Chapter 5 Leaving with Nothing

Harriet's blood froze as an icy chill shot from the soles of her feet through her entire body, nearly paralyzing her.

She'd been so naive.

She thought she could make it work—that Tristan would settle down for their child, just as Rhea had suggested.

But apparently, in his heart, their child meant less to him than Lark did.

To Tristan, her child was nothing but an unwelcome burden.

Harriet closed her eyes in agony as tears slid down her cheeks.

"I know you don't like Lark, but her health is truly fragile. Try to understand," Tristan said, attempting to soothe her as he looked at her pale face. "If you want children, we can plan for that once her condition improves."

Harriet's lips twitched into a faint, hollow smile.

If she told Tristan she was pregnant right now, he would probably rush her to the hospital for an abortion.

This baby was one of the few family members she had left. She absolutely couldn't let her child be terminated because of Lark!

"I understand," Harriet said, wiping the tears from her face. "Go back to work. I won't bother you anymore."

Harriet hurried back to Cloud Bay, packed her belongings, gave Rhea a few instructions, and left with her suitcase.

She had planned to find a hotel, but while in the taxi, she received a call from her uncle, Jasper Getty, and immediately went to see him instead.

Xanthe Miller, her aunt by marriage, opened the door. The moment she saw Harriet, she eagerly welcomed her inside. "Harriet, you finally came! I've missed you so much!"

When she noticed that Harriet carried nothing but a suitcase, her smile instantly froze.

Harriet quickly explained, "Aunt Xanthe, I'm sorry. I left in a hurry and didn't have time to bring you a gift."

"Harriet, come in," Jasper approached them. "You've never visited without bringing something before. There's no need to be so formal. Why didn't you tell me you were released? I could have picked you up."

"It was raining, so I didn't want to trouble you. How have you been, Uncle Jasper?"

"Same as always." Noticing the suitcase in the entryway, Jasper asked, "Why are you carrying a suitcase?"

"I'm getting divorced. I've moved out of Cloud Bay."

"What? Divorced?" Xanthe shrieked. "Was it Tristan who suggested it?"

Harriet shook her head slightly. "I asked for the divorce."

"Have you lost your mind?!" Xanthe exclaimed anxiously. "The Lancaster family is the wealthiest in Athenia! Countless women would do anything to marry into that family, and you're asking for a divorce? Did prison make you stupid?"

"Shut your mouth!" Jasper glared at Xanthe before turning to Harriet with righteous indignation. "When Tristan sent you to prison without even verifying whether the video was real, anyone would have given up. If you want a divorce, then get one! Grandma may be gone, but I'll support you. Move in here so I can take care of you."

Harriet quickly refused. "That's not necessary. I'll rent my own place and find a job. Don't worry about me, Uncle Jasper."

"We have plenty of rooms. Why waste money on rent?" Jasper reached for her suitcase. "It's settled."

"Yes, listen to Jasper," Xanthe chimed in before immediately asking, "Harriet, divorce is fine, but how much of the Lancaster fortune do you plan to claim?"

"I'm leaving with nothing."

"What did you say?" Xanthe exploded. "You really have lost your mind! How can you leave with nothing? How will you survive without money?"

"Aunt Xanthe, I signed a prenuptial agreement. It was never possible for me to claim any of the Lancaster family's assets." Harriet changed the subject. "By the way, Uncle Jasper, Grandma gave me a jade pendant before she passed away and mentioned something about my background. What did she mean?"

Jasper's eyes flickered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Since Grandma gave it to you, just keep it safe. As for what she said about your background, she was only sighing over the hardships you've endured."

Harriet didn't question it. "Even though I grew up without parents, Grandpa and Grandma gave me all their love. I never felt unfortunate."

"If you can think that way, their spirits will truly rest in peace."

At ten that night, Tristan returned to Cloud Bay, but Harriet wasn't in the master bedroom.

He took out his phone to call her, but the call wouldn't go through.

Tristan went downstairs and called for Rhea. "Where's Harriet?"

"Mrs. Lancaster has moved out."

"What did you say?" Tristan demanded, frowning. "When did she leave?"

"This morning."

Rhea hesitated. Before leaving, Harriet had made her promise not to tell Tristan about the pregnancy, warning that it would endanger the baby's life, so she remained silent.

Rhea handed him a document. "These are the divorce papers Mrs. Lancaster left."

Tristan took them and flipped through briefly before letting out a cold laugh. "Walking away with nothing—she's really something!"

"Mr. Lancaster, Mrs. Lancaster is determined to divorce you."

"That's not her decision to make!" Tristan said, loosening his tie irritably. "Where did she move to?"

"Mrs. Lancaster didn't say where she went."

Tristan strode out and ordered his driver to start the car.

In the guest room, Harriet had just finished showering and was about to go to bed when her phone rang.

The call was from an unknown number.

Harriet answered, "Hello, who is this?"

"Come downstairs," the familiar cold voice said over the phone.

Harriet's hand froze around the phone. "I've already gone to bed."

"You have ten minutes to come downstairs, or no one in this building will get any sleep tonight."

Harriet stared at the ended call, hesitated for a moment, then changed her clothes and went downstairs.

A black Rolls-Royce was parked in front of the building entrance. Tall and straight-backed, Tristan leaned against the car, smoking.

Harriet approached but kept a safe distance and calmly asked, "What brings you here so late?"

"What do you think? Harriet, did you ignore what I said last night? How dare you draft divorce papers and run away from home?" Tristan took a deep drag from his cigarette. "Get in the car and come home with me now, and I'll let this go."

"Run away from home?" Harriet gave a bitter smile. "Do you think that place is my home? If it were, why would my husband spend his nights with another woman?"

"This is still about Lark. Harriet, can't you be less narrow-minded?"

"So what would make me less narrow-minded? Smiling while watching the two of you together? Continuing to donate blood to her? Or perhaps serving a few more years in prison?" Harriet looked at him. "Tristan, our marriage may have been a business arrangement, but I'm still a human being—not Lark's personal blood bank."

Tristan's lips curled into a cold smile. "So you admit this marriage was a business arrangement. You married me to pay for your grandmother's treatment, and now that she's gone, you're eager to divorce me. Burning your bridges, aren't you?"

Harriet closed her eyes wearily. "Then I'll repay you for every medical expense my grandmother incurred over the past few years. That way I won't be burning bridges, right?"

Anger instantly flared in Tristan's chest. "Say that again!"

Harriet met his furious gaze directly. "Calculate how much it was. I'll write you an IOU and pay in installments. You can set the interest rate."

The moment the words left her mouth, Tristan flicked his cigarette away and strode toward her.