Chapter 111 I Know Where They Are
"I'll handle the cash stuff. You just figure out when to quit your job and find a new gig," Sophia said, wiping away Matilda's tears even as her own started to fall. "From now on, take good care of Katniss. You two gotta have each other's backs."
It sounded like a goodbye, making Matilda freak out a bit. "Mom, why are you saying this all of a sudden? What's going on?"
Realizing she was too emotional, Sophia wiped her tears and suddenly smiled. "It's nothing. I just got a bit too worked up. Today is your birthday. Ask George for some time off, and I'll take you out to celebrate."
"Okay." Matilda immediately messaged George for leave, and he agreed without a second thought.
Knowing Katniss was at work, Sophia and Matilda didn't bother her all afternoon.
But Sophia didn't forget about Katniss. She and Matilda planned to surprise her at Oakwood Hills in the evening.
They got to Oakwood Hills at six but waited until eight without seeing Katniss.
Matilda couldn't wait any longer and called Katniss, but the call was hung up after a few seconds.
Then Katniss texted back: [I won't be off work for another hour. I know it's your birthday. Are you at the hospital? I'll go straight there after work and bring a cake.]
Katniss remembered her birthday.
Seeing this, Sophia immediately told Matilda, "It's so late, don't let her come over. Let her eat the cake for you, and we'll get together another day. Come on, take me back to the hospital."
Following Sophia's instructions, Matilda replied to Katniss, adding that Sophia was tired and wanted to rest now.
Matilda called a car to the community gate and headed straight to the hospital.
At the corner of the community gate, a low-profile SUV had been parked. Inside, a pair of eyes watched the departing taxi and immediately made a call.
"Miss Astor, we've been waiting at Katniss's community gate for so long without seeing Mr. Forbes or Katniss. But I did see Katniss's sister Matilda and a middle-aged woman, probably Katniss's sick stepmom."
"Follow them! Find out which hospital they're going to, and try to figure out which room she's in!"
After the incident at Grand Era Mall, Bella hadn't seen Tristan. He didn't answer her calls or messages, so she had someone stake out Katniss's house!
Her gut told her that Tristan was with Katniss. But she couldn't find any proof.
After hanging up, Bella threw her phone on the bed and turned to see Michael standing at the door.
She immediately stood up, instinctively clutching her clothes. "Michael, why didn't you say anything when you came to my room?"
"What have you done now?" Michael asked.
Bella bit her lip, her eyes turning red. "Michael, I can't find Tristan. He must have left me."
When she cried, Michael's heart softened, and his stern expression eased. "Sit down and talk slowly. No matter what happens, I'm here."
"I saw Katniss at Grand Era Mall. I couldn't help but confront her..." Bella recounted what happened at Grand Era Mall.
The more she spoke, the more upset she felt. "What does Tristan mean by this? Has he fallen for Katniss? Why else would he help her? He's ignoring me now. Is he spending all his time with Katniss? I've had people watching Katniss's house and Serenity Estate for days, and neither of them has been home. Where could they be?"
Michael squinted his eyes, then raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I underestimated Katniss. Tristan is protecting her. Now you see why I told you not to bother Katniss and just stay with Tristan?"
'Tristan has become serious,' Michael thought.
"What should I do?" Bella regretted it. At least she used to see Tristan every day! Now she hadn't even heard his voice for days.
She anxiously furrowed her brows, her eyes darting around in panic. She stood up and paced the room, shaking her head and then nodding. "I can't let this happen. Tristan can't treat me like this. He still likes me. He's just angry that I left him years ago. I shouldn't have left."
"Bella!" Michael's eyes changed. He got up, took some medicine and water from the bedside, and handed them to Bella. "Calm down and take your medicine."
"I don't need medicine! I don't need it anymore. Tristan is back. I don't need to take medicine. He's my cure!" Bella waved her hand, knocking the medicine out of Michael's hand. She backed away until she was cornered against the wall, unable to move.
Michael's eyes were dark and pained. He picked up the medicine from the floor and gently coaxed, "If you take your medicine and calm down, you can see Tristan. Otherwise, you'll scare him."
"I..." Bella touched her cheek and asked seriously, "Will I scare Tristan? Will he run away from me? I'll take the medicine. Just make sure Tristan doesn't leave!"
Bella was on the edge, totally losing it. She snatched the meds from Michael's hand and popped them in her mouth, not even bothering with water.
A little while after taking the meds, Bella crashed out.
Michael left her room, thought for a bit, then grabbed his coat and drove off, calling Nicholas to meet him at D.V.
Nicholas, hearing about a small get-together, agreed right away. But when he got to the D.V. private room and saw only Michael, he realized Tristan wasn't there.
"Where's Tristan?" He paused, then casually walked over and sat down.
Michael poured a drink and slid it over to Nicholas. "Failed to invite him. His phone's off; he's probably busy."
Nicholas gave a wry smile, looking at the drink but not touching it. "What's the point of us drinking alone? Let's reschedule."
He stood up, grabbed his coat, and was about to leave.
"No need to rush off." Michael's casual remark made him stop.
He turned back, watching Michael pull out a cigarette and offer it. After a few seconds of hesitation, he took the cigarette, lit it, and took a drag. "What do you want?"
Michael sighed lightly, patting his shoulder. "Just curious why you don't think Bella and Tristan should be together. They had a good thing going back then. I know Bella's got a temper, but she's not all bad."
If Bella had been a bit more ruthless and smarter, Katniss's situation would have been much worse.
The only times Bella had an advantage were when Michael stepped in, proving that Bella wasn't very smart.
Nicholas knew this too and he said, "Their relationship was never that good."
"Bella liked Tristan since high school. They got together in college, and they grew up together." Michael flicked the ash from his cigarette, speaking confidently.
Nicholas sneered. "I can guarantee you, if it weren't for Katniss, and if Bella hadn't run off back then, they might have gotten married. Tristan needed a wife to fend off his parents' arranged marriage. Aren't you aware that the Forbes family has arranged for him to marry Eudora?"
Mentioning Eudora, Michael's eyes deepened. He raised his glass and clinked it with Nicholas's. "Makes sense. Let's drink."
Talking about the past made Nicholas nostalgic. Though it had nothing to do with him, he had watched it unfold step by step.
He downed his drink in one go, and before he could set the glass down, Michael refilled it.
"So you're saying Tristan didn't really like Bella back then, just wanted to dodge marrying Eudora?" Michael asked.
Nicholas nodded without hesitation but quickly shook his head. "I don't know if he liked her or not. Part of it was because of Eudora. But he's not a fickle guy. Whether he liked Bella or not, he was committed. Who knew Bella would run off?"
Nicholas couldn't stop mentioning Bella running off, showing how much it bugged him.
Michael was silent for a few seconds, clinked glasses, and drank.
He kept steering the conversation to topics that made Nicholas nostalgic, making him drink after every few sentences.
An hour later, Nicholas was sitting on the floor, hugging Michael's leg and grinning. "I remember you had a thing for Eudora back then. But she went abroad for over ten years. Do you even remember what she looks like?"
"No." Michael's thin lips parted as he spoke, glancing at the drunken Nicholas. He smirked and added, "We've talked so much about the past. It's a pity Tristan isn't here. I wonder what he's doing now."
Nicholas hiccuped, his cheeks flushed, eyes half-open. "Where's Tristan? Where is he? Get him over here!"
He shook Michael's leg, shouting to bring Tristan over.
Michael steadied his shoulder. "I don't know where Tristan is. It's like he's disappeared. Can't see him, can't reach him. And Katniss is missing too."
"Hmm?" Nicholas's effort to open his eyes was comical. He suddenly grinned slyly. "I know where they are."
The cold wind howled, and snowflakes fell heavily, covering the road in white.
Katniss stepped out of Grand Era Mall and saw Tristan standing by the roadside with a black umbrella. His black coat and trousers contrasted sharply with the white surroundings.
Tristan's features were perfectly sculpted, his gaze cold but softening the moment he saw her. He smiled slightly and walked over, shielding her from the falling snow.
She wore a red down jacket, her figure still slender. Snowflakes fell on her loose hair, and he gently brushed them away until they disappeared.
"Are you cold?" he asked.
She nodded, glancing at his outstretched hand, palm up.
"Come." He gestured for her to place her hand in his.
This scene played out almost daily. She was familiar with it, naturally placing her hand in his, letting him tuck their hands into his coat pocket.
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