Chapter 116 As Long As It it Gets Me What I Want
"Go ahead." Katniss didn't bother asking why. She just took Matilda out of the ward and watched her leave with George, letting out a big sigh.
Turning back, she spotted Tristan at the end of the hallway. He had just put out his cigarette and was strolling toward her, his intense eyes locked on her.
"Thanks, Mr. Forbes, for everything these past few days." She forced a smile. "Now that my mom's out of the woods, I'll find a caregiver and get back to work. But tell Miss Astor that if this happens again, I won't let her off, even if it kills me."
Tristan's eyes darkened, and he parted his thin lips, saying, "About this matter, I..."
"I know my limits and what I'm worth, Mr. Forbes. Don't worry, I don't expect you to fight my battles, but don't ask me to forgive Bella." The smile vanished from Katniss's face, her brows knitting tightly, refusing to look at him.
Otherwise, she would've seen the pain in his eyes.
"I'm gonna talk to Damon about the caregiver. Do whatever you want." She nodded slightly and turned to leave.
In the hallway, Tristan's tall figure cast a long shadow in the sunset, his deepening eyes glued to Katniss's back as she stepped into the elevator.
It wasn't until the elevator doors closed and it descended that he looked away, pulling out a cigarette but not lighting it.
He got into another elevator, reached the parking lot, and hopped into his car when his phone rang.
It was Nicholas, and he was pissed. "How could you not tell me about such a big deal?"
He had heard about Bella's actions from Saskia, and what was worse, the Astor family thought Bella was the victim because of her depression.
Tristan clenched the cigarette between his thin lips, started the engine, and drove away from the hospital, his well-defined hand skillfully maneuvering the wheel as he listened to Nicholas's rant.
"What are you gonna do next? You need to choose between Bella and Katniss. Katniss can't take this kind of crap," Nicholas said.
Make a choice? Tristan raised an eyebrow, his eyes growing darker and deeper.
Matilda didn't have much stuff, and it only took her twenty minutes to pack up.
George silently carried the suitcase downstairs, walked out of the studio, and headed straight for his car.
"George." Matilda called out to him, forcing a smile as she walked over to take the suitcase. "I called a car, it'll be here soon. No need to trouble you to drive me. Thanks for taking me to the hospital these past few days. I'll treat you to a meal when I have time."
Her fingers clutched the suitcase handle tightly, and her smile was strained.
"What car? Even if you quit, with our relationship, it's no biggie for me to drive you to your place." George frowned. "Where are you moving to? Is it far?"
Matilda smiled and nodded. "Yeah, so it's even more of a hassle for you. Once I land a new job, I'll invite you over for a meal on my day off."
"At least tell me where you're moving to," George insisted.
Just then, a car pulled up by the curb, honking a few times. Matilda walked over with her suitcase and waved at him. "I'll tell you once I'm settled."
She tossed the suitcase in the back seat and got in, waving at George through the window.
The car slowly drove off. Matilda gave the driver an address, which wasn't too far, just about a half-hour drive.
When she arrived, she paid the fare, got out, and entered a low-end apartment complex, climbing up to the fifth floor.
The driver who brought her didn't leave. He quickly pulled out his phone and called Samuel.
"Samuel, the time has come. Matilda is alone in the apartment she just rented."
On the other end, Samuel was tailing Michael to a meeting. Hearing this, he paused and ducked into a corner. "Find out which floor she's on."
As it got darker, the old apartment complex had crappy lighting, and the room needed lights to see. The driver watched Matilda enter the building and soon saw the light in the fifth-floor living room flick on.
"Fifth floor, east unit," the driver replied.
Samuel was about to tell the driver to leave when he suddenly heard Michael's voice behind him, "Did you find out where Matilda is?"
He stiffened, quickly turned around, and after a few seconds, nodded. "Yeah."
"Where?" Michael frowned at his slow response.
Samuel reported the apartment complex where Matilda was.
Michael turned and headed for the elevator, clearly itching to get Matilda himself.
After a few steps, he turned back to look at Samuel. "What are you waiting for?"
"I'll cancel the meeting." Samuel glanced at the already packed meeting room.
He turned to the meeting room door, gave a few instructions, and then turned back to see Michael still waiting.
He had no choice but to follow, heading straight to the parking lot to drive Michael to Matilda's place.
When they arrived at Matilda's door, she happened to be coming out with a thin blanket. The past few days had made her lose weight.
Her already pale face turned even paler when she saw Michael.
Without giving her a chance to react, Michael stormed forward, shoving her back into the room. The next second, the door slammed shut, cutting off Matilda's startled cry. Samuel, a step behind, quickly took the chance to call Katniss, but there was no answer. He had to settle for sending a message instead.
Just as he finished sending the message, the door cracked open, and Michael's annoyed face appeared. "Since when did you become so slow?"
Samuel quickly pocketed his phone and stepped into the room. Matilda was already knocked out, lying on the sofa.
Katniss had arranged for a new caregiver, someone with years of experience handling patients in similar conditions.
After finalizing the arrangements, she returned to the ward and sat there for half a day, watching the sunset and the neon lights flicker on.
As the lights reflected in countless beams, she finally moved, got up, and turned on the lights.
She then frowned, pulled out her phone to check why Matilda hadn't arrived yet.
Only then did she realize her phone had been on silent mode, with a bunch of missed calls and messages making her eyelids twitch.
She had forgotten that Michael had his eyes on Matilda!
Seeing Samuel's warning message from an hour ago, she bit her lip in frustration and quickly called back Michael's missed call.
The call was answered within seconds, and Michael's voice sounded calm. "I thought you were going to abandon Matilda."
Katniss's voice was icy. "Michael, aren't you tired of using such dirty tricks?"
"Tired or not, as long as it gets me what I want." Michael wasn't fazed by her sarcasm. He glanced at Matilda, who was tied up and unconscious on the bed, and chuckled. "It's been a while since I've seen her. She's quite the looker and has a great figure."
Katniss cut him off. "Enough with the crap. Just tell me what you want me to do."
Michael said, "Leave Tristan."
He had said the same thing last time, but Katniss had managed to slip away then. This time, she couldn't.
Michael added, "Katniss, my patience is running thin. Until you leave Velvet City, you won't see Matilda. If you dare tell Tristan about this, I wouldn't mind taking her for a spin."
Katniss knew she couldn't dodge this time. Her voice was low and angry. "Don't touch her!"
"As long as you do as I say, I won't lay a finger on her. I'll even book your flight abroad and arrange for your mom's care." Michael's casual words sealed Katniss's fate.
But Katniss didn't give him the chance to arrange anything. "I'm not going abroad. I'll find my own place. I need to know Matilda's situation at all times. If you dare touch her, I won't hesitate to go down with you, Michael. I'm more credible than you think and not as submissive as you imagine!"
Matilda was her bottom line, and Michael had really hit her where it hurt this time.
If she appeared too weak, who knew what other messes would follow.
On the other end, Michael was silent for a few seconds before agreeing. "Then I'll wait for your good news."
The call ended, and the cold machines in the ward emitted a steady hum. Katniss stared at the call log on the screen.
Only then did she realize it wasn't a nightmare.
She had to leave.
She had to leave Tristan.
Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, she watched the snowflakes falling outside, the beautiful scenes from a few days ago replaying in her mind like a dream.
On the snowy road, young couples huddled together, laughing and walking slowly along the sidewalk.
After a long while, she moved, put on her down jacket, grabbed her bag, and handed over Sophia's care to the new caregiver before leaving the hospital.
She had planned to quietly pack her things and leave without a word.
But to her surprise, she saw Tristan in the apartment. He hadn't even turned on the lights and was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window.
Hearing the door open, he turned to look at her. Katniss walked over slowly and turned on the entryway light.
From a distance, their eyes met. Her seemingly calm eyes were turbulent as she approached Tristan.
"Mr. Forbes, why are you here?" she asked.
The pungent smell of smoke hit her, and she frowned, glancing at the ashtray full of cigarette butts on the table.
And at his feet, a layer of ash had fallen.
"Got used to come here," he said with his thin lips.
Katniss lowered her eyes, suddenly silent, not knowing how to start.
He put out the cigarette, one hand in his pocket, looking at the snowflakes outside the window, his Adam's apple moving up and down.
After a long time, he turned to her and said, "Katniss, should we give it a try?"
Katniss's eyes trembled, stunned. 'Try what? Being together?' She couldn't believe it.
And just a try? How could she afford to gamble?
A single try would bring immense backlash from the Astor family. What if he found it unsuitable after trying?
She forced a smile. "Try what? Try being together? You know I only love money!"
Tristan stared at her face, the moonlight casting a white glow on her, making her expression clear.
Was it contempt? Mockery? Laughing at him for having this thought?
He grabbed her wrist, pulling her close, forcing her to look at him. "What did you say?"
Her clear eyes reflected his uncontrollable anger.
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