Chapter 9 Tristan took Hillary out on a date. The places he chose, however, were all the ones Meredith used to mention-camping, the seaside, the bustling night market. Watching Hillary's carefree laughter, he found himself unconsciously overlapping her figure with the shadow of Meredith in his memory. He couldn't even recall the last time he had taken Meredith out like this. All he remembered was how she had cautiously brought it up over and over, only for him to brush her off with excuses about being too busy. "Tristan, what are you staring at? Come on!" Hillary's cheerful call snapped him out of his daze. "Slow down..." Just as he caught up to her, her phone rang. 'Sis! What do I do?" It was Lester's panicked voice on the other end. 'The hospital fired me! I've been blacklisted across the industry. No hospital will hire me now!" 'What trouble have you stirred up this time?" Hillary's brows furrowed instinctively. Her younger brother had always been a burden. She hac inally pulled strings to get him a job as an anesthesiologist, and now he had ruined it. What else could I do? You told me to take that surgery. The patient ended up in a vegetitative state, and his sister recognized me that same day! It has to be her revenge!" Hillary's nails dug deep into her palm. That wretched Meredith again! If she dares touch you, then go pull the oxygen tube from her brother. Let's see if she still has the nerve to act high and mighty!" _ester sneered. "He's already been taken away. Where am I supposed to find him? I don't care Sis. I've got no job, no money. Transfer me some now." Hillary's face turned pale with fury, but in the end, she silently wired him the money. When she hurried back to Tristan, he immediately reached for her in concern. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" 'No." She shook her head, her voice small and aggrieved. "Meredith won't stop until she destroys me. My brother just got dismissed from the hospital, and even her brother has gone missing..." The anger Tristan that had barely calmed surged up again. "Don't worry. Her little tricks won't stir up any real storm. I'll take care of your brother's work. You just focus on your pregnancy." "But I'm afraid... I feel like Meredith still has something planned." Unease gnawed at Hillary. She was convinced Meredith was holding back some fatal moves, though she had no proof. All she could do was cling to Tristan like a lifeline. Strangely, he felt a flicker of anticipation. The more Meredith pushed, the more it proved she still cared. All he needed to do was wait a little longer. Sooner or later, she would come to him of her own accord. Yes-this time, she had suffered a heavy blow. When she finally broke down and begged, he wouldn't mind granting her another child. The thought curved his lips into a smile. The mood to continue their outing vanished, and he turned the car around to take Hillary straight home. But the days slipped by, and Meredith never reached out. Not a word, not a message. Several times, his hand hovered over his phone, ready to call her, but he forced himself to stop. At a time like this, the first to bow their head would be the one to lose. "Tristan, you haven't spent time with me in so long..." Hillary traced restless circles on his chest with her fingertip. Tristan caught her hand and stilled it, his tone flat. "I've got business to handle. I'll be out for a while." He left her standing there, stunned, as he walked out alone. On the surface, he looked calm, but inside, the panic grew by the day. Even when Hillary appeared before him dressed in something revealing, trying to tempt him, he elt nothing at all.