Chapter 356 No One Can Discover Our Relationship
The ample sunlight poured into the office, enveloping Benjamin. He glanced sideways at Katniss.
His gaze was so serious that Katniss thought he couldn't answer the question.
But unexpectedly, after just a few seconds, he said, "Love."
There was no follow-up.
Katniss couldn't continue to press him. Being so cruel to someone she loved, asking more would be like rubbing salt into his wound.
"After careful consideration, it's better to leave the matter of setting up the house to Samuel." Benjamin withdrew his gaze. "After all, he's a man. There's nothing wrong with a man supporting a woman, but you're different."
Katniss already had a lot of dangers around her, and many people were watching her.
Once they found out she was supporting a pregnant woman, they would investigate.
Back then, Benjamin's sponsorship of Hazel's college education was not kept secret, and this relationship couldn't withstand scrutiny.
"OK, I'll let Mr. Bennett know." Katniss responded, then chatted a bit about work before leaving.
She told Samuel about Hazel, and Samuel calmly agreed.
Katniss couldn't help but ask, "Benjamin is taking this path, don't you have anything to say?"
"Some people value emotions more than life, naturally there are some who don't." Samuel paused, then added, "Actually, I'm the type who values career more than emotions, otherwise I think we wouldn't have ended up like this."
He had regretted it in his heart. If he had given up his position as Michael's assistant and gone to Nightfall City, he could have gotten closer to Katniss.
But he was worried about losing both his career and the person he was pursuing.
With this mindset, it was equivalent to valuing work and future prospects more than emotions.
"Benjamin's situation is more complicated than mine. He can successfully take over White Corporation, but the White family side is not stable yet. He has to rely on the Adams family, and he can't afford to fall out with them."
Samuel's few words eased a lot of the oppressive emotions in Katniss's heart.
"As a woman, it's normal for you to feel regret, but you can't intervene. In the future, have less contact with Hazel, leave this matter to me."
Katniss nodded in agreement, "Thank you, then I'll leave it to you. For any further steps, just go directly to Benjamin."
In the evening, as she was driving home, she received a call from Rupert.
"Katniss, this afternoon I found a good storefront, the rent is almost settled, and the place used to be a small noodle shop, so we can save on renovations..."
He was excitedly explaining that the preparations for the noodle shop would be completed in about half a month.
From the sound of it, it was very quiet on his end, he was probably hiding somewhere to call Katniss.
"Jessica and I have planned it out. She'll be in charge of the front desk, and since Mom doesn't want to work, she can clean the shop. I'll keep an eye on her every day, she won't be able to slack off..."
Katniss listened attentively, sitting in the car without getting out, a smile uncontrollably forming on her lips.
"Katniss..." At the end, Rupert couldn't help but want to cry, "I will definitely repay you well in the future. You won't have to worry about me anymore, and I'll take good care of Mom, I won't let her bother you."
"I believe you can support a family, and things will only get better."
She wasn't just comforting Rupert, she truly believed it.
Ember was lazy and gluttonous, she had been like that since she was young, she needed someone to keep an eye on her.
In the future, following Rupert, enjoying good food and drink, she would definitely be satisfied.
As for Jessica, once Rupert earned enough money for her to spend, she wouldn't be so petty.
"Katniss, how about you?" Rupert asked softly, "I saw on the news that you and Tristan are entangled again?"
Katniss smoothed her hair, leaned back in the car seat, and said frankly, "It's not entanglement, we're together. Our situation is very complicated, and there are many unresolved issues around us, so we'll try to avoid meeting you often in the future."
Rupert quickly said, "I understand, we'll meet secretly in the future. The shop I found is not far from White Corporation, you can come over for a bowl of pasta after work, no one will discover our relationship."
He made having a bowl of pasta after work sound like a spy movie.
It made Katniss laugh uncontrollably.
She stayed in the car for about ten minutes before getting out.
As soon as she changed her shoes at the door, she heard Evie calling in the living room.
Sophia, holding her, walked over and said, "Look, this little one is so smart, she starts calling around this time, crawling towards the door."
"She probably knows I'm coming back." Katniss quickly walked over and picked up Evie, kissing her repeatedly, "Where's Tristan?"
"Upstairs, seems to have some work to deal with." Sophia sighed, "Aaron isn't here, it feels like something is missing. You should message him, ask when his school has a break, have him come back for a meal. Evie sometimes struggles to go to his room, she must be missing him."
Katniss sat on the bed holding Evie, letting Evie straddle her. The little one lay on her chest, her pupils reflecting Katniss's image.
"Her two little teeth are starting to show, and she looks very cute when she makes those incomprehensible sounds."
"Got it. But when he got into TomorrowTech University, the school mentioned he might have to skip grades. His regular courses are more than those of an average college student. I'll ask him about his fixed class schedule when the semester starts."
She lay on her side and started playing with Evie.
Half an hour later, dinner was ready. Katniss and Sophia were halfway through their meal when Tristan finally finished his work and came down.
He pulled out a chair and sat across from Katniss, his dark eyes giving her a meaningful glance.
"What's wrong?" Katniss's heart trembled under that gaze, feeling like she was being judged for a mistake.
Tristan's tone was as usual, his thin lips curving slightly, "Nothing, you've had a long day at work, eat more."
He placed two pieces of green vegetables, which Katniss disliked, onto her plate.
"I'm full. I'll go to the balcony to collect the clothes." Sophia put down her utensils and left.
The atmosphere among the three in the dining room was not harmonious, especially for Katniss, who was very nervous.
So, whether she was a general manager or not, facing this man's anger made no difference in her anxiety.
"I don't like green vegetables." She threw the greens back into Tristan's bowl, "You eat what you picked."
Tristan still had a piece of meat on his fork, with the greens hanging on it.
He didn't get upset, instead, he ate the greens and meat together.
"Being picky is a problem that needs to be fixed." He swallowed the food, speaking clearly and seriously, "Evie is watching, you are setting a bad example."
Saying this, he picked another piece of green vegetable and brought it to Katniss's mouth, "Come on, I'll feed you."
The stir-fried greens had an indescribable taste. Katniss looked troubled, glancing at the bewildered Evie who was watching them eat, her little fists clenched tightly, wanting to grab the food.
She ate it.
Using this excuse, Tristan forcefully fed her seven or eight bites of greens.
She didn't know what was wrong with Tristan today, why he was 'punishing' her like this.
But later that night, she realized that this was just the prelude to the punishment, the real punishment was just beginning.
"Do you have time tomorrow night?" Tristan asked.
"No." Katniss answered decisively. Tomorrow night was Travis and Ivy's wedding anniversary.
She had promised to go.
Tristan had already put Evie to sleep, and he lay on his side, propping his head with his hand, looking at her, "What's the occasion?"
She hadn't thought of a good excuse yet.
But Tristan had already answered for her, "They don't have good intentions. If you go, you need to be well-prepared."
"You already know?" Katniss turned off her phone, lying on the bed with her head level with his chest, propping her face with her hands and looking at him, "I'm prepared, and I'm not going alone."
She would bring Ryan, and Benjamin would also be there.
But as soon as she finished speaking, her waist tightened suddenly, and she was pulled into Tristan's arms, with half of his body pressing on her.
"Not going alone, who are you taking?" His eyebrows raised, dissatisfaction evident, "Am I an embarrassment to you? Do you think I'm ugly? Embarrassed to take me out?"
What kind of description was that? Katniss's eyes widened, speechless under his intense gaze.
"Who were you talking to on the phone in the car?" He lowered his head an inch, his nose pressing tightly against hers.
Katniss blurted out, "No one, I..."
She instinctively didn't want to tell Tristan that she had given Rupert a million dollars in that way.
Others might find it hard to understand her sibling bond with Rupert, especially after so many years of no contact.
With Jessica and Sophia's influence in between.
Her denial made Tristan a bit unhappy. He bent down and bit her chin.
She gasped, and Tristan roughly covered her lips.
His possessiveness was overwhelming, not giving her a chance to explain.
The only rational thought left was that Evie was lying beside them. When he was about to lose control, he picked her up and took her to the study next door.
Not the bathroom, Katniss thought he was tired of that place.
But pressed against the hard, cold desk, her hands gripping the edge tightly, she was suddenly covered by his hands, their fingers intertwined.
"Am I ugly?" His hoarse voice asked.
Katniss almost laughed, "I never said you were ugly."
She didn't want him to go, simply worried that his sharp and powerful image in people's minds would collapse.
"Then am I good-looking?" He was still not completely satisfied.
Her answer instantly satisfied him, making his heart sweet, "Good-looking, always good-looking!"
Even with a shaved head, he would still be good-looking, with his perfectly sculpted features.
Seeing the pride and satisfaction in his eyes, she laughed at how childish he was despite his age.
Caught by her slightly upturned lips, he teased her again, "Laughing at me?"
The rising tone accompanied by Katniss's melodious voice echoed in the quiet room, especially clear.
Suddenly, Katniss felt something sticky on her fingers, not knowing where he had pressed her hand.
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