Chapter 170 I Have Nothing to Do with Him
Noah didn't dare to resist, either. After coming down, he used his routine tactic of denying everything.
"I never said that. My dad knows I don't like reading. Why would I have asked you to get a book?"
With his back to Rhodes, he made a face at Harper, rebellious and defiant.
"Ms. Sackler, you're framing me."
Facing Noah's accusation, Harper remained calm and directly shook her phone.
"I just recorded it."
Noah's expression changed instantly.
"You wicked woman, you set me up!"
Harper calmly replied, "You should never give me the chance."
Noah was furious and looked at Rhodes with rare anticipation. "Dad, do you believe her?"
Rhodes's face remained indifferent, and after a moment, he spoke.
"Lie down."
Immediately, Noah deflated like a punctured balloon, his face extremely grim.
"No," he shouted.
Rhodes looked at him quietly and asked, "Do you want to go back to Aurora?"
With that one sentence, Noah seemed to be immobilized, slowly lowered his head, and lay down.
Rhodes held a ruler in his hand and stroked it hard and aloud.
He hit Noah three times.
Noah didn't feel much pain, but he felt utterly humiliated.
Noah had just turned eighteen a few days ago and considered himself a man.
He never thought he'd still get spanked, especially in front of his governess.
Thinking about this made his eyes redden, and he shouted angrily, "I didn't mess with any of you."
Then, he ran back to his room.
Harper truly didn't expect Rhodes to punish Noah this way, but sometimes Noah was indeed too naughty, and she also felt like spanking him.
The matter was over and had nothing to do with her.
Harper pondered for a moment and said, "Mr. Getty, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Rhodes put on his coat, walked ahead, and said, "I can give you a ride."
Harper hesitated for a second, thinking how to refuse.
After all, he was her student's parent and Francis' uncle, which made her reluctant to get involved with him.
When they reached the door, a golden car was already half-started.
The window rolled down, and Rhodes glanced at his watch, looking like he was in a hurry, and said, "Get in."
It seemed he was indeed going the same way. If she refused again, it would seem pretentious, so Harper got in the car.
With a two-door car, she could only sit in the passenger seat. After fastening her seatbelt, the car sped up.
During a red light, Rhodes suddenly spoke, "How about a talk?"
Harper was slightly taken aback, thinking he wanted to talk about Noah. "Go ahead."
"What did you see just now?"
Harper didn't expect him to be so direct, and her face showed a bit of embarrassment as she did not know how to answer.
Rhodes' voice was as calm as usual, and it seemed he was saying hello, something mundane.
The study's light was too bright, and she saw Rhodes' tense thigh muscles and his excellent abs leading down to his groin. She saw it all!
Honestly, he had a really good physique.
But she couldn't admit that; it was too awkward.
"I didn't see it clearly."
After saying that, she felt it was wrong. Not seeing clearly implied she had seen something.
Harper quickly corrected herself, "I didn't see anything."
Rhodes' eyes clearly showed disbelief, but the green light came on, and he had to start driving.
Harper's ears were burning, and she took the opportunity to add, "Don't worry. From now on, I won't go anywhere except Noah's room."
Rhodes looked straight ahead and said indifferently, "I don't have a woman around, but occasionally I have needs."
Harper was utterly confused. They weren't close enough to discuss such topics.
He didn't need to explain to her, and she didn't want to hear it.
Harper didn't like ambiguity, so she asked directly, "What do you mean?"
Rhodes paused for a moment and then explained, "After all, you're Noah's governess. It's always good to maintain a proper image in front of you."
Harper looked at him with clear eyes and said, "Mr. Getty, I only care about my student, not his parent. You don't need to worry about me."
"I know that different roles have different responsibilities, and boundaries must be clear!"
Rhodes gripped the steering wheel tightly and said as his tone was calm, "Noah is a bit unruly, but he's not a bad kid at heart. Please be patient with him."
Harper nodded and said, "Don't worry. I will."
"Not just academically, but also in terms of character."
"Alright, you don't have to be so polite. I haven't had the chance to thank you for helping with my grandmother. I'll teach Noah well as a way to repay you."
The light turned red.
Rhodes turned his head, his eyes unabashedly observing her, and suddenly chuckled, "Your words are polite and distant. I thought you had forgotten about me."
Harper sincerely thanked him, "No, I am very grateful for what you did at the hospital. I won't forget it."
Rhodes wasn't there to collect a favor, so he changed the subject and said, "I'm not your uncle right now, so you don't need to be so polite."
"What?" Harper didn't expect him to mind this.
She thought about it and realized she didn't need to be so formal with him.
Rhodes glanced at her and said, "You and Francis..."
Mentioning Francis made Harper's shoulders and neck involuntarily tense, and she quickly clarified.
"No, I have nothing to do with him."
Seeing her agitated and disdainful expression, Rhodes was about quite sure she hadn't moved on.
He responded indifferently, "I didn't say you had anything to do with him."
For the rest of the trip, they were silent.
Harper turned her head to look at the stars outside the window. The moonlight illuminated her face, making it white, which made her look even fairer and more delicate, like jelly, clear and beautiful.
Rhodes glanced sideways, and this scene entered his eyes.
Her face gradually overlapped with his memories.
Without showing any emotion, he slowly retracted his gaze.
After arriving at the destination, Harper got out of the car and politely thanked him.
Since it was on the way, she didn't feel much burden.
She waited for a while, seeing that Rhodes hadn't left, and followed his gaze forward.
What she saw stunned her.
A black Maybach was parked at the entrance and its lights were turned off, like a lurking beast.
Francis was leaning against the car, one long leg bent and the other straight, and holding a cigarette between his slender fingers.
Seeing Harper get out, he stood up and walked towards her. Hewas wearing a long gray coat over his suit, looking exceptionally handsome.
Harper's heart couldn't help beating.
Even though she hadn't done anything wrong, she felt inexplicably guilty.
In the dim night, the man's face was extremely pale, and his silent approach was somewhat eerie.
After all, he was too tall, and standing next to Harper, he had an overwhelming aura.
Harper appeared calm on the surface, but inside, she had the urge to turn and leave.
But there wasn't enough time.
Francis anticipated her move, and his long arms quickly wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her into his embrace.
"Why didn't you call me to pick you up?"
His voice, soaked in the night, was magnetic and pleasant.
Harper felt awkward, having just said she had nothing to do with him, and here he was.
They were in such an intimate position and closer than when they were married. It was truly frustrating.
Francis held her, slightly lowered his head to look at Rhodes in the car, and politely greeted his uncle.
Rhodes nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Francis continued, "Harper is upset with me. Since you hired her to teach Noah, please be patient with her too."
Harper felt a chill down her spine. He had clearly been keeping tabs on her!
And they weren't just upset; they were divorced!
Rhodes smiled and said, "Alright."
Then he left.
Francis straightened up, a faint, unreadable smile on his lips.
When he turned back, that smile disappeared.
"Let's go," he said, walking ahead.
Harper stood unmoved. Francis came back and grabbed her hand. "Are you waiting for me to carry you off?"
Harper forcefully pulled her hand back, staring at him, and said, "Francis, what do you want?"
Francis stood opposite her, tall and imposing, looking at her for a moment before suddenly bending down to pick her up.
Losing her balance, Harper felt her heart skip a beat, and she grabbed his shirt, angrily calling out, "Francis!"
"Aren't you asking what I want?"
His lips brushed against her flushed earlobe, his voice husky as he said, "Isn't it obvious?"
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