Chapter 117 You're a Total Playboy
Katniss locked eyes with him, her lips twitching. "I told you, I only love your money. Everyone else might think you're the bee's knees, but to me, you're just a walking ATM!"
Tristan felt like he'd been hit by a ton of bricks, his heart shattering into pieces.
His brows knitted together, a cold aura radiating from him.
But she wasn't done. Her red lips kept moving, spitting out words he didn't want to hear. "Besides your cash, I don't like you at all. You've got a wife at home, Bella in your heart, and me in your bed. You're a total playboy. If it wasn't for the money, do you think I'd stick around?"
He suddenly let go of her wrist, making her stumble and fall onto the wicker chair, her long hair falling messily over her face.
Through the strands, she saw the veins popping on Tristan's forehead, his jaw clenched tight.
She'd never seen him this mad, especially not at her.
He loosened his tie with a flick of his long fingers, then pinched the bridge of his nose.
Suddenly, he bent down, hands gripping the edges of the wicker chair, glaring down at her. "Katniss, I've treated you well all these years, haven't I? And all I get is being called a 'playboy'?"
He laughed bitterly, his hands gripping the chair so hard they turned white.
He wanted to tear this heartless Katniss apart!
Katniss curled up, letting him rage. Beneath her messy hair, warm tears slipped down her cheeks.
They fell into the hollow of her neck, quickly turning cold.
The smell of smoke faded; Tristan had stormed out, wearing just a thin shirt, kicking a small stool out of his way with a loud crash.
His angry figure disappeared through the door, the low hum of a car engine fading away.
The door was left open, cold wind blowing in and hitting Katniss's cheeks, but she didn't seem to feel it.
Her empty eyes stared at the dimly lit room, filled with memories despite the short time she'd lived there.
The sudden ringing of her phone shattered her thoughts. It was Michael calling.
But it wasn't Michael who answered; it was Matilda. "Katniss, don't worry, I'm fine!"
Katniss choked up, "Okay, hang tight. Once I settle things, he'll let you go."
"Okay." Matilda's voice was shaky, not saying much more.
Then Michael took the phone, demanding Katniss sort everything out by tomorrow, and then hung up.
They were still at Matilda's place, a newly rented house with no food or drink. Samuel had tried several times to use the excuse of buying food to go out. But Michael had stopped him each time.
One of their guys brought dinner for the three of them, plopping it down on the coffee table. Michael told Samuel to untie Matilda and bring her over to eat.
Samuel walked into the bedroom, untying the ropes on Matilda's hands while whispering, "Don't worry, as long as you play nice, he won't hurt you."
Matilda hesitated, glancing at him before quickly looking away.
Her determined eyes held deep emotions, making Samuel frown. He wanted to say something, but she was already busy untying the ropes on her feet.
Once free, Matilda bolted to the living room like a gust of wind.
The wooden sofa didn't even have cushions, and Michael's fancy demeanor seemed totally out of place in the shabby house.
He didn't even sit down, just stood in the middle of the living room smoking.
The weak tungsten light above cast a dim glow, with a few small bugs flying in the swirling smoke.
Matilda grabbed a nearby vase and hurled it at Michael, catching him off guard and hitting his forehead.
The wound from the car accident, which hadn't healed yet, started bleeding again, contorting his face in pain!
"Michael, you jerk! What are you forcing Katniss to do now?" She rushed over and grabbed Michael by the collar. "You and your sister are both scumbags. Bella made my mom a vegetable, and you still have the nerve to bully us?"
Michael, regaining his composure, pried her hands off, frowning at the reckless Matilda. "If Katniss had been more sensible earlier, you wouldn't be in this mess!"
"Do we owe you anything? Just because we're from a lower background, we deserve to be bullied by you? What gives you the right to control our lives? Are you threatening Katniss with my life? Then I'll die right in front of you! I won't be a burden to Katniss!"
She ran toward the window. Though it wasn't very large, it wouldn't be hard for her to break through and jump out.
Samuel quickly ran over and blocked her, standing in front of the window!
"Mr. Astor isn't threatening anyone's life. He doesn't do murder!" Samuel shouted.
Matilda, crashing into him and falling to the ground, was stunned for a few seconds by his words, then turned to look at Michael.
Michael's gaze was dark, somewhat shocked. "You two aren't even real sisters," he said.
"So what?" Matilda raised her head, fearlessly looking at him. "Are you trying to use my purity to threaten Katniss? Then go ahead! It's the modern age; I don't care!"
She had only one thought in her mind: not to cause trouble for Katniss.
She got up and started tearing off her clothes, pulling up the last piece of her undershirt, just exposing her flat stomach.
Samuel quickly took off his coat and wrapped it around her, pushing her back into the bedroom, whispering, "Don't be stupid. Katniss has already agreed to Mr. Astor's demands. Pissing him off won't help!"
After saying that, he stepped out and closed the bedroom door.
In the living room, Michael was still standing there, the blood from his forehead glaringly bright.
He held a tissue in his hand, gently wiping the warm liquid from his forehead, but he seemed to feel no pain.
At the Forbes Mansion, Katniss stood in the living room, facing Adelaide, who looked serious. Between them was a divorce agreement.
Since she was leaving, the marriage had to end, but she didn't have the guts to hand the divorce papers to Tristan herself.
"Sorry for keeping this from you for so long, and thanks for letting me play Mrs. Forbes for a while. But I know I'm not good enough for Mr. Forbes. I've already signed the divorce papers. I hope you can approve," Katniss said.
Adelaide was somewhat surprised, but only by the divorce papers. Her tired eyes shifted slightly.
She stood up from the sofa, speaking with authority, "Divorce it is, but I can't be bothered to look at your divorce papers. Wait here, I'll have a lawyer draft a new one. You will leave with nothing."
Without giving her a chance to refuse, Adelaide went upstairs, leaving Katniss standing alone in the living room.
She waited for an hour. The lawyer arrived in a hurry and went straight upstairs to discuss something with Adelaide.
Another hour passed before they came downstairs, placing a new divorce agreement in front of Katniss.
The document looked thick. She pursed her lips and was about to open a page.
Adelaide snorted coldly. "Do you really need to read it? Besides you, what else could the Forbes Family care about?"
Katniss's face turned slightly red. She watched as Adelaide flipped to the last page of the divorce agreement, pointing to a spot. "Hurry up and sign."
She picked up the pen and signed, with Adelaide watching closely.
As soon as she finished, Adelaide took the divorce papers and handed them to the lawyer. "Alright, leave with nothing. Go wherever you want."
"Goodbye." Katniss felt a chill in her heart. She had expected Adelaide wouldn't refuse her divorce. But she hadn't expected her to be so eager, even fearing she might claim the Forbes Family's assets.
She quietly left. Her departing figure lingered in Adelaide's eyes until it disappeared, prompting a long sigh from Adelaide. "Tristan, this is as far as I can help you."
"Mrs. Forbes, did you know all along that Katniss was Mr. Forbes's wife?" The butler was somewhat surprised.
Adelaide snorted, "Because she was Tristan's wife, she could become Tristan's special assistant."
The butler was even more surprised.
Adelaide glanced back at the divorce papers in the lawyer's hand, took them, and tore out the initial and final sections, leaving only the page with Katniss's signature.
"This must be kept safe," said Adelaide.
Leaving The Forbes Mansion, Katniss drove to a café where she had arranged to meet Nicholas.
After waiting for about half an hour, Nicholas arrived and sat across from her, smiling. "What's the sudden call about? If Tristan finds out you met me privately, I'll be in trouble."
"Mr. Kennedy, please help me return these things to Mr. Forbes, including the car outside." Katniss pushed a small box toward Nicholas, along with the keys to a BMW.
The box contained the property deed for the Oakwood Hills apartment and the jewelry Tristan had given her.
They were valuable, but she didn't want to keep them because she didn't want to stoop that low.
Nicholas's face immediately tightened. He sat up straight, looking at her. "What do you mean?"
"Just what it sounds like. I hope Mr. Kennedy can do me this favor." Katniss pushed the box closer to Nicholas.
After a long while, Nicholas leaned back on the sofa, sighing. "I never thought you two would come to this."
'If we didn't come to this, what else could we do?' Katniss thought and pressed her lips together, the curve of her lips bitter and forced.
Seeing Nicholas accept the box and car keys, her heart sank. "Thank you, Mr. Kennedy, for all your care. I'll be leaving now. Farewell."
She took her bag and left. Outside the café, she glanced at the eye-catching BMW, her eyes filled with reluctance.
Then she turned and walked toward the bus stop. The black wool coat couldn't withstand the biting cold wind, and her body quickly grew cold.
Returning to Oakwood Hills, she picked up her packed luggage. Just as she stepped out, she saw Rupert stopping his electric bike at the door.
Seeing Katniss with her suitcase, he quickly parked the bike and ran over. "Katniss, where are you going?"
As he got closer, he saw her red and swollen eyes and immediately frowned. "Did they bully you? Tell me, and I'll go teach them a lesson!"
He turned to leave, but Katniss quickly ran a few steps to catch up with him. "Don't go. No one bullied me. I'm fine. It's just that because of my mom's illness, I'm planning to go to Nightfall City."
Rupert's eyes reddened suddenly, but he felt a bit embarrassed and looked away. "I heard from Jessica that you were leaving, so I rushed over. Luckily, you haven't left yet."
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