Chapter 84 Which is More Important
"Thanks, Miss Astor," Katniss mumbled.
Bella was always flaunting her tight bond with the Forbes family and her high status. Katniss was used to it by now.
She kept her head down, munching on her food, only taking from the dish right in front of her. She was the first to finish, setting her utensils down and waiting for the meal to wrap up.
Bella was yapping away with Adelaide, mostly bringing up old stories with Tristan, including some funny stuff from her past visits to the Forbes Mansion.
Adelaide stayed cool, tossing in a word or two here and there.
Eventually, Bella picked up on Adelaide's cold vibe and shut up.
The awkwardness broke when Tristan got up to serve Bella some fish and moved a lightly flavored dish in front of her.
"If I remember right, you like this one too. Eat more before it gets cold," Tristan said.
Katniss, still staring at her plate, felt a sting in her chest. She bit her lip and glanced at Tristan as he sat back down, his well-defined hand grabbing a napkin to wipe his mouth.
Every move he made screamed lazy elegance, and his soft gaze landed on Bella.
"Thank you!" Bella was thrilled, her eyes sparkling with joy.
Adelaide shot Tristan a look, her face darkening.
But Tristan seemed clueless, jumping back into the topics Bella had been chatting about.
His smooth voice echoed in the dining room, and Bella quickly joined in, the two of them laughing and talking.
The scene made Katniss's eyes sting.
"I'm done." Adelaide put down her utensils, stood up, and walked over to Tristan, patting his shoulder.
"Memories are precious, especially the ones that are gone forever. If you two don't reminisce about old times soon, you might forget them completely." Adelaide waved at Katniss. "Katniss, don't get in their way. Come with me."
Katniss felt a mix of sadness and amusement, and without looking at Tristan's face, she got up and went to Adelaide's side.
As she followed Adelaide, the silence behind her was so deep she could hear her own heartbeat.
Adelaide led her into the elevator, heading straight to the glass conservatory on the top floor, where rainwater formed curtains on the glass.
With the colorful lights inside reflecting on the blooming flowers, it was unrealistically beautiful.
"Grab the watering can for me," Adelaide pointed to the corner.
Katniss hustled over, grabbed the watering can, and handed it to Adelaide with both hands.
Adelaide took her sweet time watering the flowers, then asked, "How long you been with Tristan?"
"Over three years," Katniss replied.
"What do you think of him?" Adelaide asked, moving ahead and watering more flowers.
Katniss trailed behind, the question throwing her off. She had no clue what to say.
After a beat, she said, "Mr. Forbes is a really competent boss. I admire his decisiveness in business and..."
"Yeah, yeah, he's impressive. I trained him myself," Adelaide cut in. "I don't need you to tell me that. I'm asking what you think of him as a person, you know, off the clock."
Katniss stood there, stunned, her eyes reflecting Adelaide's image as she watered the flowers.
'What is Tristan like in private? Do I even have the right to judge?' Katniss thought.
"Do you think he and Bella are a good match?" Adelaide finished watering, put down the can, turned around, and sat on a vine chair, her sharp eyes locking onto Katniss.
The sound of raindrops hitting the glass filled the air, and Katniss's mind was a mess. "Mrs. Forbes, it's not my place to judge Mr. Forbes's personal matters," she replied.
Adelaide rolled her eyes. "You are so timid."
Katniss just smiled and kept quiet.
The conservatory was filled with the scent of flowers, and the temperature difference caused a layer of mist on the glass. Adelaide looked up at the falling rain, saying nothing more.
An hour later, Adelaide got up from the vine chair, saying, "It's getting late. Go rest. Have Tristan find you a room."
"Okay." Katniss escorted Adelaide back to her room and then messaged Tristan.
She had no idea where Tristan's room was, and it wasn't cool to knock on doors in the Forbes Mansion in the middle of the night.
Katniss: [Mrs. Forbes asked you to sort out my accommodation.]
Tristan replied quickly: [Garage.]
Katniss was taken aback, glanced at the empty living room, and headed to the garage.
The garage was pitch black, with the sound of thunder and rain faintly audible outside. Through the car window, she could see the light from a phone screen reflecting on Tristan's well-defined face.
She frowned, walked over, and opened the car door.
Inside, Tristan sat lazily with his legs crossed, glancing at her. "Get in."
Katniss bent down and climbed in, and before she could sit down, he pulled her onto his lap.
Her hands instinctively braced against the seat behind him, and she was surprised to find the seat warm, indicating he had been there for a while.
"Mr. Forbes, you seriously planning to have me crash in the car?" Katniss asked.
"Of course not." His lips barely moved, his nose brushing against her chin as he tilted his head up. "I'll take you to the guest room in a bit."
Katniss knew exactly what he meant by "in a bit."
"But this is the Forbes Mansion. Aren't you worried Mrs. Forbes will find out?" She met Tristan's sharp eyes in the darkness.
Tristan pressed something, and the garage door locked with a click. "No one will come."
It was clearly a premeditated setup, and Katniss found it kinda funny.
But thinking about how, just an hour ago, he had been all sweet and nostalgic with Bella at the dinner table, and now he was here with her, made her feel a bit chaotic inside.
Tristan, however, was already in action, peeling off her coat.
He kissed her deeply along her lips while unbuttoning her shirt one button at a time.
The car's heater was cranked up, so it wasn't cold. In fact, with the rising heat from their breath, it feel quite hot.
This wasn't the first time they had hooked up in a car, but it was the first time in the Forbes Mansion. The unfamiliar environment added a layer of excitement, making it hard for Katniss to stay focused.
It wasn't until Tristan bit her chest that she gasped and snapped back to reality, looking down at his unsatisfied face.
"Don't get distracted." He began to torment her as punishment, making her involuntarily fall deeper into the moment.
Without the sound of rain, her voice was very clear in the car, driving Tristan wild.
Afterward, she lay limp on the seat while Tristan dressed her piece by piece and tidied her long hair.
His fingertips gently brushed her cheek, and Katniss felt touched by his considerate and gentle side.
If it weren't for the sudden sight of a bank card Tristan pulled out, she might have believed his gentleness was out of love.
It turned out to be just gentlemanly conduct.
Her eyes fluttered, and after a few seconds of hesitation, she smiled and took the card. "Thanks, Mr. Forbes."
Her action of taking the card was very natural, and Tristan's eyes deepened, his voice ambiguous in her ear, "Katniss, which tempts you more, me or the money?"
Katniss's throat tightened. Her heart leaned toward Tristan as a person, but her rationality favored the money he provided.
No matter how she answered, he probably wouldn't be satisfied.
So she asked, "Then between my body and Miss Astor, which is more important?"
A sharp question for a sharp question, resulting in mutual silence.
After a while, Tristan's lips curled into a slightly mocking smile as he pulled out a cigarette.
"Cunning." His voice was clear as he lit the cigarette.
The moment it ignited, the flame lit up his face, his eyes cold.
Maybe he thought comparing herself to Bella was a low blow, Katniss figured. She sat up straight, her shoulder leaning against the car, clutching the card he had given her tightly.
"Is your mom's illness serious?" he asked in the darkness.
"Cancer, just prolonging life," Katniss replied bluntly. She knew it was just a matter of time, with no chance of recovery.
Tristan frowned, turning to look at her. "You never mentioned it before."
Katniss sniffed and asked, "What good would it do to mention it? It would just mean one more person knowing and pitying me."
She had never told anyone about her mom's cancer. Strictly speaking, Tristan was the first.
Some people at the company knew, but that was because Jessica had spread the word.
"There's two hundred grand on the card," Tristan said.
Katniss was taken aback. Two hundred grand was a lot; she was becoming more "valuable."
It wasn't until Tristan finished his cigarette that they got out of the car. Katniss opened the car window to let the hormonal scent dissipate.
"Your room is the first guest room on the left on the third floor." Tristan unlocked the car door, and light gradually seeped in.
Katniss followed him out of the garage, but after a few steps, she noticed a figure standing not far away.
Bella, with red-rimmed eyes, glared at them, her expression both terrifying and pitiful.
"You go back first," Tristan said, walking toward Bella.
"Okay," Katniss responded softly and headed toward the villa. But as she passed Bella, Bella suddenly avoided Tristan and lunged at Katniss.
She tore at Katniss's clothes, hissing, "Katniss! How can you be so shameless? This is the Forbes Mansion, Grandma Forbes is still upstairs, and you..."
Katniss's clothes were in disarray, and the card in her pocket fell out.
At the same time, Tristan pulled Bella away, steadying the nearly falling Katniss.
Bella stumbled a few steps, saw the card on the ground, and couldn't help but laugh. "Bitch."
Katniss's clothes were torn, leaving her exposed. Suddenly, she felt warmth as Tristan's coat draped over her shoulders.
His fresh, pleasant scent wafted over, and Katniss looked at Tristan's tense profile.
"Come with me." Tristan gave Katniss a look, then led the still-muttering Bella away.
Katniss looked at the card on the ground, feeling a sting in her eyes.
As if in a trance, she picked up the card and quickly followed Tristan and Bella.
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