."
"Okay." Quinlan smiled. "I'll arrange for her to be on a lower floor so she won't meet Harriet."
Harriet woke up in the afternoon.
She cleared her head, got out of bed, and went to the bathroom to freshen up.
She had just finished her skincare routine when Tristan came in. "You're awake? I'll have someone bring food."
"Okay."
Harriet was indeed starving and ate until she was nearly full before putting down her utensils.
"Tristan, any movement from the Romanov family?"
Tristan didn't hide anything. "Mr. Caspian Romanov from the Romanov family—Lark's older brother and now the family heir—has personally come to Emberfall. He's at the funeral home right now."
"What else?" Harriet pressed.
"He sent people to surround Apex Global Group."
"That's affecting normal operations, isn't it?"
"Not quite, but it's causing panic."
"So what are you planning to do?"
"We don't need to handle it ourselves." Tristan smiled. "I've already had someone call the police. The authorities will deal with this kind of thing."
As Tristan predicted, after police intervention, the Romanov family's people left Apex Global Group's premises, but they still surrounded the perimeter tightly, seriously affecting access.
After Harriet went downstairs for treatment, Tristan watched the surveillance on his computer screen, took a drag on his cigarette, and a cold glint flashed in his seemingly amused eyes.
He picked up his phone and made a call.
An hour later, an opening appeared at the front of Apex Global Group, allowing employees to enter and exit normally.
This opening was created by someone ramming through with a car.
The Romanov family's bodyguards were tough enough—after the injured ones were dragged away, new bodyguards filled in.
The driver rammed through again, even more violently than before.
After several rounds, no bodyguard dared to act as a human shield anymore, and they were forced to leave an opening.
Downstairs, Harriet, who was taking a bath, heard the news and looked thoughtful.
"Mr. Lancaster is ruthless enough," Ondine said with a smile. "But only being ruthless enough can solve the current predicament. I just wonder what the Romanov family will do next."
Harriet turned to look at the gloomy sky outside the window.
A storm seemed about to arrive.
"Whatever they do, it'll be a painful victory."
In the evening, a torrential rain arrived as expected.
Harriet was having dinner with Tristan when Ryder suddenly knocked and entered, his steps hurried and his expression panicked.
Tristan calmly asked, "What is it?"
"Mr. Lancaster, Mrs. Gemma Lancaster—something's happened to her."
Tristan held his wine glass and took a sip. "Didn't I have her come here for treatment? What happened?"
"Half an hour ago, Mrs. Gemma Lancaster left the hospital to come here. Because of the heavy rain, she got stuck in traffic. The dozen or so bodyguards in the cars around her were all subdued, and Mrs. Gemma Lancaster was taken by them."
Harriet quickly put down her utensils. "It's the Romanov family!"
"Yes." Ryder nodded. "The Romanov family sent word that unless we exchange Mrs. Harriet Lancaster, they'll kill Mrs. Gemma Lancaster and use her life to pay for Lark's."
Tristan took a light sip of wine. "The Romanov family really went to great lengths. They probably had a hard time finding a breakthrough through my mom."
"Let's call the police first," Harriet suggested.
"Mrs. Harriet Lancaster, we have connections, but so does the Romanov family," Ryder said with difficulty. "Although the Romanov family's power is far from Emberfall, it's not hard for them to rebuild connections."
"So even if we call the police, not only might we not be able to rescue Mrs. Gemma Lancaster, but if we anger the Romanov family, Mrs. Gemma Lancaster's safety won't be guaranteed either."
"After all, if we dared to move against Lark, they dare to move against Mrs. Gemma Lancaster and can also get away with it."
Harriet nodded. "Yes, the Romanov family's power is unfathomable and not necessarily weaker than Tristan's. What Tristan dares to do, they naturally dare to do as well. In that case, I'll go for the exchange."
"No." Tristan put down his wine glass. "I absolutely won't let you take that risk."
Harriet looked at him and analyzed seriously, "Tristan, given your mother's physical condition, falling into the Romanov family's hands won't be pleasant for her."
"Never mind anything else—Uma isn't with her. Do you think the Romanov family will be kind enough to arrange someone to take care of her?"
"I don't like your mother. Her values are wrong, and if I could, I'd never want to have anything to do with her."
"But she is your biological mother, and now she's been taken because of me."
Tristan still objected. "The Romanov family isn't as foolish as Lark. They won't give you a chance to secretly poison them, and they won't give you a chance to escape unharmed. So I absolutely won't let you go to your death."
"If I don't go, your mother will die." Harriet stood up and walked to his side. "Tristan, if your mother dies in the Romanov family's hands, how will you face me?"
"If she dies, there will be an invisible knife forever between us, making it impossible for us to get close again."
Tristan stood up and hugged her tightly. "In any case, I won't let you go. I'll handle this matter. You don't need to worry about it."
Harriet was both anxious and helpless. "Tristan, how can you be so stubborn?"
"This isn't stubbornness—I just can't do it."
How could he possibly send the woman he loved deeply into danger?
He couldn't do it.
Harriet had no appetite. After eating a few bites, she went downstairs.
Tristan instructed Ryder, "Watch Harriet closely. Don't let her leave Apex Global Group's premises. Even if she goes downstairs for a walk, have bodyguards accompany her."
Ryder nodded. "Yes."
"You can go."
"Yes."
After Ryder left, Tristan picked up his phone.
It wasn't difficult for him to find the Romanov family's phone number.
The call lasted a full ten minutes before he hung up.
Tristan looked at the rain outside, his handsome face calm and expressionless, but his eyes were as deep as the night.
Downstairs, Harriet soaked in the bathtub. After sending Ondine out to rest, she also took out her phone.
She dialed a number, and soon a low, pleasant male voice came from the other end. "Hello, who's this?"
"This is Harriet," Harriet said neither humbly nor arrogantly. "I heard Mr. Romanov is looking for me?"