...Sejumput dingin menjalar di punggung Holly Sinclair. Rasanya seperti ada yang menatapnya tajam-tajam. Ia berbalik dan mengira-kira sekeliling, tapi tak ada wajah yang ia kenali. "Holly, gimana kabar kalian sama Tristan lately?" Tepat saat kebingungan itu mengganjal di kepalanya, suara lembut Brandon Sterling memecah keheningan. "Sepuluh hari lagi kami ambil surat cerainya," jawab Holly Sinclair ringan, tanpa berniat menyembunyikannya. "Kakek tahu?" "Tahu." Sehelai kekhawatiran menyamarahi alis Brandon Sterling. Ia menatap Holly dengan simpati. "Holly, pernikahan itu bukan main-main. Kamu yakin mau melepaskan semuanya?" "Aku yakin!" kata Holly Sinclair tegas, lalu menyedot suap buburnya. "Tapi kamu begitu sayang sama Tristan. Mampukah kamu beneran melepaskan dia?" "Cinta nggak bisa dipaksa. Aku nggak nyesel." "Menurutku kamu tetap perlu pikirkan lagi..." "Aku sudah pikirkan baik-baik!" Brandon Sterling masih ingin membujuknya lagi. "Tapi—" "Brandon!" Holly Sinclair meletakkan sumpitnya, ekspresinya merengut. "Oke, oke, aku diam." Brandon Sterling sadar kekhawatirannya sudah berlebihan. Ia segera mengganti topik. "Ini, ikan kukusnya enak sekali. Coba sedikit." Sambil bicara, ia menyodorkan sepotong ikan ke piring Holly. Wajah Holly Sinclair akhirnya sedikit melunak. Saat ikan itu masuk mulut, rasa amis samar memenuhi indra pengecapnya. Perutnya langsung bergolak. "Hac—" Holly Sinclair buru-buru menutup mulutnya dan mengeluarkan mual kering. "Kamu kenapa?" Melihat itu, Brandon Sterling langsung cemas. "Nggak apa-apa..." Ia mengernyit tidak nyaman, satu tangan menekan dadanya, wajahnya pucat. "Baru saja kan kamu baik-baik saja? Kok sakit lagi?" Brandon Sterling sangat khawatir. Holly Sinclair tidak berkata apa-apa, sementara perutnya mulai bergoncang hebat. Makin lama Brandon Sterling mengamati, makin curiga. "Holly, gejala-gejala kamu ini..." "Hac..." Sebelum kalimatnya selesai, Holly Sinclair already menjepit mulutnya dengan tangan dan bangkit, bergumam, "Maaf, Brandon, aku mau ke toilet." Begitu kalimat itu meluncur, ia meraih tasnya dan bergegas menuju toilet. "Baik," balas Brandon Sterling, matanya sedikit menyipit saat menatap punggung Holly yang menjauh, ekspresinya penuh pertimbangan. ...Holly Sinclair menghabiskan lebih dari sepuluh menit di toilet sebelum rasa tidak nyaman di perutnya perlahan reda. Wajahnya pucat, sudut matanya merah, dan ia terlihat lemah serta sakit. Setelah menarik beberapa tarikan napas dalam, ia akhirnya mengumpulkan tenaganya dan melangkah keluar. "Ah!" Tapi tepat saat kakinya melangkah keluar, sebuah tangan besar mencengkeram pinggulnya. Di tengah pekik terkejutnya, seorang pria tinggi dan mengesankan setengah menyeret, setengah menggendongnya pergi. Itu Tristan Sterling. "Lepaskan!" Wajah Holly Sinclair membekukan, gigi berdesis. Tristan Sterling mengabaikannya total. "Tristan Sterling, lepaskan!" Dengan marah, ia menghantamkan tasnya ke kepala Tristan dengan keras. DUG! Bunyi dengkung kedengaran. Tristan Sterling mengernyit kesakitan. Ia melirik ke belakang, tatapannya gelap dan menakutkan. Holly Sinclair tak memedulikannya, memutar pergelangan tangannya dengan keras untuk melepaskan diri. Tapi efeknya justru sebaliknya. Makin ia melawan, makin erat Tristan mencengkeram. Tak lama, ia sudah menyeret Holly ke sebuah ruang privat yang kosong. Begitu pintu tertutup, Tristan Sterling menempelkan Holly Sinclair ke pintunya. Jari-jarinya yang panjang mencekik dagunya, dan api membara di matanya. Api kemarahan dan kecemburuan. "Ngh..." Holly Sinclair mengerang kesakitan. Rasanya seperti rahangnya mau hancur. "Aku sudah bilang kalau kamu harus menjauh dari dia. Katanya kan nggak pernah masuk ke telinga?" Ia menggeram, mata gelapnya menyipit berbahaya saat ia merapat ke bibirnya. "Tristan Sterling, kalau kamu sakit di kepalanya, pergilah berobat!" Holly Sinclair memaki, murka. Apa sih yang bikin dia meledak-ledak kali ini? Tristan Sterling sendiri pun nggak tahu apa yang salah dengannya belakangan ini. Ia selalu tenang dan terkendali, terampil mengatur emosi, tapi perempuan di hadapannya ini selalu berhasil memprovokasinya dengan mudah. Ingatan tentang interaksi mesra mereka dengan Brandon Sterling membuat api tak bernama di dadanya makin berkobar. "Sesak banget kamu?" Wajahnya yang tampan menggelap, seperti langit yang tertutup awan badai, menekan hingga sesak. Mereka bahkan belum resmi bercerai, tapi dia sudah sepelan itu mencari pengganti? Dan penggantinya itu Brandon Sterling! Memahami sindirannya, wajah Holly Sinclair makin pucat. "Tristan Sterling, kamu jijin!" Ia menatap balik, matanya merah oleh amarah. Dia sendiri pezina tanpa malu, jadi dia pikir semua orang juga tidak punya kompas moral? Satu kata itu—jijin—memejamkan Tristan Sterling sepenuhnya. "Kalau begitu siapa yang nggak jijin buat kamu? Brandon Sterling? Kamu pikir dia semacam orang suci?" Tristan Sterling memancarkan aura ganas, kental dengan ancaman. "Dia lebih baik dari kamu, setidaknya!" Holly Sinclair terkekeh dingin, balasan tenangnya. Bukan tempatnya menilai apakah Brandon orang baik atau tidak. Semua yang dia tahu, sejauh ini, Brandon tidak pernah menyakitinya. Tapi Tristan Sterling... pria itu sudah melukainya di luar perbaikan. Jadi salahkah dia berpikir Brandon lebih baik dari pria itu? "Lebih baik dari kamu? Hah~" Tristan Sterling tertawa marah, tapi senyum di bibirnya sedingin es musim dingin. "Holly Sinclair, pakai otakmu. Dia cuma memanfaatkanmu!" "Apa yang bisa dimanfaatkan dari aku? Tristan Sterling, kamu pikir semua orang seenakanmu yang nggak tahu malu?" "Nggak tahu malu?" "Bukan?" Kilatan dingin berkedip di matanya. "Ulangi!" "Kamu nggak tahu malu— Mmph..." Bibirnya disegel dengan sebuah ciuman. Tristan Sterling sudah dalam mode merah. Mendengar dia terus berkata hal-hal yang menyakitinya, hanya satu pikiran yang menguasai pikirannya. Diamkan dia. Paksa! Ciuman mendadak itu membuat pikiran Holly Sinclair kosong sesaat. Dia memang tahu Tristan nggak tahu malu. Tapi nggak pernah dia bayangkan Tristan akan sesombong ini! Nggak pernah terbayangkan bahwa di kondisi mereka sekarang, pria itu masih mau menciumnya. Tristan Sterling hanya bermaksud menyumpalnya dan menghentikan Holly dari membangkitkan kemarahannya, tapi saat bibirnya menyentuh bibir Holly—selembut dan seladen itu—ia tak bisa menarik diri. Ia harus mengakui. Ia merindukan rasanya. Pertemuan mereka lebih dari sebulan lalu memberinya sensasi yang belum pernah ia rasakan. Sekali tercapai, tak akan terlupakan. Tristan Sterling tidak menganggap dirinya pria yang didorong hasrat, tapi saat memeluk Holly kini, pikirannya dibanjiri bayangan malam itu... Ciuman itu makin dalam. Holly Sinclair tak bisa挣脱, merasa seperti akan sesak napas. Penolakan dalam dirinya begitu kuat hingga memicu reaksi stres fisik. Holly Sinclair tiba-tiba mendorong Tristan Sterling sekuat tenaga. "Hac... Bleurgh..." Ia jongkok, disambar gelombang mual kering. Tristan Sterling membeku, alisnya berkerut. "Kamu kenapa?" Ada nada cemas di suaranya. Ia mengulurkan tangan untuk membantunya bangkit. "Pergi sana!" Tapi ia menepis tangannya. Tapi Tristan bukan tipe yang gampang ditolak begitu saja. Ia mencengkeram lengannya untuk menariknya berdiri. "Aku antarkan ke rumah sakit—" PLET! Holly Sinclair langsung berdiri dan membentaknya keras-keras. "PERGI SANA!" Ia menjerit di balik air mata, murka total. "Tristan Sterling, berhenti berpura-pura khawatir! Aku nggak mau!" Tristan Sterling menjilati pipinya yang panas, nadanya es. "Holly Sinclair, kesabaran saya ada batasnya." Balasan Holly Sinclair adalah melemparkan tasnya ke arah Tristan. Tas kulit itu menghantam dadanya sebelum jatuh ke lantai. TENGKEL! Gesper tas itu terbuka meleset, isinya berhamburan ke lantai. Termasuk hasil tes kehamilannya. Lembaran itu mendarat tepat di kaki Tristan Sterling. Mata gelap pria itu menyipit, tatapannya jatuh pada selembar kertas itu. Sebelum Holly Sinclair sempat bereaksi, ia melihat Tristan menunduk meraih hasil tes kehamilan itu.
Bab 133: Tristan Sterling Melihat Hasil Tes Kehamilan
Silakan terjemahkan menggunakan fitur browser bawaan kamu.
...
A chill ran down Holly Sinclair’s spine.
It felt like someone was staring daggers at her.
She turned and looked around but didn’t see anyone she knew.
"Holly, how have things been between you and Tristan lately?"
Just as she was feeling puzzled, Brandon Sterling’s gentle voice broke the silence.
"We’re getting the divorce certificate in ten days," Holly Sinclair replied nonchalantly, not trying to hide it.
"Does Grandpa know?"
"He knows."
A hint of worry clouded Brandon Sterling’s brow. He looked at her with sympathy. "Holly, marriage isn’t a game. Are you sure you want to give up on it?"
"I’m sure!" Holly Sinclair said firmly, taking a sip of her congee.
"But you love Tristan so much. Can you really bear to let him go?"
"You can’t force love. I have no regrets."
"I still think you should think it over carefully..."
"I’ve thought it over very carefully!"
Brandon Sterling wanted to persuade her further. "But—"
"Brandon!"
Holly Sinclair put down her chopsticks, her expression souring.
"Okay, okay, I’ll stop."
Brandon Sterling realized he had overstepped with his concern and quickly changed the subject. "Here, this steamed fish is excellent. Try some."
As he spoke, he placed a piece of fish on her plate.
Holly Sinclair’s expression finally softened a little.
As the fish entered her mouth, a faint fishy taste filled her senses.
Her stomach immediately churned.
"Gag—"
Holly Sinclair quickly covered her mouth and let out a dry heave.
"What’s wrong?"
Seeing this, Brandon Sterling asked with immediate concern.
"Nothing..." She frowned in discomfort, one hand pressed to her chest, her face turning slightly pale.
"Weren’t you fine just a moment ago? Are you feeling sick again?" Brandon Sterling was very worried.
Holly Sinclair didn’t say anything as her stomach began to roil violently.
The more Brandon Sterling watched, the more suspicious he became. "Holly, these symptoms of yours..."
"Gag..."
Before he could finish, Holly Sinclair clamped her hand over her mouth and stood up, mumbling, "Sorry, Brandon, I need to use the restroom."
Tossing out the words, she grabbed her bag and hurried toward the restrooms.
"Okay," Brandon Sterling replied, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched her retreating back with a thoughtful expression.
...
Holly Sinclair spent over ten minutes in the restroom before the discomfort in her stomach finally subsided a little.
Her face was pale, the corners of her eyes were red, and she looked weak and sickly.
After taking a few deep breaths, she finally gathered her strength and walked out of the restroom.
"Ah!"
But just as she stepped out, a large hand clamped around her waist.
Amid her cry of alarm, a tall and imposing man half-dragged, half-carried her away.
It was Tristan Sterling.
"Let go!"
Holly Sinclair’s face was frosty as she gritted her teeth.
Tristan Sterling ignored her completely.
"Tristan Sterling, let go!"
Furious, she slammed her purse down hard on his head.
THUD!
A dull thud sounded.
Tristan Sterling winced in pain, his brow furrowing.
He glanced back at her, his gaze dark and terrifying.
Holly Sinclair paid him no mind, twisting her wrist violently to try and break free.
But it had the opposite effect.
The more she struggled, the tighter he gripped her.
Soon, he had dragged her into an empty private room.
The moment the door closed, Tristan Sterling pinned Holly Sinclair against it. His long fingers seized her chin, and a blazing fire raged in his eyes.
It was a fire of anger and of jealousy.
"Ngh..." Holly Sinclair groaned in pain.
’It felt like he was about to crush my jawbone.’
"I told you to stay away from him. Do my words just go in one ear and out the other?" he hissed, his dark eyes narrowed dangerously as he moved closer to her lips.
"Tristan Sterling, if you’re sick in the head, go get it treated!"
Holly Sinclair cursed, furious. ’What is he freaking out about now?’
Tristan Sterling didn’t know what had been wrong with him lately either.
He had always been calm and restrained, skilled at controlling his emotions, but the woman before him could always provoke him so easily.
The memory of her intimate interactions with Brandon Sterling made the nameless fire in his heart burn even hotter.
"Are you that desperate?"
His handsome face was dark, like a sky blanketed in storm clouds, suffocatingly oppressive.
’They weren’t even divorced yet, and she was already so desperate to find his replacement?’
’And that replacement was Brandon Sterling!’
Understanding his implication, Holly Sinclair’s face grew even paler.
"Tristan Sterling, you disgust me!"
She met his gaze, her own eyes red with fury.
’He was an unfaithful scumbag himself, so did he think everyone else had no moral compass, just like him?’
Her single word, "disgusting," completely enraged Tristan Sterling.
"Then who doesn’t disgust you? Brandon Sterling? Do you think he’s some kind of saint?" Tristan Sterling radiated a murderous aura, thick with danger.
"He’s better than you, at least!"
Holly Sinclair let out a cold laugh, her retort calm.
’It wasn’t her place to judge whether Brandon was a good person or not.’
’All she knew was that, so far, Brandon had never hurt her.’
’But Tristan Sterling... he had wounded her beyond repair.’
’So was she wrong to think Brandon was better than him?’
"He’s better than me? Hah~"
Tristan Sterling laughed in anger, but the smile on his face was as cold as winter ice. "Holly Sinclair, use your brain. He’s just using you!"
"What is there about me to use? Tristan Sterling, do you think everyone is as shameless as you are?"
"I’m shameless?"
"Aren’t you?"
A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Say that again!"
"You’re shame— Mmph..."
He sealed her lips with a kiss.
Tristan Sterling was seeing red.
Listening to her constantly say things that displeased him, only one thought consumed him.
’Shut her up.’
’Forcefully!’
The sudden kiss made Holly Sinclair’s mind go blank for a moment.
’She knew he was shameless.’
’But she never expected him to be this shameless!’
’She never would have dreamed that he would still kiss her, not in their current situation.’
Tristan Sterling had only meant to shut her up and stop her from angering him further, but the moment his lips touched hers—so soft and sweet—he couldn’t pull away.
He had to admit it.
He missed the taste of her.
Their encounter over a month ago had given him a taste of unprecedented pleasure.
Once tasted, never forgotten.
Tristan Sterling didn’t consider himself a man driven by desire, but holding her now, his mind was flooded with images from that night...
The kiss deepened.
Holly Sinclair couldn’t break free, feeling as if she was about to suffocate from his kiss.
Her inner repulsion toward him was so strong that it triggered a physical stress reaction.
Holly Sinclair suddenly shoved Tristan Sterling away with all her might.
"Gag... Bleurgh..."
She squatted down, overcome by a fit of dry heaves.
Tristan Sterling froze, his brows knitting together. "What’s wrong?"
There was a note of worry in his voice.
He reached out to help her up.
"Get lost!"
But she swatted his hand away.
But he was never one to be dismissed so easily. He grabbed her arm to pull her up. "I’ll take you to the hospital—"
SLAP!
She shot to her feet and gave him a resounding slap across the face.
"Get lost!"
She shrieked through her tears, utterly enraged. "Tristan Sterling, cut the fake concern! I don’t want it!"
Tristan Sterling poked the inside of his stinging cheek with his tongue, his tone icy. "Holly Sinclair, my patience has its limits."
Holly Sinclair’s response was to hurl her bag at him.
The leather purse hit him in the chest before falling to the floor.
CLATTER.
The clasp on the bag burst open, and its contents scattered across the floor.
Including the pregnancy test report.
It landed right at Tristan Sterling’s feet.
The man’s dark eyes narrowed, his gaze falling upon the piece of paper.
Before Holly Sinclair could even react, she saw him reaching down to pick up the pregnancy test report.
Komentar Chapter (0)
Login buat ikut berkomentar.
Belum ada komentar di chapter ini. Jadi yang pertama!