Chapter 266 I Will Love You Very Much
Quinlan froze. "What do you mean?"
Tristan sneered. "A top student who studied abroad can't understand plain words?"
Quinlan's face turned pale, inch by inch.
"You mean... You and Harriet never divorced? And... Della is your and Harriet's child?"
"Even if Della isn't my daughter, your son has no right to put her in mortal danger," Tristan said coldly. "Such vicious thoughts at such a young age - if he wasn't only two years old, do you think he'd still be unharmed?"
Quinlan felt a buzzing in her ears and couldn't hear what Tristan was saying at all. She just muttered to herself, "You and Harriet have a child... how could you two possibly have a child..."
"I would never hurt a child, but since this is a child you raised, you can't escape responsibility." Tristan raised his hand, and the bodyguard picked up the whip again, lashing it hard across Quinlan's body.
Quinlan's screams were heart-wrenching as she immediately cried and begged for mercy. "Tristan, let me go! Let me go!"
"It hurts so much! Tristan, I can't take it anymore! Please let me go, Tristan!"
Tristan got up and left directly, but without his order, the bodyguard wouldn't stop.
"Mr. Lancaster, what should we do with Wilder?" Ryder followed and asked.
"Send him back to the Stewart family. Since the Stewart family doesn't value the last chance I gave them, let them go completely bankrupt."
"Understood."
At the hospital, Haven was sitting by the bed, wiping away tears.
"Grandma." Harriet came forward to comfort her. "Della is fine, you don't need to be sad."
"Harriet, actually, last time when you and Mr. Johnson brought Della to the house, I already knew she was Tristan's daughter," Haven said with a choked voice. "When Della gets angry, she looks exactly like Tristan."
Harriet was surprised. "Grandma, why didn't you say anything directly?"
"You were hiding Della's identity for your own reasons. I didn't want to put you in a difficult position." Haven said. "If it weren't for what happened to Della today, I would have kept helping you hide it."
At the doorway, Tristan's hand slowly tightened on the door handle, his face dark.
Harriet hugged Haven. "Grandma, I'm sorry. If I could have, I really wanted to tell you about Della's background and make you happy. But I had no choice."
"I understand." Haven patted her back gently. "Harriet, whatever decision you make, I'll support you completely."
"Thank you, Grandma."
"Mrs. Haven Lancaster, let me take you back to rest," Niamh said. "Della won't wake up that quickly. You should go back and rest, and come see her tomorrow."
Harriet also said, "Grandma, Niamh is right. You go rest, I'll stay here and watch over her."
"Alright, I'll listen to you both. First thing tomorrow morning, I'll bring you breakfast."
Haven turned around and paused. "Tristan, when did you get here?"
"Just now." Tristan walked into the hospital room with a cold face.
Only then did Harriet look at Nolan. "You should go back too."
Nolan glanced at Tristan.
Now that Tristan knew about Della's identity, there was no way he would leave the hospital room tonight.
"Okay." Nolan nodded. "Get some rest, don't wear yourself out. Call me if you need anything."
"Okay."
The hospital room became quiet again.
Harriet turned around to see Tristan sitting by the bed, holding Della's hand against his own face. "Harriet, her hand is so cold."
Harriet walked over and slowed down the IV drip. "You should go to sleep. I'll watch over her."
"No need." Tristan said hoarsely. "I've already failed her so much. From today on, I won't leave her again."
"Tristan..."
"I know what you want to say." Tristan interrupted her. "Harriet, it doesn't matter what you say. Right now I just want to watch over you two. No one can take you away from me, understand?"
Harriet lowered her eyes and said nothing more.
Late at night, Harriet, who had been sleeping with her head on the bed, was awakened by crying.
She suddenly opened her eyes. Della was already awake, and because she was so weak, even her crying wasn't loud.
"Mommy..." Della sobbed. "It hurts..."
Harriet's heart was breaking. "Mommy knows. Della has suffered so much. Let Mommy get the doctor to check on you."
Harriet pressed the call button, and the doctor came quickly to examine her.
"The child's condition is relatively good, but as the anesthesia wears off, she'll definitely start feeling pain. For such a young child, it's best not to increase pain medication unless the pain is severe."
Tears streamed down Harriet's face.
She hated that she couldn't bear the pain for Della!
Della reached out her little hand to wipe the tears from Harriet's face. "Mommy, I won't cry anymore. Mommy shouldn't cry either... I don't hurt anymore!"
Harriet's tears flowed even harder.
Although Della had a bit of a stubborn personality, she was very sensible.
So sensible it was heartbreaking.
"Good girl, Della. Are you hungry? Mommy will get you something to eat, okay?"
"Okay."
"Good girl. Mommy will go right now."
Harriet went straight to the small kitchen. Tristan stayed by the bed with Della.
Della recognized the handsome man right away. "You're the bad boy Wilder's dad! I don't like bad boys! And I don't like you either!"
Tristan's heart ached. "Della, I'm not the bad boy Wilder's dad. I'm your dad. Can you call me daddy?"
"Liar!" Della's pale little face was full of seriousness. "Mommy says, whether you're a grown-up or a kid, you can't lie. Lying is wrong! You're not my daddy!"
"Della, I really am your dad." Tristan explained. "We've just been apart for a very long time, so you don't recognize me. But we know each other now, right? Daddy will love you very much. Can you trust Daddy?"
"No! Go away!" Della looked resistant. "Or I'll call my daddy to come kick you out!"
Harriet heard the noise and came out of the kitchen. "Della, what's wrong?"
"Mommy, I want Daddy! Where did Daddy go?"
Harriet instinctively glanced at Tristan, whose face was full of pain, and guessed what had happened. "Your daddy is sleeping at home. He'll come see you tomorrow."
Della said pitifully, "I miss Daddy. I want to see Daddy right now!"
Harriet was helpless. "Don't be upset. I'll call your daddy."
The call connected, and Nolan answered quickly. "Harriet, is Della awake?"
"Yes, she's asking for you."
"I'll be right there!"
Harriet had just gone to the kitchen to bring out some porridge to feed Della when Nolan opened the door and came in.
"How did you get here so fast?" Harriet was surprised.
"I was worried Della would ask for me when she woke up, so I didn't go home. I rested in the car for a bit." Nolan walked over and gently touched Della's face. "Della, are you feeling better?"
"Daddy, you finally came." Della grabbed his hand and complained. "This bad boy's daddy, he lied to me. He said he's my daddy. He's not - you're my daddy!"
"Daddy, I don't want to see the bad boy's daddy. Can you kick him out?"