Chapter 273 The Victim of the Aristocratic Struggle
Adelaide's eyes were a bit red as she looked at Katniss.
Katniss was momentarily dazed and instinctively pulled her hand back, suddenly feeling that Adelaide was somewhat unfamiliar.
A bad premonition arose in her heart. She bit her lip and lowered her eyes, frowning tightly, as the document she had just signed flashed through her mind.
"Katniss, I'm already very happy that you agreed to have a child for Tristan at this time. I've been planning for this day for seven years, and it's finally coming true. Seven years and $140 million is worth it. How many people don't even make $14 million in their lifetime?" Adelaide suddenly spoke, her tone not as affectionate as usual.
The words were somewhat confusing. Where did the $140 million come from?
Wasn't it $28 million on that document? And wasn't that document already voided?
Adelaide continued, "From $28 million to $140 million, your request isn't unreasonable. After all, it's a gamble with your life, and it could end up with both lives lost. I'm giving you the money so that after you have the child, you can stay out of trouble and not covet things that don't belong to you!"
At that time, Katniss looked up and saw the tall figure at the entrance of the restaurant.
Tristan's handsome features were filled with coldness as he frowned and stared at them, listening to every word Adelaide had just said.
Katniss stood up abruptly and shook her head at Tristan. Before she could speak, her action caused Adelaide, who had her back to Tristan, to look up.
"What are you doing? Are you regretting the agreement you just signed? $28 million to $140 million is already my limit. Don't push your luck!" Adelaide also stood up, her eyes blazing with anger, her voice even more furious.
It seemed like Katniss was the one pushing her luck!
"Can someone explain to me what's going on here?" Tristan stared at Katniss, seeing her at a loss for words.
His chest was filled with anger as he strode over and threw a sealed bag on the table.
It was transparent, and the writing on it was visible: [Due to the Forbes family's complex situation, the pregnancy agreement was changed from $28 million seven years ago to $140 million. I, Katniss, guarantee that after safely giving birth to Tristan's child, I will only take $140 million and will not covet the Forbes family's property.]
In Tristan's hand, there was also a copy of a marriage certificate, clearly showing him and Katniss.
She was the woman he had married seven years ago?
She had hidden it from him for seven years!
He could accept it. He had even found a reason for her. She didn't know how to bring it up, so she never said anything.But what about this $140 million deal?
Tristan was barely holding it together, his neck veins popping and his body shaking.
"Tristan?" Adelaide finally noticed him, turning around to see him storming towards Katniss. She quickly stepped in front of Katniss. "Calm down, think about me. I'm doing this for you. This has nothing to do with Katniss. You've come this far. Just fulfill my wish. I just want you to have a child..."
Before she could finish, Tristan yanked Katniss out from behind her.
His fingers gripped Katniss's wrist tightly, his eyes searching her face for answers.
"I believe you. Explain!" he demanded.
This was a standoff. Katniss knew if she said Adelaide tricked her into signing the agreement, Tristan would believe her!
Adelaide must have known how much Tristan cared for Katniss, to the point where no misunderstanding could break their bond.
But what was in that bowl of soup?
Katniss didn't know. She only knew that when she tried to speak earlier, her voice was gone.
Tears streamed down her face, blurring Tristan's features, but in his rage, they didn't matter.
"Tristan, you have to understand the situation. Your wedding is in seven days. Nothing can go wrong. You've been together for so long, she might already be pregnant, you..." Adelaide was still dodging the main issue.
Tristan didn't care about that. What he cared about was that this was all a big, fat lie!
Katniss was just a pawn Adelaide used to get him a child.
She was willing to marry into the Forbes family and have a kid, not because she loved him, but for the money!
"Speak!" Tristan growled, his voice low. "You are the woman she chose to marry me seven years ago. It's my fault for not knowing. I can accept that you didn't know how to tell me. But this—she forced you, tricked you into signing it. You married me not for the $140 million, not to have a child, but because you love me! Just say one word, and I'll believe you!"
"Tristan, can you wake up?" Adelaide snapped, "She might use this to ask for more money!"
Katniss was about to grind her teeth to pieces. She used all her strength, wanting to say a word, but couldn't even open her mouth.
"You only have this one chance to explain, Katniss!" Tristan raised his voice, squeezing her wrist painfully, wanting her to look up and answer him directly!
She was forced to lift her head, yet she remained silent.
She watched as the hope in Tristan's eyes faded, gradually becoming empty of warmth.The grip on her shoulder suddenly loosened, his hand falling away as he leaned against the nearby cabinet, his gaze lowered to hide all emotion.
She reached out, wanting to grab his hand, but he instantly pulled away.
His face showed clear hatred and disgust. "The wedding in seven days is off. Don't ever let me see you again."
Hearing this, Katniss felt a sharp pain in her heart and quickly grabbed Tristan's arm, shaking her head repeatedly. She opened her mouth and pointed at Adelaide.
Tristan's sidelong glance was cold, and her anxious demeanor appeared to him as nothing more than a joke.
"What? Disappointed you can't get the $140 million?" Tristan grabbed Katniss's wrist in return, his thin lips parting slightly, his anger making his cruelty evident. "Even if I were to find someone to have a child, it wouldn't be you. You're not worth $140 million!"
When it came to feelings, he was serious.
Tristan turned slightly, his back showing determination and despair, and he walked away briskly.
His car sped off, disappearing in just a few seconds.
The room fell silent, and Katniss could hear her own heartbeat thundering in her chest.
Her gaze shifted slightly, landing on Adelaide's face.
Adelaide lowered her head, not daring to look at Katniss, her body staggering and almost falling. Royce quickly rushed over to support her.
Katniss watched as Royce helped Adelaide to a chair. Then, he took a vial of clear liquid from his pocket and handed it to Katniss. "Miss Grey, this is the antidote. Rest assured, it won't harm your body."
Katniss took it and drank it down. The colorless, tasteless liquid slid down her throat, but it couldn't erase the pain caused by her earlier efforts to speak.
Royce continued, "I hope you can understand Mrs. Forbes. She likes you very much, but she had no choice. She had to prioritize the Forbes family and Mr. Forbes..."
"In your high-society power struggle, I'm just someone you used, a sacrificial pawn, right?" Katniss's voice was filled with endless coldness.
Adelaide lowered her head, tears welling up, unable to speak.
Royce had to speak again, "Miss Grey, Mrs. Forbes will compensate you. We hope you can forgive..."
"I understand, but I'm not a kind person. I can't forgive." Katniss couldn't shake the image of the hope in Tristan's eyes turning to despair.
He only needed her to say one word, but she couldn't.
She turned and walked out.
Yet Adelaide suddenly grabbed Katniss's wrist. Katniss halted and turned back, seeing Adelaide shaking her head. "Katniss, don't look for him anymore. Travis has..."
"I don't want to hear the truth." Katniss interrupted Adelaide. "No matter how helpless or heart-wrenching your reasons are, I can't forgive."She pushed Adelaide's hand away, the light in her eyes dimming.
The midday sun shone on her, but she felt no warmth.
She hadn't had a chance to see the wedding room, didn't know what the wedding photos looked like, or if the wedding dress was beautiful.
Was her smile sweet? Was the affection in Tristan's eyes genuine and deep?
Would he believe her if she explained now?
It was too late. Even if Katniss couldn't find the words to explain at that moment, Tristan was utterly disappointed, declaring that she wasn't worth $140 million. Those words echoed in her mind, unshakeable.
Katniss returned home at two in the afternoon. Aaron was still at school, so she went straight to her room and sat down on the floor.
Letting the sunlight shine on her, she stared at a spot on the floor, lost in thought.
Even after seven years, she remembered clearly that on the day she got the marriage certificate with Tristan, he wore a gray suit.
He was very aloof, never seriously looking at her.
If he had taken a moment to really look at her or remembered her name, would so many things have turned out differently?
When Katniss went to Synergy Global Corporation, Tristan would have simply fired her, and their relationship would have ended—like two intersecting lines.
There was only that brief moment of intersection before they went their separate ways.
As night fell, Katniss curled up on the carpet, hugging her legs, the cold seeping into her body, but she didn't move.
Reporters were particularly focused on the wedding on December 6th, constantly checking with the hotel for updates, only to be told by the hotel that the wedding had been canceled.
When this news broke, Matilda and Sophia panicked. That was already two days after Katniss had disappeared.
Matilda rushed downstairs, only to encounter a realtor showing the house to potential buyers.
"What happened to the people who used to live here?" she grabbed the realtor and asked.
The realtor, somewhat puzzled, said, "You mean Mr. Forbes? He sold the house. I'm showing it to potential buyers."
With that, the realtor shook off Matilda's hand and continued showing the house to the customers.
Matilda went back upstairs to the opposite door and saw Katniss's slippers at the entrance, looking like they hadn't been worn in a long time.
She panicked and instinctively called George.
But she forgot that she and George were still in a cold war. As soon as she dialed his number, he hung up on her.
Not knowing what had happened between Katniss and Tristan, Matilda didn't dare call the police lightly and quickly called Saskia.
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