Chapter 113 Some Final Happiness
Tristan's gaze fell on Katniss, noticing her discomfort, and he chuckled lightly. "What? Is there something you don't want me to see?"
"No," Katniss tugged at the corner of her lips and whispered, "The diner owner is really busy, and asking him to find a photo for you is too much trouble. Besides, I didn't look good when I was in college."
A stunningly beautiful woman claiming she didn't look good before—Tristan didn't believe it.
He glanced at the owner who had already gone into the store to look for the photo and said, "Well, I just want to see the 'ugly duckling' phase of you."
His tone was casual, making it hard for her to argue, but she was still very nervous.
It wasn't until the waiter brought the skewers they ordered that Katniss changed the subject. "Let's eat quickly; it won't taste good if it gets cold."
Leaving right after eating, before the owner found the photo, was also a good plan.
She handed two lamb skewers to Tristan and then took a bite herself. "See, just eat like this."
"I just rarely eat it; it's not that I haven't eaten it before." Tristan's brows showed a hint of helplessness. He spread his legs lazily, and suddenly he looked like he was really into eating skewers.
He even asked the waiter for a bottle of beer.
Katniss was somewhat surprised to see Tristan, who seemed like a different person, rolling up his sleeves, drinking beer with one hand, and holding a skewer with the other.
Halfway through eating, he even lit a cigarette.
The swirling smoke mixed with the heat from his thin lips, his delicate features still exuding a cold, abstinent aura.
Those hands holding the cigarette had landed on her waist countless times.
What pulled her back from her thoughts was the owner who came running over. "I found the photo! Look."
The owner didn't even show it to Katniss, placing it directly in front of Tristan.
Tristan switched the cigarette to his other hand and carefully examined the photo with his fingers.
Katniss held her breath, watching his gaze grow deeper as he compared the photo to her face.
Tristan said, "You were indeed ugly before."
She frowned and took the photo from his hand. In the photo, she was standing with the owner and his wife, but because it was from years ago and not well-preserved, it was a bit unclear.
So, Tristan didn't recognize her.
"My wife used to look at it every day. Then she did have a daughter, and she showed it to her, saying she should grow up like this. Kids, you know, playing around, got it dirty." The owner was a bit embarrassed. "Katniss wasn't ugly before; it's just the photo isn't clear."
Tristan smiled warmly. "Right, I was just joking."
"No girl likes being called ugly. You shouldn't joke like that. Enjoy your meal; I'll get back to work." The owner chuckled and tried to take the photo back.
But Tristan asked, "Can I keep this photo? Or maybe I can make a copy and return the original."
"What do you need it for? No..." Katniss's refusal was completely ignored by the two men.
The owner interrupted her directly, "Of course, you can take it. Just give me a copy later; you can keep the original."
The meal left Katniss both anxious and amused. After they finished, the owner insisted on not charging them.
Fortunately, Tristan had the foresight to leave $200 under the plate.
On the way back, Tristan received a phone call, and Katniss vaguely heard something about a hospital.
She noticed his face darken, and she instinctively slowed her breathing.
After he hung up, he spoke after a long pause. "Tomorrow, you go to the Neville family for tutoring. I have something to take care of."
His voice suddenly became cold and clear, his brows furrowed with a hint of irritation.
"Okay." Katniss wisely didn't ask more, thinking to herself that Tristan's car was bought just in time; she could use it first thing in the morning.
The bright moonlight streamed through the window, filling the entire room.
Whether it was the recent peaceful interactions that touched Katniss's heart or the fact that Tristan had been drinking, she didn't know, but she enjoyed this intimacy.
He was persistently making advances, and she was completely responsive.
They went on it again and again, Katniss never thought it could be so wonderful.
Later, she realized it was probably God's way of giving her some final happiness.
In the early morning, Tristan kissed her forehead before getting out of bed, dressed, and left.
She got up too, unable to stop smiling even while brushing her teeth, feeling invigorated despite being exhausted all night.
She changed clothes and drove straight to the Neville family, but halfway there, she suddenly received a call from Samuel.
"Bella is staying at the same hospital as your mother. Her driver told me she already knows your mother is in the VIP ward. Something might happen!"
The moment Michael asked him to investigate Matilda's whereabouts, he knew Michael and Bella couldn't hold back anymore.
Early this morning, the driver told him that Bella and Sophia were staying in the same hospital. Without thinking, he called Katniss.
Even if it was just a precaution, he had to be vigilant.
Katniss's heart sank. Before she could say anything, Samuel said, "Michael asked me to find Matilda's whereabouts. They are getting impatient. Take care of yourself."
After speaking, Samuel hung up the phone and deleted his chat history with Katniss.
Seeing Michael step out of the elevator, Samuel nodded slightly. "Mr. Astor."
"How's the search for Matilda's whereabouts going?" Michael asked, one hand in his pocket as he strode toward his office.
Samuel took a deep breath and said, "We've found her. She's working at George's game studio."
Michael stopped in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, lit a cigarette, and smoked continuously.
It wasn't until the cigarette was almost finished that he said, "Find an opportunity to bring her here."
After hanging up on Samuel, Katniss immediately called Matilda. She planned to pick up Matilda and then head to the hospital together.
Until she figured out how to protect Matilda, she needed to stay with her to feel at ease.
She wasn't far from George's studio, and it only took her twenty minutes to get there after turning around. Without explaining much to Matilda, they headed straight to the hospital.
Seeing Katniss's serious expression, Matilda grew nervous. "Katniss, what's going on? Is something wrong with Mom?"
"No, Mom is fine," Katniss reassured her, seeing her pale face. "I'm worried someone might harm you. I'll explain more when we get to Mom."
She planned to transfer Sophia to another hospital and couldn't afford to explain too much.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the hospital and took the elevator directly to Sophia's ward.
The VIP ward floor housed only five or six patients, with at most a dozen people including caregivers.
At this moment, the hallway outside the elevator was crowded with people.
Besides patients and caregivers, there were also doctors in white coats, nurses, and orderlies.
Through the bustling crowd, Katniss could vaguely see Sophia surrounded in the middle.
Although she couldn't see Bella, she could hear Bella's voice!
"I'm just asking you, is Katniss your daughter?" Bella asked.
"Yes, do you have any business with her?" Sophia retorted.
They were still a step too late!
Katniss quickly rushed over, pushing through the crowd to get to Sophia's side, separating her from Bella.
"Bella, if you have any grievances, direct them at me. Do not entangle my family in this!" Katniss exclaimed.
Seeing her, Bella was stunned for a few seconds before laughing. "Katniss, you brought this on yourself. I came to find your mom to let her know you're a homewrecker!"
She lunged forward, pushing Katniss aside and grabbing Sophia. "Do you know? To pay for your treatment, she has been involved with a married man for a long time! She shamelessly earned dirty money to treat you! Otherwise, how could you still be alive? She's a mistress!"
Bella's face was met with a slap.
She thought it was Katniss who hit her, but after a moment, she realized Katniss had hit her head against the wall when pushed and hadn't recovered yet.
The slap came from Sophia. Bella covered her face, staring wide-eyed at her.
"My daughter would never engage in such behavior. Do you possess any evidence to support your claims?" Sophia demanded.
Bella opened her mouth but couldn't speak.
"And who might you be? You claim she is involved with a married man. Is that man your husband?" Sophia inquired once more.
Bella instinctively shook her head.
Sophia sneered. "You have no evidence, and you're not the victim. What right do you have to insult my daughter?"
In the hallway, Sophia's firm retort left everyone speechless.
Although Bella had no right to question, what she said was likely true.
Countless strange looks fell on Katniss. She smoothed her hair, revealing her face, and looked at Sophia.
Sophia instinctively protected Katniss, one hand still in the position of having slapped Bella.
"Anyone has the right to scold Katniss! Mistresses are despicable and deserve to be condemned. Why shouldn't I say it?" Bella, regaining her composure, fired back. "Now I understand why she could do such a thing. It's because of a mother like you! I remember you're not her biological mother. Did you force her to earn money for your treatment?"
Sophia's body stiffened, trembling slightly, the righteousness in her eyes gradually shattering.
She suddenly shuddered and stumbled. Katniss quickly got up and caught her.
"Mom..." Before Katniss could explain, Sophia suddenly lowered her head, and blood started to trickle from her pale lips, quickly pooling on the floor.
"Katniss, your mom is being driven to death by your actions. You better stay away from Tristan in the future!" Amid the crowd's exclamations, Bella's voice was particularly sharp and harsh.
Katniss glanced at Matilda. "Go get Damon, quickly!"
The onlookers made way, and as they looked towards the elevator, the doors slowly opened, revealing a tall figure stepping out.
Tristan's face was dark, exuding a chilling aura, his gaze falling on Katniss kneeling on the ground.
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