Chapter 279 He Really Is Crazy
Harriet helped Tristan treat his wound and sent him back to his hospital room.
Tristan looked at her reluctantly, "Honey, are you leaving?"
"Della is next door. I need to stay with her at night."
"When are you going to tell Della that I'm her real father?"
Harriet looked at Tristan's aggrieved expression and couldn't help but laugh.
"Let's wait a bit. We'll tell her when Della's health improves." Harriet thought for a moment and said rationally, "Della is injured right now and very dependent on Nolan. I'm afraid if we suddenly tell her, she won't be able to accept it."
Tristan didn't say anything, just kept his handsome face tense.
Harriet leaned down and kissed the corner of his lips, "There, I've made it up to you. Don't be mad anymore, okay?"
The displeasure on Tristan's face disappeared, and he smiled slightly, "Not enough."
With that, he raised his hand, pressed down on Harriet's head, and kissed her lips.
Harriet wanted to leave, but Tristan wouldn't let go.
The kiss lasted several minutes until Harriet could barely breathe, and only then did Tristan reluctantly release her.
Harriet's face was flushed red as she complained, "Can you sleep now?"
"I still want to look at you."
Harriet leaned into his arms, "Sleep. I'll wait until you fall asleep before I go over."
Only then did Tristan close his eyes.
Harriet waited until he was sound asleep before getting up and going to Della's room next door.
Della was already asleep, with Niamh watching over her.
"Harriet," Niamh said in a low voice, "I just heard some noise next door. The nurse said Tristan got hurt. What happened?"
Harriet sat on the sofa and told her everything that had happened tonight.
"What?" Niamh took a sip of water to calm herself, "Tristan is really crazy."
Harriet propped her head up with one hand, nestling into the soft sofa, "Actually, ever since Della's identity was exposed, I knew this day would come."
"Knowing Della is his daughter, he would never let go. I just didn't expect he would actually dare to hurt himself."
"You've never really let go of Tristan. Of course, you'd soften when he hurts himself. Harriet, I understand you." Niamh sat down next to Harriet, "Harriet, actually, if you think about it from his perspective, Tristan was pretty innocent in the Dr. Smith situation too."
"As for Quinlan's son, Tristan clearly doesn't care about him, and it's not like he had an affair. Why don't you just follow your heart?"
"Niamh, you don't understand." Harriet's mind was in chaos, "I'm really scared. Especially now that we have Della, I'm afraid that being around Tristan will make her a target, that someone will try to hurt her."
"But being scared doesn't solve the problem." Niamh said seriously, "Actually, I know that these past three years, even though you had Della, you weren't truly happy."
"Many times, when you look at Della, there's a sense of loss in your eyes. I know that looking at Della, you can't help but think of Tristan."
"Harriet, if there's danger, we'll protect Della properly, instead of running away. That's not how you solve problems."
"You're so bold at work, how come when it comes to relationships, you become a coward who only knows how to back down?"
Harriet turned to look at her, "Niamh, you've never even been in a relationship. How come you're so good at analyzing other people's love problems?"
"Outsiders see things more clearly. I can tell that Tristan really loves you." Niamh touched her hair, "Actually, I've wanted to say these things to you for a long time, but you never wanted to bring him up, and I felt I should respect your decisions."
"But now that you two are connected again, of course I have to say what's been on my mind."
"Harriet, you've already missed out for so long and wasted so much time. Don't let it slip away anymore. After all, who knows whether tomorrow or an accident will come first?"
Tears streamed down Harriet's face. "Thank you, Niamh."
Actually, her heart had already made a decision tonight.
But Niamh's words made her even more certain.
"We're best friends. Why are you saying this?" Niamh smiled, "Della is sleeping soundly. I'll watch over her. You go be with Tristan. I think right now, he needs you more than Della does."
"Okay."
Harriet got up and came to the door of the room next door. Just as she was about to open the door, it suddenly opened from inside.
Tristan stood in the doorway.
Their eyes met. Both were startled at first, then they both smiled.
Harriet took a step forward and hugged him.
"Tristan." Harriet choked up, "I've always owed you an apology. Maybe three years ago, I shouldn't have chosen to run away. I should have stayed and faced all the problems."
"If I had stayed, maybe these past three years, neither of us would have had to suffer so much. I'm sorry."
"Honey, I'm the one who should be sorry." Tristan held her tightly, "I failed your trust. I didn't protect Ondine."
"I didn't guard against my mom and Quinlan, which let them succeed with their scheme and produce a child, making you leave in despair."
"It was my fault. I didn't protect you."
Harriet's tears soaked Tristan's hospital gown, "It was my fault. I shouldn't have told you nothing and chosen to run away."
"I don't blame you. Honey, let's never be apart again, okay?"
"Okay." Harriet nodded firmly, "I promise you."
She looked up, "Why did you suddenly get up?"
"I couldn't sleep. I wanted to find you."
"That's reckless." Harriet let go of him, "You're still on an IV. Lie down quickly."
Tristan lay back down.
Harriet reconnected his IV tube, "Don't move around anymore, or how will your body get better?"
"Is Della asleep?"
"Yes, Niamh is with her."
"These past three years, it must have been hard for her taking care of you and Della. I'll definitely thank her properly later."
"You really should thank Niamh properly. You have no idea how naughty our daughter can be."
Tristan smiled, "Della really likes Nolan, doesn't she?"
Harriet rested her chin on her hands, leaning on the bedside looking at him, "Mr. Lancaster, if you're jealous, just say you're jealous. No need to test me."
Tristan: "You're right, I am jealous. Della calls him daddy, you almost married him. How could I not be jealous?"
Harriet explained, "Tristan, I was going to marry Nolan before only to make you give up on me."
"Even so, I'm still mad."
"You don't need to be jealous of him," Harriet's expression became serious, "Nolan is sick, with ALS. It can't be cured. The reason I came back to Emberfall was because he asked me to help take care of Chase after he died."
"ALS?" Tristan frowned, "How did this happen so suddenly?"
"ALS is medically incurable, so you don't need to be jealous of a sick person. He and I never had any romantic feelings for each other."
Tristan sighed, "Nolan is young and accomplished. What a shame."
Harriet nodded, "Yes, Nolan is really pitiful. His wife and daughter died, and now he's sick himself."
"What's even more pitiful is Chase. He lost his mother as a child, and now he's going to lose his father. So I couldn't bear it and agreed to Nolan's request."
"If something really happens to him, I'll adopt Chase."
"So after Della and I returned to Emberfall, I had Chase start calling me mom. I don't want him to suddenly lose his father one day and not have a single family member around."
"I didn't teach Della to call Nolan daddy. She heard Chase calling him daddy and just followed along. I didn't correct her."
"I understand now." Tristan suddenly realized, "I could never figure out why you would be with Nolan if you hadn't lost your memory. So that's why."
"Tristan, I hope you won't make things difficult for him." Harriet said seriously, "He's already having such a hard time."
"I'll listen to you."
The next morning.
When Harriet woke up, the first thing she saw was Tristan's incredibly handsome face.
She felt momentarily dazed.
This scene felt like a lifetime ago.
Harriet threw off the covers and was about to get up when she was pulled back into Tristan's arms.
Harriet looked up at the now-awake Tristan, "Did I wake you?"
Tristan held her tight, "Sleep a bit more."
"I'm not sleeping anymore. The doctor will be making rounds soon."
"Then just lie with me a bit longer."
"Stop it." Harriet pouted, "If you hadn't insisted I sleep here last night, I would have gone to be with Della already. This is a hospital, not home."
"Don't worry, Mrs. Lancaster, no one dares to laugh at you." Tristan chuckled, "Besides, if someone sees us, it just proves we're a loving couple."
"Shameless!" Harriet almost rolled her eyes, "I'm going to make breakfast for you all, and I need to go to Cloud Bay later."
"I'll go with you."
"No need, you still have to continue your IV later." Harriet said, "I'll take two bodyguards. I'll be fine."
"Okay."