Chapter 153 Get Out
Harper had just finished her shower and had deliberately put on a conservative nightgown that reached her ankles. But now, because Francis had unceremoniously thrown her onto the bed, her dress was hiked up and revealed her long, fair legs. The nightlight cast a soft glow on her skin.
Francis' eyes darkened. He knelt on the bed, and the fabric of his suit pants tightened instantly.
Harper sensed something was wrong. She pushed him with trembling hands, and her voice was shaking as she said, "Francis, what are you doing? Are you crazy? We're divorced. You can't..."
Before she could finish, her wrists were already pinned above her head by his strong hands. "I am crazy." When his bipolar disorder flared up, he was just a step away from losing his mind. For the past two years, his life had been satisfactory, and his work had been smooth, so he had managed to control it well. But recently, his bipolar disorder had been worsening, and most of the time, even medication couldn't immediately suppress it.
His voice was cold, like the prelude to a storm, and carrying a chill as he said, "Harper, you know what I care about. Don't push me over the edge."
In an instant, Harper's mind went blank. She didn't want to provoke him. Her lips trembled as she explained, "No, I didn't have sex with him. Francis, don't touch me."
But her compliance came too late. He was already suspicious and couldn't be reassured. Francis knew he should stop, but he couldn't control himself. He reached out and said, "Harper, let me check. I won't touch you."
Harper felt deeply disappointed. Her hands were restrained, but she could still use her mouth. She turned her head to bite his arm until she tasted blood in her mouth, but it was to no avail. Francis was too strong for her.
Suddenly, her delicate brows furrowed tightly, and her eyes reddened. "I hate you," she cried. The next second, tears of humiliation streamed down her face, which turned deeply red.
Francis got the answer he wanted. His anger dissipated, and his expression relaxed. He cupped her face like a precious treasure and kissed away all her tears. "I'm sorry, Harper. I really am crazy."
Although Harper was tall, she had a small frame. Curled up, she looked even more fragile. Her long nightgown, which was wrinkled, had a different kind of allure. Francis' Adam's apple bobbed as he remembered it had been a long time since he had made love with her, and he now craved it intensely, especially after what had just happened. But it was definitely not the time. It would only make her more resentful.
He held her gently and asked, "Are you hurt? Do you need to go to the hospital?"
Harper lay curled up on the bed and was trembling with anger. He had said he wouldn't force her into sex, but he had used his hands to explore her body in order to check if she had had sex with anyone recently. She struggled to stay calm. Her voice was quivering as she said, "Get out."
"Harper, I'm sorry. It's all my fault for letting Keith provoke me."
"Francis, don't you understand what I said? Get out."
She was still shaking, and her voice was weak and lacking authority, but the disgust in her words was unmistakable. Her body was stiff in his embrace. Francis thought for a moment and then released her as he said, "I'll leave. If you feel uncomfortable, let me know."
Harper ignored him and didn’t even want to show any expression. She buried her face in the blanket. Francis seemed to say something about coming back tomorrow, but Harper didn't catch it and didn't care. After the door closed, she slowly got up from the bed and felt her every step hurt. He had been so rough just now, which reminded her of the pain she felt the first time they made love.
She called Molly, and her voice was soft and weak. "Molly, may I stay at your place for a few days?"
"Of course," Molly immediately agreed, but she sensed something was off in Harper's voice and asked, "What's wrong, Harper?"
"Nothing. Also, could you help me find a reliable agent to list my apartment? The sooner, the better. I need the money."
Molly knew something must be wrong with Harper, but it was hard to discuss over the phone, so she decided to ask later. After hanging up, Harper started packing her things. And that’s when she felt a wave of discomfort. She had thought that getting divorced would bring her peace, but Francis just wouldn't let her go.
She didn't believe he had truly liked her. At most, he was fascinated with her body. He still saw her as his possession and couldn't tolerate anyone else close to her. But losing her baby had been a devastating blow to her. She couldn't go through that again. Since their relationship was over, they shouldn’t get so close.
Her mind was a mess, and she couldn't think of a good solution, so she decided not to think about it at all. Ultimately, she was determined to cut ties with him and make it clear that there was no chance of reconciliation.
The next day, Harper moved into Molly's apartment, which was conveniently close to her workplace. She briefly explained the situation about selling her apartment to Molly but didn't mention the $500,000 she owed Francis. If she did, Molly would definitely try to help, but Harper knew the Koch family was also struggling. Molly was busy seeking investments and wasn't ever better off than she was.
After composing herself, Harper went to report to Carter Education Company. Carter Education Company was a tutoring agency, and its CEO, Carter Evans, was a bespectacled man in his forties who seemed very kind. Harper valued the flexibility of tutoring. And she didn't need to stay in the office all day. As long as she prepared the necessary materials, she could work at home.
She went to the office and handed over the high school review plan to Ava Davis, the team leader who had interviewed her last time. Ava told her to wait at her desk. As a newly hired tutor in the company, Harper didn't have the privilege to select her own students. Instead, she had to wait patiently for the parents to choose her as their child's tutor.
In the afternoon, Ava gave her an address and told her that the parents were very satisfied with the materials she had prepared and wanted to interview her. As she was about to leave, Ava suddenly called her back and advised, "Harper, the child in this family is a bit special. It's not just them interviewing you. You should also interact with the child. If you feel it's not a good fit, I can reassign you."
On the way, Harper reviewed the information and found that the employer was quite wealthy. They offered $8,000 a week for six lessons. If she could get this job, she could pay off the money she owed Francis in less than six months after selling her apartment. This filled her with hope. And she could start preparing for her plan to study abroad sooner than expected.
When she graduated from college, her mentor highly recommended that she apply to prestigious universities abroad for her master's degree. Unfortunately, she had been blinded by love and turned down the offer. Now, after the divorce, she realized the importance of education and knew she needed to improve herself.
Soon, she arrived at the gate of a luxurious riverside villa. A butler greeted her, offered her a cup of coffee, and instructed, "The master is still in a meeting. Please wait here and don't wander around."
Harper nodded and knew how impolite it was to wander around other’s houses without permission. However, the employer’s meeting lasted a long time, and Harper eventually fell asleep on the sofa. When she woke up, it was already dark outside. She sat up in a panic, and her eyes were still hazy from sleep. She looked up and met a pair of deep-set eyes.
"Mrs. Sackler?" Rhodes was sitting across from her and asked in a calm tone, "You're awake?"
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