Chapter 298 Mrs. Lancaster Has Taken a Liking to Me
Coralie was at a loss when she heard Caspian speak, "A daughter born to Harriet isn't a descendant of the Romanov family?"
Harriet froze, how did the topic circle back to her?
Coralie secretly breathed a sigh of relief, looking down at her flat belly.
If her father really had done something to hurt Harriet, Caspian would never tolerate this child.
By then, even Mason probably couldn't protect the baby.
She really didn't know what to do.
"Caspian, are you crazy?" Atticus narrowed his eyes slightly. "When Harriet came back, she was naturally part of the Romanov family. But she married out, so her daughter belongs to someone else's family. You can't be thinking of counting her daughter as the next generation of the Romanov family, as one of the heir candidates, right?"
"Why not?" Caspian asked calmly. "Harriet didn't marry just anyone—she married Tristan."
"You don't need me to explain how exceptional Tristan's genes are, do you?"
"Della will definitely be extraordinary when she grows up. It's only natural for her to inherit the Romanov family."
"Mr. Romanov, my child can't bear such a heavy burden," Harriet said seriously, realizing he wasn't joking. "You brothers are all in your prime—there's no shortage of descendants."
"Harriet's right. The Romanov family has ready-made descendants. Why focus on Harriet's daughter?" Atticus said. "Caspian, I know you want to please Harriet, but not to this extent, surely?"
Caspian smiled. "Della is a thousand times better than an illegitimate child born to a mistress."
Tears welled up in Elowen's eyes as she spoke pitifully, "Atticus and I truly love each other. We just met a few years late. Why do you have to humiliate me and my child like this? I'm pregnant—shouldn't you be taking better care of me?"
Yvonne, sitting beside Mason, looked at Harriet with contempt. "Harriet, even though you and Elowen aren't blood-related, you at least grew up together."
"It seems the Getty family's standards really aren't that great, otherwise she wouldn’t dare say such shameless things. Let me be blunt—the Getty family has failed in raising their daughter..."
Harriet could tell the words were actually aimed at her. She smiled calmly and said, "Elowen has poor values and refuses to change despite repeated attempts to teach her, so my uncle has disowned her as his daughter. Apart from her surname, she has no connection to the Getty family now. So please don't slander the Getty family's reputation."
Yvonne immediately responded, "You're clearly part of the Romanov family, yet you keep saying 'the Getty family.' Don't you want to acknowledge Grandpa?"
Harriet's smile deepened. "I indeed haven't said I want to acknowledge the Romanov family."
Yvonne couldn't have asked for more. "Grandpa, you see what kind of attitude..."
"Shut up!" Before Yvonne could finish, Caspian cut her off. "If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute!"
Yvonne obediently fell silent.
Atticus stood up. "Grandpa, I have something I'd like to discuss with you privately."
Mason didn't object.
The two quickly went upstairs together.
Less than ten minutes later, Ollie came downstairs and bowed respectfully to Caspian. "Mr. Caspian Romanov, Mr. Mason Romanov says that Mr. Atticus Romanov and Ms. Elowen Getty will move back to the Romanov Manor immediately to await the birth."
Caspian wasn't surprised. "It's good that the Romanov family will have an heir. I have no objections."
Elowen was so excited she laughed out loud.
Yvonne looked at her with disgust. "Elowen, what are you so pleased about? We don't even know if you're carrying a boy or girl yet. If it's a girl, you'll still have to leave the Romanov Manor!"
Hearing this, Ollie spoke again, "Mr. Mason Romanov also said that the Romanov family rules are being changed effective immediately—girls also have inheritance rights. So regardless of whether Ms. Elowen Getty gives birth to a boy or girl, she can stay at the Romanov Manor to raise the child."
Seeing Yvonne's gloomy expression made Elowen feel satisfied. "I'm so sorry, Yvonne, to disappoint you."
Yvonne's face darkened with anger, and she got up and left.
Ollie looked at Harriet. "Ms. Getty, this family rule was specifically changed by Mr. Mason Romanov for you. Mr. Mason Romanov says that if Della is willing, she will be the next heir of the Romanov family."
The smile on Elowen's face immediately froze.
Was Harriet, this jinx, specifically sent to to ruin her life?
Not only had she always been overshadowed by Harriet since childhood, but now when she finally managed to climb up to the Romanov family, Harriet could effortlessly stand at the top looking down on her.
She really couldn't swallow this!
Harriet didn't respond to Ollie. She stood up and said, "Since there's nothing else, I'll leave first."
Caspian followed Harriet out. After walking out the door, he said, "Harriet, if you don't want to see Elowen, I can tell Grandpa to have her move out during her pregnancy."
"No need," Harriet said lightly. "I'll be returning to Emberfall soon, so there won't be many chances to see Elowen again."
"Do you really not want to stay at the Romanov Manor?" Caspian asked. "Even if you're angry with me and the Romanov family, Mom is innocent. Harriet, she can't be without you."
Harriet didn't stop walking. "You don't need to use family ties to guilt-trip me. That doesn't work on me."
"I didn't mean it that way," Caspian quickly explained. "I just don't want Mom to go back to how she was before. I can't imagine what would happen if she left you—whether her condition would get even worse."
Harriet said nothing and quickened her pace back to her room.
"What's wrong?" Tristan asked, seeing her looking upset. "Elowen couldn't have made you this angry, could she?"
"She doesn't have that ability."
Tristan stood up and took her hand. "It looks like Mrs. Lancaster doesn't want to stay here. Let me take you out to clear your head."
Harriet didn't refuse.
She really didn't want to stay here.
Tristan drove, taking Harriet away from the Romanov Manor.
As soon as Harriet got in the car, her legs felt weak, afraid that Tristan would stop on some deserted roadside again.
She quietly observed Tristan in the driver's seat. Seeing his dignified and restrained appearance, she felt somewhat reassured.
"Mrs. Lancaster, what are you looking at?" Tristan noticed the gaze from beside him and smiled. "Should I stop so you can get a better look?"
Harriet: "No, I appreciate the thought."
Tristan chuckled. "I thought Mrs. Lancaster had taken a fancy to me and couldn't wait to devour me."
Harriet was quite helpless.
Tristan took Harriet to the city center.
Harriet had been here for so many days but hadn't really explored yet.
The luxury car drove through the streets of this foreign land, and Harriet's mood immediately improved.
Tristan took Harriet to a restaurant for a hearty late-night meal.
Full and satisfied, Harriet became drowsy as soon as she got in the car.
When she groggily woke up, Tristan was carrying her out of the car.
"We're here?"
Harriet opened her eyes and found they weren't at the Romanov Manor. "Where is this?"
"A hotel."
"What are we doing at a hotel?"
Tristan smiled. "Mrs. Lancaster, you've eaten your fill. Now it's my turn."
As soon as they entered the suite, Tristan couldn't wait to get to the point.
From the living room to the bedroom to the bathroom, even though Harriet was exhausted, he kept her awake with lovemaking.
By the time everything settled down, Harriet was tired, sleepy, and hungry again.
She propped herself up to get dressed.
"What's wrong?" Tristan was smoking, the smoke wreathing his satisfied handsome face. "Hungry? I'll have someone bring food."
"It's too late. Let's go back to the Romanov Manor," Harriet said. "Mrs. Romanov will look for me as soon as she wakes up in the morning."
Tristan smiled. "My wife is tough on the outside but soft on the inside—she does care about her after all."
Harriet didn't admit it. "I just don't want her emotions to spiral out of control again because she can't see me."
"Then let's go back."
When they returned to the Romanov Manor, it was already past 3 a.m.
The living room lights were on, and Caspian was sitting on the sofa smoking.
Seeing them come in, Caspian immediately stood up. "You're back?"
Harriet paused mid-step.
Tristan spoke up. "We went for a drive. Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"I wanted to wait for Harriet to come back," Caspian said, finishing his last drag. "It's late—go rest."
Harriet said nothing and went straight to her room.
She was clearly very tired, but after lying down in bed, she couldn't fall asleep.
Tristan hugged her from behind. "Caspian was worried about your safety, that's why he waited until now."
Harriet closed her eyes. "I don't need that."
"Caspian actually cares about you quite a bit. The Romanov family and the Clifford family have been friends for generations, but he still handed Quinlan back to the Clifford family and stopped protecting him."
Tristan kissed her cheek. "He also told me that no matter how I deal with Quinlan, he’ll support me."
Harriet just felt her heart was in chaos. "I don't want to hear this."
"I'm not speaking up for Caspian. I just think you need to know these things."
Harriet turned a deaf ear. "I'm tired. Let's sleep."
"Okay."
Although Elowen moved into the Romanov Manor, she was assigned to the most remote villa.
Moreover, Mason forbade her from wandering around the Romanov Manor, precisely so Harriet wouldn't see her and be upset.
Harriet couldn't have asked for more.
In the evening, Harriet went to treat Mason as usual.
She first examined his body but felt something was wrong. "Mr. Romanov, what's the meaning of this?"
"What's wrong?" Mason asked. "Is something wrong with my condition?"
Harriet withdrew her examining hand. "With my medical skills, I wouldn't make things worse with treatment. You know what you've done."
Mason gave an embarrassed smile. "Ollie, look how good Harriet's medical skills are—she detected something unusual so quickly."
Ollie, standing nearby, nodded. "Yes, Ms. Getty's medical skills are exceptional."
Harriet was quite speechless and said expressionlessly, "Not taking your medicine properly only hurts your own body."
"Don't be angry, Ms. Getty. Mr. Romanov had no choice," Ollie quickly explained. "Mr. Romanov is worried that once you cure him, you'll return to Emberfall. Mr. Romanov can't bear for you to leave."
Harriet was stunned, then said seriously, "Even so, you can't joke around with your own health."
"Harriet's right. I won't mess around anymore. I'll definitely listen to you and take my medicine obediently," Mason said with a smile. "It's fine if you want to return to Emberfall—I'm thinking of settling there anyway. We can go back together, and I'll live at Cloud Bay so I can see you often."
Harriet didn't continue this topic. "Take your medicine on time, then we can talk about what comes next."
"Right, I'll listen to you."