Chapter 160 Fondness and Future
Keith's parents were already waiting at the entrance of the Northfield International Hotel. Upon seeing Harper, Addison Bolton immediately enveloped her in a warm embrace and was clearly pleased with her son's choice of a girlfriend.
Harper greeted Keith’s parents after he introduced them. Keith, meanwhile, received a call at the door and signaled them to go ahead.
Addison, with a friendly demeanor, linked arms with Harper and chatted as they walked towards the elevator. After a few steps, Harper noticed a familiar figure, which made her freeze momentarily.
There stood Francis, tall and commanding, surrounded by a group of people who were also heading towards the elevator. Their eyes met briefly before both looked away indifferently. At that moment, Harper's mind echoed with just one thought: 'What a small world!’
Instinctively, Harper hesitated to take the same elevator, so she slowed her pace. Just as the elevator doors were about to close, Francis held them open and looked at them. His handsome face was cold and distant as he asked, " Are you coming in?"
Harper was about to suggest waiting for the next one, but Addison had already pulled her in and turned to Francis to say thanks.
With the elevator doors closed, it grew tense inside. Francis remained silent, and so did everyone else. Addison, still holding Harper's hand, said warmly, "Harper, I liked you the moment I saw you. And we would love to see you and Keith get married soon. We are not getting old and love kids. So..."
Immediately, Harper felt a piercing gaze on her back, which made her uncomfortable. She forced a smile and replied tactfully, "Mrs. Bolton, we're not quite there yet."
Addison laughed, "I understand you young people want to enjoy your time together. But you don’t need to worry about anything when you have kids. I'll take care of everything."
Harper's discomfort grew, but she managed a strained smile.
Finally, the elevator arrived at their floor. Harper practically fled, pulled Addison along, and feared she might say something even more startling. The unexpected encounter with Francis left Harper uneasy throughout the meal. Addison, however, kept steering the conversation towards marriage and children, with each question being more awkward than the last.
Though Harper struggled to respond, she answered each politely. Addison continued, "Don't worry, Harper. I'll make sure your wedding is grand and memorable."
Harper could barely maintain her smile. Addison's every word felt like an urge that they should get married, which explained why Keith was so resisting. To be polite, she smiled without responding.
Midway through, Harper excused herself to take a phone call in need of a break from the overwhelming conversation. In the restroom, she splashed her face with cold water and felt more alert. The encounters with Francis twice in one day had soured her mood. His cutting remark about her being self-deluded still stung her deeply.
How laughable it was that her love meant nothing to him. Fortunately, she had now escaped that torment. To let go in time was such good advice to her.
After calming herself, Harper fixed her hair and reapplied some lipstick to make it look more presentable. As she stepped out, she saw Francis smoking in the corner. Their eyes met through the haze of smoke, and Harper's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't shake the feeling that his gaze held a hint of hostility.
Although she didn't want to run into him, the path back to the private room was unavoidable. Harper reassured herself that Francis clearly had no interest in her today. He was always around women, so she shouldn't worry that he would make things difficult for her. She steadied herself and walked slowly towards him.
As she approached, Francis suddenly shifted his stance, turned to face her, and pressed his cigarette into the ashtray, which effectively blocked her. Harper had no choice but to stop as her gaze drifted to the wall to wait for him to move.
But he remained unmoved for a long time. When she finally looked up, she found herself staring into his cold eyes and her heart pounding wildly. Struggling to maintain her composure, she said calmly, "Excuse me?"
"Where are you going?" he asked and caught Harper off guard.
She quickly regained her composure and replied coolly, "It's none of your business."
It became clear to Harper that he had no intention to move. She didn’t make a scene, so she decided to squeeze by. But as soon as she lifted her foot, he grabbed her thigh, which nearly made her fall. She instinctively reached out to grab Francis.
Seizing the moment, Francis dragged her into the men's restroom. Harper panicked and kicked at him repeatedly. But Francis pinned her against the stall door, which made her back pressed firmly against it.
The luxurious restroom was immaculate with a faint scent of incense. Harper saw her disheveled reflection in the white porcelain tiles, her hair a mess, and her head forced back while Francis remained impeccably dressed, which was a stark contrast to her disarray.
Her eyes reddened with anger. "Francis, you are crazy. Let me go."
Francis gripped her chin to force her to look at him. " Why? You can't be without him for even a minute? What did Keith do to tame you?"
His words dripped with contempt, though only Francis knew he spoke harshly to mask his raging jealousy. Despite his attempts to reconcile, Harper had rejected him without mercy. He had tried everything, from humility to force, but nothing stirred her.
He felt he was losing his mind, yet she could still stab him in the heart. How dare she think of marrying and having children with another man!
His head throbbed as if a drill were boring into it. He squeezed her face and demanded, "Speak."
Harper's cheeks ached from his grip. If she weren't restrained, she would have slapped him without hesitation. "Francis, what's wrong with you? We're divorced. It is none of your business, and what makes you think you can do this to me."
Tears welled up in her eyes, but Harper stubbornly refused to let them fall. "You're lying." Francis' eyes were terrifyingly cold, as if he wanted to devour her. "You said you didn't like him. So what are you doing now? How much do you want a child with him?"
The mention of a child ignited a fury within Harper. Anyone else could misunderstand her, but not Francis. She had once desperately wanted to have his child. Her unborn child had never seen the world because it was taken from her too soon. He didn't understand her but knew how to go another way around.
Why should she be the only one to suffer? Since her affection for another man could wound his pride, why shouldn't he suffer as well?
With that thought, Harper suddenly smiled. "Yes, I do like him. I do want to have his children. What’s wrong?"
It was as if a meteor had struck him, leaving Francis stunned and reeling. He thought, ‘Did she just admit it? She admitted she liked Keith.’
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