Kate understood Tristan's fear of his mother. She was going to be a mother too. She wanted her child to be simple and have a clear conscience.

She didn't want her child to be as hard, cold, and cruel as the person sitting beside her. But he happened to be the father of her child. She was afraid it could take after him.

She was curious about what he was like when he was younger.

She had seen a picture, a shy teenager with pure eyes. He had been a good person once. What made him change to what he was today?

He said he had too many things in his heart.

What were those things?

This contradictory man had too many riddles, and Kate had never been good at guessing.

After some time, Kate said peacefully and slowly, "My grandma lived to be over 80. In the last few months of her life, she could not recognize people and had a terrible temper. I was the one who spent the most time with her, and she wasn't nice to me. I was sad and thought she didn't like me as she used to…"

Tristan turned to look at her.

"Later, I figured out that she was just sick. Being sick changed not only her body but also changed her mind. She wasn't herself. She still loved me then."

Tristan turned away, and his throat moved a little.

The hot weather left gradually, and the sky seemed thousands of meters higher than before. It was blue, clear, and decorated with some lonesome clouds, which were as white as snow.

When Kate looked up to the sky, she felt better. The thing in her belly had tormented her. It wasn't too big yet, but it was powerful in making trouble. The doctor said that the first three months of pregnancy required special caution, especially for those who were having their first child.

Kate didn't go to school anymore, but she tried to watch video lectures online for a couple of hours each day. She spent the rest of her days taking rest. She usually sat on the balcony in the afternoon bathing in the sun with a book spread on her l.a.p. Most of the time, she didn't read it at all.

It was the day for a regular check-up again.

Tristan was always aware of the check-up appointments even though he always had a full agenda. He went with Kate to see the doctor. He probably enjoyed the feeling of being a father.

The little thing was a few millimeters longer, and the ultrasound outline was clearer. The magic of life brought endless joy to both would-be parents, and the little growth was received with an exclamation.

Hearing the doctor's diagnosis of normal development, they both heaved a sigh of relief. They sought each other's eyes, but when they met, Kate averted hers hurriedly, while Tristan grinned.

After getting out of the hospital, the sun was bright. Kate walked slower than before and minded every step she took. She often looked down to the floor to make sure there wasn't any potential peril.

Tristan slowed down his pace to accommodate her and enjoyed the leisurely stroll. Looking at his watch, he saw it was almost noon.

"I will take you out for a big lunch. Don't you get skinnier and skinnier while the baby gets bigger and bigger."

On the way, Tristan got a call, and after talking for a while, he said OK and hung up. He looked out the window at the clear and cloudless sky. The scenery was so beautiful that one could not bear to waste it.

He turned and said apologetically, "I have something urgent I need to attend to first. Then we will go to lunch."

Kate didn't disagree, of course.

The car went to a remote area and stopped at a gate.

It was a private club with a. A huge garden and a castle-like three-story building. They drove up a long driveway to the house. A male staff member came out to drive their car away, and a female staff member led Tristan and Kate to a lounge on the second floor. She brought tea and deserts and then retreated.

Tristan asked Kate to rest there and eat something while he went out.

Kate had not started to eat, but her stomach was churning again. She had to go to the bathroom. When she was inside the bathroom, she heard footsteps outside, and one said, "Sister, you see the old man who came just now? I saw him on TV. He was giving a speech…"

"Hush. You forgot what the manager said yesterday. Better keep your mouth shut."

The previous one shut their mouth. Then the other one muttered again, "Everyone who comes here is either rich or powerful. Remember, don't fuss about whoever you have seen."

Kate pressed the rinse button of the toilet only after they were gone.

She walked back to the lounge but forgot which door it was. There were many doors, and they were all closed. She was afraid of making mistakes.

Suddenly she thought of Tristan. Was he behind one of these doors?

Soft and slow music filled the air of the room without disturbing the two people who were playing chess. The antique chess pieces were made of elegant black walnut.

One of the pieces was removed from the checkerboard. Tristan checked his watch. His rival detected it and asked, "In a rush?"

He paused and said honestly, "I have an appointment for lunch."

"Woman?"

Tristan smiled.

"Rumor says you have a little girlfriend that you are crazy about. You hang out with her all the time. I didn't believe it, but now I am convinced. I thought we could have a good fight today…" He stopped and said, "What a surprise!"

"Ha, you laughed at me."

"Hey, it is OK. Whatever career a man has, he has to have a family."

"When will you start the position in the state government?"

"It was scheduled to start after the New Year, but I had to put it off. Kane lost one of his men recently. He has a problem with his heart and is on leave now. There are too many cases to leave unattended. I have to cover for him for a while."

Tristan seemed uninterested in his job and switched to the subject that mattered most to him, "Well, I have contacted a top neurologist in New York and sent the medical records to him. There will be a consultation in a couple of days. I have wired payment to that account."

"Thank you very much for your help." The other one sighed, "Ruth has had numerous surgeries these past few years. My heart can never catch a break."

"If this surgery goes well, it will be done for good. You won't have to worry anymore."

Kate ate half a dish of cookies while she was waiting. Vomiting became less frequent, and her eating volume increased as her belly grew bigger.

There was a shelf in the room with arts and crafts. A clear crystal ball with purplish color caught her eyes. She took it up and saw through it. It reflected her deformed face on the curved surface.

Tristan pushed the door and walked in. He saw what she was playing with and said, "Do you like it? Take it if you like."

Kate asked in surprise, "Is it free?"

"Free."

When they finished lunch and were going to leave, Kate heard Tristan tell the staff to put the crystal ball in the bill. She took it out of her purse immediately, but Tristan grabbed it and put it in his pocket, and held her hand out of the door.

After they got into the car, Kate said, "Can they make money with so few customers?"

Tristan laughed and said, "They are selling the quiet and secluded atmosphere here. Besides, they make a pile out of one customer.

Kate was shocked. Were the things they ate so expensive?

Tristan took out the crystal ball from his pocket and gave it to Kate. It was clear with no impurities and even gave a purplish color as you turned around to see all its sides. "Is this real crystal?" Kate asked.

"No. Glass."

The next day, Tristan spent the whole morning at home.

Kate had thrown up three times since she had woken up. She ate a small breakfast and then went back to bed. She lay there with her eyes closed, feeling dizzy.

Tristan stayed with her for a while and then went to his study to work.

While he was reading some emails, he heard the cat crying outside the window. First, it cried once. Later there was a scary cry. Something was wrong.

Laura knocked on the door and came in anxiously, reporting that Lucy was on the roof of the house and could not get down. It was meowing out of fear all this time.

Tristan went out of the house and saw Lucy was at the slope of the roof. It spread its fat body on the roof and grabbed the red tiles helpless with its claws.

The window of the attic was opened slightly. The cat was a lazybones. Did it find a mouse in the attic?

The tiles were smooth, and Lucy had the tendency to slide down. It meowed helplessly.

Tristan asked Laura to take a blanket out and wait there to catch Lucy if she fell down. He went to the attic to rescue it.

Kate went into Tristan's study after Tristan left the room.