Chapter 267: Return to Tristan's Side
Nolan froze for a moment.
He didn't need to look to imagine how awful Tristan's expression must be right now.
Nolan said seriously, "Della, you can't be rude to your elders. Let's eat first, okay?"
"I want Daddy to feed me."
"Okay."
Nolan took the bowl from Harriet and sat down to feed Della.
Tristan stood up and strode out of the hospital room.
Nolan glanced at Harriet. "Go check on him."
"He's tough inside. No need."
"Go check on him," Nolan urged. "If it were me, I couldn't handle my child not recognizing me either."
After hesitating for a moment, Harriet went out anyway.
She found Tristan smoking in the smoking area.
Harriet walked up to him. "Della doesn't understand. You don't need to take it to heart."
"It's my fault." Tristan took a hard drag on his cigarette. "I failed as a father. It's normal that she doesn't want me."
A dull pain spread through Harriet's heart.
It turned out that no matter how much she tried to control her feelings for Tristan, she couldn't fool herself.
Seeing him this upset, she still felt sorry for him.
Tristan looked at her, suddenly threw away his cigarette, stepped forward, and held her tight.
"Honey." His suppressed and painful voice slowly came out. "My daughter doesn't want me. You can't not want me. Without you, I'd rather be dead."
Harriet closed her eyes in pain, letting tears fall.
Her mind told her she should push him away right now.
But emotionally, she found she simply couldn't do it.
When dawn was breaking, Della finally fell asleep again.
Nolan stayed by the bed. "I'll watch her. You two go rest. If you both keep going like this, how will you take care of Della?"
Harriet looked at Tristan. "You go rest."
"I'm not tired. You sleep."
"I won't stop you from seeing Della, but you have to go sleep."
Only then did Tristan compromise. "Then you sleep too."
"I'll sleep on that couch. You go to the rest room."
After Tristan left, Nolan spoke up. "Harriet, he's Della's biological father. When Della feels better, I'll gradually explain this to her."
"I haven't known Della long. She'll quickly accept the fact that I'm not her dad."
Harriet sat down beside him. "Nolan, we're the family."
"We can be family, but we absolutely can't be husband and wife." Nolan looked at her. "You only came to me because I got sick and asked you to help take care of Chase."
"We've never been intimate. You don't have any romantic feelings for me. You agreed only because you felt sorry for Chase and me."
"I heard Quinlan was taken away by Tristan. I don't know what will happen to her, but it won't be good. Even though they have a child, Tristan can't possibly have any feelings for her. You're the only one in his heart."
"Harriet, return to Tristan's side. Do it for Della."
"Things between him and me aren't as simple as you think. It's not just about Quinlan and that child." Harriet pulled at the corner of her mouth. "I'm tired. Let's not talk about this, okay?"
"Okay, then go rest."
Harriet slept for two hours. When she got up, Della was still asleep.
She had just finished washing up when Haven arrived with a big breakfast.
"Mrs. Harriet Lancaster, these are all your favorites. Mrs. Haven Lancaster went back last night and kept telling the chef to make everything to your taste. Eat while it's hot."
Harriet looked at Haven. "Thank you, Grandma."
"Good girl, eat up, eat more." Haven urged. "Nolan, you eat too. I just don't know if it suits your taste."
Nolan sat down with a smile. "I'm not picky. Thank you, Mrs. Haven Lancaster."
"I'm the one who should thank you, for taking care of Harriet and Della."
"It's what I should do."
From the corner of his eye, Nolan saw Tristan come in and spoke up. "Mr. Lancaster, could you please take Harriet home later to get some clean clothes, and bring some of Della's favorite toys too?"
Tristan looked at Harriet. "Okay."
Harriet quietly drank her porridge.
She knew Nolan was trying to give her and Tristan time alone together.
But he didn't understand—doing this was completely pointless.
After breakfast, Tristan drove Harriet away from the hospital.
Harriet was exhausted and closed her eyes, falling asleep right away.
When she woke up, the car had already stopped at Cloud Bay.
"Weren't we going back to the Johnson Mansion? Why are we here?"
"You're too tired. Go in and take a shower and get some good sleep."
"Della's at the hospital. I can't possibly sleep."
"Then just take a shower. You'll feel better."
"I can shower at the Johnson Mansion."
"Harriet, this is your home." Tristan turned to look at her. "Don't make me say it twice."
Harriet said nothing more and got out of the car.
She hadn't showered last night and really was uncomfortable.
Harriet went to the master bedroom on the second floor.
Everything here was unchanged, just like when she left three years ago.
Harriet went to the closet to get some clothes, then went to the bathroom to take a shower. She felt much better.
When she came out after changing, Tristan had also changed clothes. He must have showered next door.
"Let's go."
"Harriet." Tristan grabbed her arm. "When Della gets out of the hospital, you two move back home, okay?"
Harriet didn't turn to look at him. She just kept her eyes down, staring at some empty spot on the floor. "Tristan, Nolan and I are the family."
"I don't believe it." Tristan said in a low voice. "I don't believe you really love him."
"Why not?" Harriet said calmly. "If we weren't still married, I would have registered to marry him by now. I'd already be Mrs. Johnson."
"You said it yourself—if." Tristan laughed coldly. "Between you two, all you deserve is an 'if'."
"If you could fall for another man that easily, you wouldn't have given birth to Della, and you definitely wouldn't have given Della the Lancaster name."
"You didn't pick that name randomly. You love our child, and you love me too, right?"
"Della has the Lancaster name because Grandma's greatest wish before she died was for you and me to be loving and happy together, to have our own child. I think if Grandma were alive, she'd want the child to have your Lancaster name. And Della taking your name also has to do with my feelings for your grandmother."
Tristan's voice was hoarse. "Just because of Grandma and my grandmother? You didn't consider me at all?"
Harriet said softly, "You have your own child. Wilder naturally has your name."
"Stop bringing him up!" Tristan's voice suddenly rose. "He hurt our daughter. I won't forgive him. I won't go after a child, but Quinlan better watch out."
Harriet gently pushed his hand away. "If you can get justice for Della, that's best. Of course, if you don't do it, I absolutely won't let her off either!"
"Of course I'll get justice for you. But even if Della weren't my daughter, I still wouldn't side with Quinlan and her son, because I won't allow anyone to hurt you." Tristan gripped her shoulders. "Harriet, look at me."