Chapter 20 Slap! Tristan's eyes burned with fury as his hand cracked hard across Hillary's face. She clutched her cheek, staring at him in disbelief. "You... you dare hit me!" "Why wouldn't I? You think I'm the same as you? I was blinded by your lies!" His voice was icy, each word cutting like a blade. "Get out. Don't let me see you again." Enraged, Hillary lunged at him, raising her hand to strike back. But Tristan shoved her away with all his strength. She stumbled, lost her balance, and crashed into the edge of the glass coffee table. The sharp crack of the shattering glass filled the room. Pain tore through her back and belly at once. She gasped, then collapsed, falling unconscious. At first, Tristan thought she was faking. But when blood pooled beneath her, his heart lurched He shouted for the butler to rush her to the hospital. After the examination, the doctor's tone was grave but calm. "Because of the emotional shock and the violent impact, the child couldn't be saved. But you're both still young. There will be other chances." Tristan only felt the faintest tremor in his chest-no grief, no devastation. Even he was startlec by his own indifference. He had once looked forward to this child. But ever since Meredith left everything had changed. Somewhere along the way, this baby had stopped being a hope and hac ›ecome a shackle binding him to Hillary. When his mother heard the news, she rushed over immediately. After confirming the results again and again, she struck him hard between the shoulders. You ungrateful brat! You couldn't keep Meredith's child, and now you've lost Hillary's too! M Door grandson was gone!" She wept and cursed, beating him in her grief. Tristan neither moved nor resisted. His voice came out cold, sharp with disdain. Isn't this what you wanted? To hold me up in public, yet secretly dote on your old lover's bastarc son?" You-what nonsense are you spouting?!" Her voice rose, but her strength faltered. He sneered. "Am I wrong? All these years, you've been embezzling company funds to raise that llegitimate son, dreaming of handing the entire Palmer family over to him. Every transaction-l