Chapter 388 Make a Deal

Chapter 388 Make a Deal

Caspian said, "There's always a way. We'll figure it out slowly."

"By the way," Tristan changed the subject, "what are you going to do about you and Coralie?"

Caspian smiled, "Mr. Lancaster, you're not usually such a gossip."

"I'm not interested in your business, but Harriet is really worried about you two."

Caspian irritably blew out a smoke ring, "I've given her the choice. How she chooses is her business."

Tristan said, "You're a man. You should be more considerate to the woman who's bearing your child. Don't push her too hard, or it'll just backfire."

"There's no backfiring. Either way she chooses, I won't lose out."

"Relationships aren't business deals. You can't calculate them in terms of profit and loss."

"Did Harriet send you to talk me around?" Caspian saw right through it. "Harriet's worried and confused. Tell her for me that I know what I'm doing, and her nagging won't help."

"I understand." Tristan got it. "I'll tell Harriet not to interfere in your business."

"Thanks."

Harriet fell ill.

It wasn't serious, but she had no energy every day and lay in bed for over a week.

When Ondine came in with medicine, Harriet was lying in bed, lost in thought.

"Harriet, get up and drink your medicine."

"Okay." Harriet replied softly, "Is there still no news from Tristan about Ms. Rodriguez's daughter?"

"Not yet." Ondine said, "Harriet, Ms. Rodriguez's funeral keeps getting delayed. We can't drag this out forever. Why don't we let her rest in peace first?"

"No." Harriet said firmly, "Ms. Rodriguez's greatest wish in life was for her daughter to come back safely. Even though she's dead now, no matter what, we have to let her most beloved daughter come back to see her off one last time."

"Ms. Rodriguez's body is temporarily placed at the funeral home and well preserved. I think she'd be willing to wait."

"Alright, whatever you say." Ondine sighed softly, "Drink your medicine."

Harriet took the bowl and drank the warm medicine in one gulp. "Am I really useless?"

Ondine touched her face with affection, "Harriet, you're already amazing. You have a strong core, and your heart is always soft and kind, which is why you're suffering so much over Ms. Rodriguez's situation. I think this isn't a sign of weakness at all. On the contrary, a doctor should have this kind of tenderness."

After a moment of silence, Harriet said, "Godmother, I don't want to let Ms. Rodriguez down. The lab will start preparing immediately. I want to break the curse myself."

"If you've decided, then go for it. I'll support you unconditionally."

"Thank you."

Harriet threw all her energy into the lab, which was set up in a standalone villa near Cloud Bay.

Within a few days, the lab took initial shape, and Tristan sent people to find several practitioners of witchcraft to research together.

In the afternoon, Ryder knocked and entered the CEO's office.

"Mr. Lancaster, don't worry. I've thoroughly investigated these people's backgrounds, and their families are under surveillance too, to prevent them from being bribed to harm Mrs. Lancaster."

"Good."

"Mr. Lancaster, about Ms. Rodriguez's funeral, are we really going to keep postponing it?" Ryder asked, "Ms. Rodriguez's daughter is already dead. She can never come back."

"Harriet is set on rescuing Ms. Rodriguez's daughter before holding the funeral. If we tell her now that the daughter is dead, she'll be even more upset."

"But we can't keep dragging this out."

Tristan thought for a moment and said, "Find someone to impersonate Ms. Rodriguez's daughter. Coordinate with Ms. Rodriguez's family to deceive Harriet together, so Ms. Rodriguez can rest in peace."

"Mr. Lancaster, deceiving Mrs. Lancaster... isn't that inappropriate?"

"A white lie is better than stabbing her in the heart. There's nothing inappropriate about it." Tristan closed the file in his hand. "Do as I say. Remember, it must be foolproof. Don't let Harriet notice anything. As for Ms. Rodriguez's family, I'll ensure they're taken care of for life."

"Mr. Lancaster, rest assured. Ms. Rodriguez's family is quite reasonable. They never thought about using Ms. Rodriguez and her daughter's deaths to get money. They only said they wanted justice for them."

After the lab was established, Harriet devoted herself to it wholeheartedly, and her mood settled down quite a bit.

When she had some free time, she inevitably worried about Caspian and Coralie.

In the evening, Harriet came home early for once to have dinner with Della.

After dinner, Coralie accompanied her for a walk in the garden.

"Coralie, how have you been feeling lately?"

"Pretty good."

"Is the morning sickness bad?"

"A bit, but not too bad."

"That's good." Harriet reminded her, "If you feel unwell, find my godmother or call a doctor."

"Harriet, I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me."

Harriet asked, "Have you decided what to do?"

Coralie shook her head gently, "I don't know... This baby is growing in my belly day by day. Although it's still very small, I'm really becoming more and more reluctant to let go... And according to Caspian, if I force myself to abort this child, he'll take Qiana away. I can't lose Qiana."

"So you'll most likely choose to have the baby, right?"

Coralie looked pained, "I really don't know if having him is right or wrong. This child has no choice. When he grows up, will he hate me for bringing him into the world?"

Harriet took her hand and sat down on a nearby bench. "Coralie, I know your concerns. You think the child won't grow up in a complete family, which will have many drawbacks. That's true."

"But right now, no one can talk Caspian around. He keeps his word. If he really takes Qiana away, you won't be able to handle it."

"And with the Romanov family's resources, they can completely support this child. He'll get the best life and the best education, and grow up carefree."

"In the worst case, even if you and Caspian aren't meant to be a family, you're still this child's mother. Your love for him won't change."

"Although I can't help you convince Caspian, I can guarantee your visitation rights with this child."

Coralie nodded, "Harriet, I had no choice to begin with. Hearing you say this puts my mind at ease."

She raised her hand to gently stroke her flat belly, "I hope he can grow up healthy and happy, and not have too many regrets because I'm not by his side."

"Everything will be fine."

Her phone suddenly rang. Harriet saw it was Ryder calling and quickly answered, "Ryder."

"Mrs. Lancaster, Ms. Rodriguez's daughter has been successfully rescued and brought back to the country!"

"Really?" Harriet was delighted. "How is she? Nothing went wrong, did it?"

"She suffered quite a bit abroad, but she's fine. Just some minor injuries. Our people will bring her back to the country as soon as possible."

"Good, make sure to be careful."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Lancaster."

After hanging up, Harriet breathed a sigh of relief. "Ms. Rodriguez can rest in peace now."

"That is good news." Coralie was happy too. "Harriet, this is the first good news we've had in a while. You can feel a bit better now."

Harriet turned to look at the sky outside the window. "What I think doesn't matter. What matters is that I hope Ms. Rodriguez's family can accept this tragedy."

The funeral went smoothly. Helena's family was immersed in grief, and Harriet didn't get to talk much with them.

Especially Helena's daughter—perhaps because she had just been rescued from Vesperia, she seemed extremely frightened and uneasy. Harriet didn't want to disturb her much.

Her phone suddenly buzzed. Harriet took it out for a look, and her pupils suddenly contracted!

She instinctively looked up at the crying woman in the crowd, her hand holding the phone trembling slightly.

After the funeral, Helena's son and daughter-in-law came to thank Harriet for arranging such a perfect ceremony for their mother.

After saying goodbye, the family was taken away by Tristan's people.

On the way home, Harriet leaned back wearily in her seat, staring blankly at the scenery constantly passing by the car window.

"Harriet, how's the lab going?" Caspian, sitting beside her, took the initiative to start a conversation.

"Pretty smoothly." Harriet pulled back her thoughts and said, "Compared to researching witchcraft in the wild before, the lab is safer, and the precise instruments can monitor progress at any time."

"That's good. You've always been smart, you'll definitely succeed."

"I hope so."

Harriet's phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Ryder.

"Mrs. Lancaster, Tamsin wants to see you."

"Did she say what it's about?"

"No."

"I don't want to see her." Harriet said coldly. "I have nothing to say to her, and there's no need to meet."

"Mrs. Lancaster, Mr. Lancaster thinks you could meet with her."

Harriet was curious. "Why?"

"Mr. Lancaster didn't say."

Harriet didn't plan to ask further. "Since Tristan said so, I'll meet with her."

"Yes, I'll arrange it right away."

Harriet went straight to the lab. About an hour later, Ryder brought Tamsin over.

Tamsin had no obvious external injuries, but she looked terrible.

Harriet knew the methods of Tristan's people—they could torture someone to the point of wishing for death without drawing blood.

Tamsin must have suffered quite a bit lately.

When Tamsin saw Harriet, there was no emotion in her dull, lifeless eyes. She just said numbly, "You're so beautiful... just like when I first saw you."

She still remembered how stunning Harriet was when she first met her, remembered how envious she had felt.

Sure enough, beautiful people are favored by heaven.

All good things fell on Harriet, while she was the complete opposite!

"Thanks for the compliment." Harriet said flatly. "Did you want to see me about something?"

Tamsin raised her hand to wipe away tears. "I lost... Harriet, I completely lost to you."

"Looks like you've been tortured beyond what you can bear." Harriet smiled faintly. "My people are ruthless, but they gave you respect. At least they didn't violate you. On the other hand, Griffin, who you secretly conspired with, is truly evil. I heard that women sent to his jurisdiction are gang-raped by men until they obediently comply. That's what you call a fate worse than death."

"I was pushed to that point by you. Besides working with Griffin, what other choice did I have?" Tamsin said sadly. "At the time, I didn't think about anything else. I just wanted to work with Griffin to break you and Getty up, then take your place and become Mrs. Lancaster."

"I don't think you wanted to see me today just to have me reminisce with you, right?" Harriet had no patience to continue chatting with her. "Whatever you want to say, just say it."

Tamsin sniffled, holding back tears, and said, "I heard you're researching witchcraft on your own now, but you're a beginner after all. It probably won't be that easy, right?"

Harriet raised an eyebrow. "So?"

"So I want to make a deal with you."

Harriet was interested. "Let's hear it."

"Although I can't help you break the curse, I can help you research witchcraft. The condition is that after it's done, you must let me go and give me enough money to last the rest of my life."

Harriet smiled. "That was the path I offered you before, but you didn't choose it. Now after going in circles, you've come back to it?"

"Because I'm sick of being tortured every day in that dark place." Tamsin choked up. "I've figured it out. Getty will never love me in this lifetime. My dream can never come true. That being the case, I have to plan for myself. Do you expect me to be locked up and tortured by you for the rest of my life?"

Harriet said calmly, "But I don't need your help researching witchcraft."

"Harriet, don't be too confident." Tamsin said with certainty. "No matter how smart you are, you can't surpass me that quickly. With my help, you'll get twice the result with half the effort. This deal won't cost you anything."

Harriet propped her head up with one hand, studying her as if thinking.

Tamsin pressed her lips together and knelt down directly in front of her. "Harriet, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have coveted Getty, shouldn't have desired him after knowing he was married, and shouldn't have conspired with Griffin to harm you."

"I'm begging you, for the sake of me saving Getty's life once, give me one more chance. Just one."

"Harriet, although I'm unforgivable, if it weren't for me, Getty would have died in the sea long ago, right? In that case, you would only be more regretful and in more pain. So even though I've made countless mistakes, please give me one more chance to reform, Harriet!"

Tamsin cried and kowtowed heavily to Harriet. "Harriet, I'm begging you... I'm begging you!"

Harriet took a sip of tea and said, "Alright, for the sake of you saving Tristan's life once, I'll trust you this time. I hope you won't disappoint me. Since this is a collaboration, I like to say the unpleasant things first. Although I've agreed to this, your every move will be under my surveillance. If you want to take the opportunity to get close to me and harm me, I advise you to give up that idea early, because you can't bear the consequences."

Tamsin nodded vigorously. "Don't worry, I only want to plan for the rest of my life now. I absolutely won't harm you again, or I'll have no way out. You also said this is a collaboration, so what I just said, what I want after it's done..."

"Money is the last thing I lack, so I won't go back on my word." Harriet promised. "As long as you help me research witchcraft, I'll ensure you're well-off for the rest of your life."

"Deal."