Chapter 92 Encountering Betrayal
"It seems I've underestimated you," Owen's expression darkened. "Now that Tristan's body is ruined and he can't even fulfill his duties as a husband, tell me, what exactly are you after by refusing to divorce him?"
"And what is Lark after?" Harriet countered with her own question.
"Lark has loved Tristan since childhood. Marrying him is her dream, her obsession. Even if Tristan is crippled, she's willing to marry him to fulfill that dream," Owen pressed. "So, Harriet, what are you after?"
Harriet's lips twisted into a half-smile.
If she said marrying Tristan was her dream too, would anyone believe her?
Owen's piercing eyes fixed on her. "If you think the money isn't enough, I can offer more."
Owen had run out of patience. "Harriet, people shouldn't be too greedy. You'll never get money beyond what you can comprehend, understand? Since you won't listen to reason, don't blame me for taking action against you. Haven't you considered that opposing me could bring harm to your family?"
Harriet's fingertips trembled. "You're threatening my uncle?"
"I despise people who defy me." Owen's lips curved into a smirk. "You should know that killing an ordinary person like your uncle would be easier for me than stepping on an ant."
"And don't think about appealing to my mother. When I've made up my mind, no one can stop me—not my mother, not Tristan. If you tell them, not only will they be unable to help you, but it'll create discord in our family. And then, I'll make sure you and your family wish you were dead."
Harriet shuddered violently.
If it were just her alone, she'd be willing to fight to the death for her love.
But she had family.
She couldn't be so selfish and put Jasper's family at risk.
Owen, a master at reading people, knew he had struck Harriet's vulnerable spot. A contemptuous smile played at his lips. "Take the money. I trust you'll find an appropriate reason to convince Tristan to divorce you, won't you?"
Harriet gritted her teeth silently and slowly raised her hand to take the check in front of her.
Though it was just a piece of paper, to Harriet it felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.
So the obstacles between her and Tristan weren't just Lark.
It was also the Lancaster family's rejection of her.
They simply hadn't stepped in to break them up yet, but once they did, they could effortlessly force a divorce.
Owen looked at her with disdain, his warning low and clear: "I hope our conversation tonight remains between us. If a third person finds out, you'll face the same consequences."
Harriet didn't respond. She stood up and painfully forced herself to leave.
Haven still hadn't woken up. Harriet was about to go downstairs to prepare some food when her phone suddenly rang.
It was Flora calling, saying she was in the hospital and wanted to see her.
Harriet didn't have time to go upstairs and tell Tristan. She just left a quick message with Iris and hurried to the hospital.
In the VIP ward, Flora lay in bed, her face pale and weak.
Harriet quickly asked, "Mrs. Coleman, what happened?"
"Don't worry, I just had a minor surgery."
"What kind of surgery?" Harriet's face filled with self-reproach. "I'm so sorry. I've been dealing with family issues these past few days and couldn't check on your health."
"Harriet, please don't say that. You saved my life," Flora said emotionally, clutching her hand. "If you hadn't urged me to go to the hospital, they wouldn't have found the nodule in my breast. The doctor said we caught it just in time—any longer and it could have turned cancerous. Harriet, you're truly amazing!"
"There really was a nodule?" Harriet was surprised. "Actually, I only diagnosed that your liver qi was stagnant. I guessed you must have been unhappy for a long time, which often affects the breasts, so I suggested you get checked."
Flora's expression darkened slightly. "Family shame should stay private, which is why I didn't tell you the truth last time."
"Does it involve Mr. Coleman?"
Flora didn't work; she was a pampered wife of a wealthy heir. The only things that could trouble her were her husband and children.
They had one daughter who was already married with children and didn't need Flora's worry, so it had to be Nash.
Flora spoke with anguish, "Harriet, men can't be trusted. I've been Nash's wife for thirty years, but that couldn't buy his loyalty. I never imagined that a man who's already a grandfather would still keep a mistress outside."
Harriet was shocked. "When did this happen? Your relationship seemed so good during your anniversary."
"I discovered it six months ago, but I never confronted him about it. Men are born actors. To outsiders, our marriage looks perfect, but I've swallowed all the bitterness myself." Flora's face was already streaked with tears. "I originally thought that if he could just come to his senses, I could swallow this insult. For my daughter, for the Coleman family's reputation, I could pretend nothing happened. After all, at our age, what's the point of making a fuss?"
"But I never imagined that he and that mistress secretly had a child together—already three years old, just one month younger than my grandson! No wonder he was over the moon when my daughter had her baby. It turns out Nash wasn't just becoming a grandfather; he was becoming a father again!"
Flora trembled with anger. "How could I not get sick after being deceived like this? Thankfully you caught it early. If it had developed into cancer, I would have died for sure. Then that mistress would have waltzed right in to become Mrs. Coleman, and her illegitimate son would inherit all the Coleman family's wealth. I would have died with such regret!"
"Mrs. Coleman, please calm down." Harriet quickly poured her a glass of water. "Drink some water."
Flora took a few sips, her emotions stabilizing somewhat. She held Harriet's hand and said, "Harriet, do you know why I like you so much? Because our situations are actually quite similar."
"Our situations?"
"Yes, we both come from ordinary backgrounds but married into wealthy families. Despite the social gap, Nash and I were deeply in love back then. His parents didn't accept me, so he threatened to kill himself, and that's how we got married."
"But after our marriage, his parents' attitude toward me never changed. Especially when Nash wasn't home, his mother would verbally and physically abuse me. For the sake of family harmony, I endured it all until three years later when I had my daughter. Only then did the three of us move out."
"When I gave birth to my daughter, I suffered injuries that made me unsuitable for further pregnancies, according to the doctor. His parents always blamed me for not being able to give the Coleman family a son to continue the family line. I investigated—when that mistress got pregnant, Nash initially didn't want the child because he was afraid I'd find out. Later, when they discovered it was a boy, Nash's mother protected the mistress, and that's how that child was born."
Flora broke down in tears again. "Harriet, the most important thing in marriage is being equally matched. A marriage without the blessing of elders is destined to be unhappy. I endured humiliation for thirty years, only to face betrayal in the end."
"Harriet, if the Coleman family is like this, imagine what the Lancaster family is capable of. Mr. Owen Lancaster is no saint. You must not follow my path—being bullied for half your life only to end up with nothing good to show for it."
On the way back to the Lancaster Manor, Flora's words still echoed in Harriet's ears.
They were indeed very similar.
Nash and Flora didn't get their happy ending.
And neither would she and Tristan.
Given the current situation, they were destined to end in divorce too.
Harriet returned to the Lancaster Manor and ran into Tristan, who was rushing out the door.
In the past, whenever he was in such a hurry, it was always because of Lark.
"Where are you going?" Harriet asked instinctively. "Did something happen to Lark again?"
"What are you talking about?" Tristan frowned. "Your phone was off, so of course I was going out to look for you."
Harriet's nose stung with emotion.
This was the first time Tristan had been worried about her.
She could feel that their relationship was undergoing a subtle change. She could even sense that she was getting closer to his heart.
But all of this was destined to come to an abrupt end.
Harriet suppressed the tears welling in her eyes and said, "Tristan, I have something I want to tell you."