Chapter 295 Severing Ties
Xanthe immediately said, "You gave me something and now you want it back? Harriet, have you gone crazy from being poor!"
"You're the one who's gone crazy from being poor," Harriet said coldly. "You're usually so snobbish, bullying Uncle Jasper. I never said anything because he's the one living with you, not me."
"But Elowen being a mistress, pregnant with an illegitimate child, ruining the Getty family's reputation and Grandpa and Grandma's good name—I have to step in."
Xanthe was about to explode when Elowen pulled her back. "Mom, since Harriet needs money so badly, let's just give it back to her!"
"Elowen, are you crazy?" Xanthe quickly reminded her, "Do you know how much those properties Tristan gave us are worth!"
Elowen lowered her voice, "I just told you to think bigger. Why are you being petty again?"
"What Tristan gave us is nothing. Once I marry into the Romanov family, you'll get ten times more. Why can't you do the math?"
Xanthe looked hesitant. "But those properties Tristan gave us are really valuable. Just collecting rent would be enough for our retirement."
"Mom, what's wrong with you? Can't you understand what I'm saying?" Elowen said impatiently. "With such a small mindset, you're destined to be poor forever! Do you want to collect rent in Emberfall for retirement, or follow me and become rich?"
"Follow you, of course." Seeing Elowen's confidence, Xanthe made up her mind. "Elowen, you're my most precious treasure. I'll listen to you."
Xanthe looked at Harriet with disdain. "Fine, I'll give it back to you! I don't even want it anyway!"
Harriet smiled slightly and looked at Jasper. "Uncle Jasper, is this what you think too? You want Elowen to marry into the Romanov family so you can benefit from her?"
"Harriet, please stop. I failed to raise my daughter properly. I'm so ashamed." Jasper stood up and looked at his wife and daughter. "You two are coming back home with me right now. Elowen will completely cut ties with that man!"
"What are you yelling about!" Xanthe stood up, glaring at him fiercely. "Don't think I'm scared of you just because Harriet's backing you up! You useless man! If you weren't so incompetent and couldn't make good money, would Elowen need to find her own way out!"
"The way out she found is being a man's mistress! Where will I put my face when word gets out! The Getty family's reputation has been completely destroyed by her!"
"What's more important—your Getty family's reputation or my daughter's happiness!" Xanthe's voice was shrill and piercing. "You and your high morals—can morals put food on the table?"
"Don't forget, she's your only daughter. You'll need her to take care of you when you're old!"
"If you don't support her now, she won't take care of you later. When you die, there won't even be anyone to see you off!"
Jasper's face turned dark. "Even if Elowen hates me, I can't watch her go further down the wrong path!"
"Xanthe, I'm giving you one last chance. Take our daughter and come home with me, or else... or else I'll divorce you!"
"Look at you, actually daring to mention divorce?" Xanthe said with contempt. "Fine, let's divorce! I don't want to live with you anymore anyway! You useless man!"
"After the divorce, I'll live the good life with Elowen. You can just wait to die alone!"
"Fine..." Jasper trembled with anger. "I'll book a flight right now. You're coming back with me to get divorced! From now on, you two are no longer part of the Getty family!"
"You said it—don't regret it!"
"I'll never regret it!"
The drama ended after Elowen left with Xanthe.
Harriet got a blood pressure monitor to check Jasper's blood pressure.
"Uncle Jasper, there's no need to get so angry. Since you've already decided, try to let it go."
Harriet didn't want to talk Jasper out of the divorce.
Xanthe was a shrew. Jasper had a good temper and endured it for half his life. Now that he'd decided to let himself go, it was a good thing.
When it comes to marriage, it's better to have none than to settle.
There's nothing wrong with being single.
"Uncle Jasper, don't worry. Even though I'm not the Getty family's biological child, I'll always be part of the Getty family," Harriet comforted him. "You're my only family in the Getty family. I won't abandon you. As long as I'm around, I'll never let you suffer."
"Harriet, you're a good child. I've always known that." Jasper's tears streamed down. "It's all my fault. I listened to your Aunt... listened to Xanthe's nonsense and didn't tell you about your background."
Harriet shook her head. "I believe Grandma had her reasons for hiding this from me. Maybe she was afraid I couldn't accept being abandoned, or couldn't accept having no blood relation with her. Uncle Jasper, I've always felt that family isn't determined by blood. Grandpa, Grandma, and you will always be my family."
"Good child, my parents weren't wrong about you. You're truly a thousand times better than Elowen..."
"Uncle Jasper, after your divorce, live your own life. Haven't you always wanted to go on road trips? You've worked hard for half your life—you should rest. Leave the restaurant to the employees and go live the life you want."
"Okay, I'll listen to you." Jasper held her hand tightly. "Harriet, I'm truly happy for you that you've found your family."
Harriet didn't continue the topic. "It's getting late. I'll have someone take you to the hotel."
The next morning, Jasper and Xanthe went back home to process the divorce.
Harriet called someone to keep an eye on things to make sure Jasper didn't get taken advantage of.
Harriet had just hung up when she turned and saw Caspian standing in the doorway.
Harriet asked expressionlessly, "What is it?"
Caspian's tone was a bit cautious. "Nothing, I just came to tell you that York hasn't been found yet."
Harriet's attitude didn't change. "Got it."
"Harriet, Grandpa said you didn't say a word when you went to treat him. He's very upset." Caspian looked at her. "Mom is mentally confused. Grandpa is the one in this family who cares about you most. You can be angry with me, but don't be angry with him, okay?"
"Why can't I be angry with him?" Harriet said coldly. "Isn't he the one who feels most sorry for Lark?"
"Harriet, I know you can't let go of Rhea's death, but is a dead outsider really more important than your own family?"
Harriet froze, then walked toward him step by step.
Caspian looked at her cold face and realized something. "Sorry, I said the wrong thing."
"You didn't say the wrong thing." Harriet laughed coldly. "That was your true feeling coming out!"
"Mr. Romanov, you're high and mighty with dozens of servants at home serving you. Their lives are worthless as grass in your eyes. If they die, they die."
"But in my eyes, you can't compare to Rhea at all! You and I only share blood, but Rhea and I had a bond beyond blood. Can you understand that?"
"Of course you can't understand, and I don't need you to. I just want to tell you—you're not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Rhea!"
"After I cure your grandfather, I never want to see you again!"
"Harriet, do you have to talk like this?" Caspian frowned. "Do you really hate being part of the Romanov family that much?"
"Yes. If I could, I'd rather never know the truth and always be a Getty child." Harriet took a pill from her bag and put it in Caspian's hand. "This is the antidote for the poison I gave you before. We're even now."
"Harriet..."
"Mr. Romanov." Harriet interrupted him. "I think we should stick to our previous way of addressing each other. My last name is Getty, so please call me Ms. Getty... I'm a bit tired and want to rest. Please leave."
After speaking, Harriet closed the door directly.
Caspian closed his eyes, turned to leave, and saw Tristan standing not far away watching him.
Caspian walked up. "You heard everything? I asked you to help persuade her, didn't I? You didn't, did you?"
"Harriet values relationships deeply. Rhea's death is a thorn in her heart. Even with Lark's death, it still hasn't been pulled out." Tristan said, "I actually think this is normal. If it could be pulled out so easily, she wouldn't be Harriet."
"She won't acknowledge me and even wants to distance herself from the Romanov family." Caspian irritably pulled out a cigarette and lit it. "Lark's situation was my oversight. I really didn't expect York to deceive me. If I'd been more careful back then, we wouldn't be in this situation now."
Tristan smiled. "He's your future father-in-law. It's normal that you trusted him."
Caspian's expression darkened. "You said it yourself—future father-in-law, which means he's not really my father-in-law yet."
"He conspired with Lark to deceive the Romanov family, causing Harriet not to acknowledge me. I will never let him go."
Suddenly, the sound of shattering porcelain came.
Caspian turned and saw Coralie standing not far away, looking at them helplessly.
In front of her was a broken bowl with soup spilled all over the floor.
Caspian frowned slightly, ignored her completely, and went upstairs.
Coralie cleaned up the floor and went upstairs to knock on the study door.
No one responded from inside.
Coralie opened the door directly and saw Caspian smoking behind the desk.
"Did I tell you to come in?" Caspian was anxious and irritable, with no pleasant expression. "Get out!"
"Caspian, you promised me last night that you'd give my father a chance to explain."
"You find him, and I'll naturally give him one." Caspian said coldly. "But you know me—I've never been very patient."
Coralie pressed her lips together. "I want to go out and look for him."
Caspian laughed coldly. "You're his only family and the person he values most. If you leave the Romanov family, won't he be even less likely to appear?"
"Stay here obediently. Without my permission, don't step outside the Romanov family, understand?"
Coralie nodded gently. "Then can you promise me that when you find him, you'll tell your people not to hurt him?"
Caspian blew out a smoke ring. "What right do you have to make demands of me?"
Coralie's face paled as she gripped what she was holding tightly.
Caspian frowned slightly. "What are you holding?"
"Burn ointment..." Coralie quickly explained. "I was trying to bring a bowl of soup to Ms. Getty just now and accidentally dropped it. I burned my hand... I won't disturb you anymore."
Caspian was about to speak when she fled like a frightened animal, closing the door directly.