Chapter 239 Katniss, Offering to go
Since coming back to Velvet City, Eudora hadn't returned to her job at Synergy Global Corporation. Tristan's return had brought order back to the company.
So, Travis found himself with more free time, but he was getting more and more uneasy.
"Is your idea of 'not rushing' just watching Tristan and Katniss stay together?" Travis asked Eudora.
Eudora stood in the middle of the living room, looking down and submissive, a total contrast to her usual bossy self in front of others. "Travis, from what I know, Tristan and Katniss are fighting. This is our chance."
Ivy's interest was piqued when she heard this. She popped a cherry into her mouth, spat out the pit, and asked, "What chance?"
"Tristan is a straight arrow. If we stir things up a bit, some things will naturally fall into place," Eudora said vaguely; she didn't want the Forbes couple to know about her dealings with Michael.
Travis frowned and knocked on the table. "Cut the crap. I want to see some real action!"
"Travis," Ivy soothed, patting his chest. "Don't get mad. Leave this to us. Hold on to your shares. I promise Tristan won't take them from you."
To stay within the law, things had to be done step by step.
Ivy was someone who could bide her time.
Hearing this, Travis snorted, shot Eudora a displeased look, and went upstairs.
The large living room was brightly lit, with dazzling lights enveloping Eudora.
Ivy's gaze made Eudora feel like a venomous snake was watching her.
Although Travis had always treated her poorly, Ivy was kind to her.
Yet, she knew Ivy was a really tough character, like a snake!
Ivy asked, "Eudora, I heard you and Michael are pretty close. Do you like him?"
Eudora replied, "He likes me. I didn't expect that after all these years abroad, he still likes me. I just want to use him to get rid of Katniss!"
Unexpectedly, Ivy had immediately seen through her relationship with Michael.
She had no choice but to tell the truth.
Ivy's eyes still held a flicker of suspicion. "I guess you can't really like him. Otherwise, how could you have hurt his sister so badly?"
This statement sent a chill down Eudora's spine. She looked at Ivy in shock.
"Don't forget, I raised you. All the power you have is because of me. What could you possibly hide from me?" Ivy stood up, circled Eudora, and with a flick of her finger, lifted a part of Eudora's shirt.
A hideous scar, partially hidden by her waistband, came into view."The Astor family doesn't want someone who can't have kids. Even if Michael's willing, it won't matter. If you have no plans to escape my grasp with Michael, fine. But if you do..." She gave Eudora's face two hard pats. "I'll tell Michael everything you did to Bella. Do you think he loves you more or hates you more?"
Eudora's cheeks turned red from the pats. She stood straight. "I don't care if he hates me. I only care if I can marry Tristan."
Ivy was very satisfied with her answer. "That's the spirit of the girl I raised. I really like your ruthlessness. Remember, never get emotionally involved, especially with Tristan."
"Of course," Eudora said, meeting Ivy's gaze.
Ivy was extremely pleased. "Alright, then I leave this matter to you. I'll be waiting for your good news."
With that, Ivy went upstairs.
Eudora watched her leave before returning to her room. After thinking for a moment, she took out her phone and called Michael.
The ringing in the dead of night made Michael, who was still working, tense up.
Seeing the caller ID, he quickly answered, "Eudora."
"Michael, do you remember what I told you about Tristan and Katniss fighting?" Eudora's voice sounded extremely alluring in the night.
Michael responded, "I remember. What's up?"
"I just think this is a great opportunity to separate them completely. Do you have any good ideas? It's not convenient for me to act," Eudora's tone was troubled.
After thinking for a moment, Michael said, "Leave it to me. But it seems Tristan isn't interested in Lila. If we drive a wedge between them now, and Tristan becomes single, you'll be in a position to marry him!"
"No," Eudora said decisively. "Tristan only sees me as a sister. He won't accept me easily. Only by separating him from Katniss will he be open to Lila. Don't you think?"
How could he so easily accept someone else when he liked her?
Michael understood this all too well. He had loved Eudora for so many years and had never looked at another woman! "You're right. I'll make the arrangements."
Eudora's tone softened, and her voice through the phone in the dead of night made Michael's heart melt.
But Michael didn't have many people he could use. Now that Tristan was in power, his protective stance towards Katniss was very clear.
The weather was a bit gloomy. On her way out, Katniss put on an extra coat and took Sophia downstairs for a walk.The elevator stopped after descending just one floor. The smile that had just begun to form on Tristan's lips froze when he saw Sophia.
He missed the alone time with Katniss in the elevator that morning and couldn't say anything about it.
"Sir, aren't you coming in?" Katniss asked, holding the elevator door open.
He responded and walked in slowly, standing behind Katniss and nodding slightly at Sophia. "Good morning."
Sophia nodded woodenly, frowning slightly.
When the elevator stopped on the first floor, they all walked out. Katniss, accompanying Sophia, walked a bit slower.
Tristan had to walk ahead, creating some distance between them.
"Katniss," Sophia spoke first, "that man looks familiar."
"Of course. You've seen him before," Katniss replied, guessing that Sophia wouldn't remember seeing Tristan on the marriage certificate.
But it was normal for her to have an impression; after all, Tristan was quite recognizable.
Sophia stood still, blinking a few times. "Where have I seen him?"
"On a document." Katniss gestured with her hand. Seeing Sophia's confusion, she couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, I'll take you to the park. Matilda will get you after she's done with the dishes. Don't wander off; I'll be late for work."
She helped Sophia to the park, letting her exercise alone, and then returned to get her car.
From a distance, she saw that Tristan's car was still there. The window was half down, and his well-defined hand hung out, holding a cigarette. The swirling smoke couldn't obscure his chiseled face in the rearview mirror.
She walked over to his car, standing a couple of steps away. "Aren't you going to work?"
"Come here," Tristan said, extinguishing his cigarette and tossing it into the trash can, beckoning her with a hand.
She hesitated before walking to the car door. "What? It's daylight; don't do anything crazy."
"If you don't give me a chance at night, I'll have to take it during the day." With that, Tristan grabbed her neck, leaned out, and kissed her hard.
Katniss couldn't do anything against him. She pushed the car door with all her might, but it was useless.
He finally let her go after kissing her, showing some restraint.
His thin lips were stained with her freshly applied lipstick, and her lips were flushed from the kiss.
"I'll drive you," Tristan said hoarsely.
Katniss wiped her mouth and said, "No need, I can drive myself."
If she could lose a layer of lipstick outside the car, how could she keep herself intact inside?Seeing her guard up, Tristan chuckled lowly, but she didn't give him a chance to mock her further and turned to her car.
She took out her lipstick from her bag to touch up her makeup, ignoring Tristan's car still parked there, and drove off.
She had said no to sleeping with him, and for two or three days, Tristan hadn't even touched a strand of Katniss's hair.
In September, school started.
Back in Nightfall City, she used to tutor from Monday to Friday evenings so she could spend weekends with Sophia.
Now, following a normal tutoring schedule, she tutored three students one-on-one on weekends and recorded online classes from Monday to Friday.
With other tasks added, she was incredibly busy.
Matilda's leg injury had healed, and after returning, she took over many of Katniss's duties, giving her some breathing room. "Katniss, there's an invitation to an educational seminar at a hotel in the suburbs of Velvet City. A veteran professor in the field organizes it, and I heard many parents will attend. Should we go?"
Attending such events could help raise the profile of their educational institution.
Katniss checked the time. It was on Friday evening, and she could clear her schedule in advance. "Alright, let's go together."
Matilda immediately started organizing the work for the next few days to prepare for Friday.
While Katniss was busy, the Tudor family was constantly in the news.
The Tudor family had greedily invested in a project, locking up all their funds and facing a financial crisis.
Families that had good relations with the Tudors were now avoiding them.
Experts predicted that if the Tudors didn't inject funds within a week, they would face bankruptcy.
Saskia came to discuss this with Katniss and brought some good news. "Nicholas and Isla's wedding is off. But Nicholas told his dad he wanted to be with me, and his dad broke his leg. He's in the hospital now."
Katniss's mouth twitched. "Is that good news? He's injured! Which hospital is he in?"
Saskia didn't seem to care. "Of course, it's good news. He may have a broken leg, but he got me."
From her tone, Katniss thought that it seemed they were really together.
"Send me the hospital's location. I'll visit tonight," Katniss said.
Then she called Tristan to ask him to visit Nicholas with her that evening.
Tristan had already sent Ryan to deliver a care package to Nicholas and thought Katniss was busy.
But with Katniss offering to go, he wouldn't refuse. "I'll pick you up tonight."
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