Chapter 216 Your Wife Is Cheating On You
Harper's gaze fell, her eyes glistening slightly as she spoke with a soft yet resolute tone, "My answer is the same as last time."
No matter if it was because of the things that had happened between them before or because his parents disapproved of their relationship, all these reasons told her she should cut off this man.
"Then don't say it." Francis commanded, his touch tender yet commanding as he brushed away the tears that lingered at the corners of her eyes, his dominance palpable. "I don't want to hear it."
Despite her attempts to break free, Francis enveloped her in an embrace so tight it felt like a merging of their beings.
"I know your words now aren't genuine. Please, take your time before rejecting me outright. Promise me you'll give it some thought, alright?" His trembling hands held her with a vulnerability that belied his usual pride, relinquishing control to her.
He had reached a point of humility that pierced his pride, leaving him vulnerable to the whims of this woman, his emotions hanging in the balance, ready to crumble at a mere utterance from her.
After Francis departed, Harper finally crumbled to the ground, emotionally drained, tears cascading down her cheeks, releasing the pent-up emotions she had held back for so long.
Despite her inner resolve to stay strong, the magnetic pull of his charm left her constantly swaying, torn between her strength and vulnerability.
The following day found Harper at the hospital, bringing soup for Molly, her makeup thick to cover the bags under her eyes.
Upon overhearing the doctor's discussion about an abortion decision, she was shocked to her core. Entering the room, Harper's questioning gaze met Molly's, her astonishment evident. "Molly, you're expecting?"
Molly's expression froze. "You heard?"
Harper nodded, sitting down worriedly. "Whose child is it?"
Molly opened her mouth and said Robert's name.
The revelation left Harper reeling, disdain evident in her voice. "You're carrying Robert's baby?"
Molly covered her face, tears seeping through her fingers, "Harper, do you despise me?"
She had been holding it in for so long, with no one to talk to, no one to understand. If she could choose, she really wished she had never met Robert.
Harper enveloped Molly in a comforting hug, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. "I know you, Molly. You wouldn't intentionally wreck someone else's relationship."
Their long history together had etched Molly's integrity in Harper's heart, a steadfast belief that Molly would never meddle in another's love, pointing to one sinister possibility – Robert's coercion.
As Molly poured out her heart, sharing only fragments while concealing Robert's most heinous deeds. Even so, Harper was furious.
"Robert's a despicable coward! Why inflict pain on two women simultaneously?" Harper's voice trembled with indignation, her concern deepening for the fragile state of Molly.
"So what are you going to do?" Harper asked.
Molly cried, "If I say I want to keep this child, will you stop me?"
Initially resolute on terminating the pregnancy, Molly's resolve wavered upon learning the stark reality of her dire medical condition, casting a shadow over her decision.
With the weight of mortality pressing down, Molly contemplated the possibility of preserving her pregnancy as a beacon of hope to cling to in the face of her impending fate, seeking solace in leaving a legacy for her grieving parents.
Harper comforted her, "No, no matter what, the baby is innocent."
She thought of the child she had lost, and her heart ached again.
In a moment of introspective silence, Harper broached a sensitive topic, "Will you inform Robert about the baby?"
Molly's response was resolute, a shake of her head conveying the gravity of the situation – Robert must never know, lest he dictate her choice against her will.
Harper left the ward.
Leaving the ward, Harper unexpectedly encountered Francis's imposing figure in the hospital corridor. She had heard from Molly that Robert was also hospitalized here, so he must be visiting Robert.
Harper's first reaction was to hide.
She didn't know why, but she was very afraid of seeing him now.
Maybe it was because of those insincere words; she didn't want to repeat them.
After wrapping up her afternoon class, Harper headed to the restaurant to meet Keith; they had agreed to meet at a restaurant and have dinner together.
As they approached the entrance, a greasy-haired man ambled over, casually patting Keith's shoulder while taunting, "Long time, Mr. Bolton."
Keith's demeanor soured, choosing to ignore the man's presence as he reassured Harper, "Just an old colleague. Let's walk past him."
But the man wouldn't agree. Back when they worked at the investment bank, Keith had often outshone him. Now that he had the chance, he wanted to humiliate Keith.
He stepped in front of them, blocking squarely in their path with a pointed jab, "Dining with your girlfriend, are we?"
Harper was about to retort when she saw the man's lecherous gaze shift to her.
"Miss, do you know he was fired for misconduct? Being fired by AI means no big shot bank will touch him now - he's toast. Hanging with trash like that is a waste of time. You deserve better, chica. I'm right here, ready for you."
Keith's usual cool demeanor shifted to ice-cold in a flash. Anger rarely surfaced with him, but Ben's disrespect ignited a flame.
Shielding Harper, he shot back, "Back off, Ben. Don't mess with my friend."
Ben Mitchell chuckled, "Who says she's sticking with you? You're not exactly Mr. Secure now. Babe, come with me; I'll treat you right, my credit card's your playground."
Dismissing the provocation, Keith guided Harper away, saying, "Let's go, ignore this guy."
Despite his outward calm, Harper sensed tension in Keith's grip. She knew the unfair firing gnawed at him, forced to swallow this douchebag's taunts.
Halting, she faced Ben squarely. "So, you're Mr. Mitchell?"
"Yeah, that's me," Ben smirked, confidence plastered across his smug face. "Ready to make the smart move now?"
With a look of disdain, Harper rejected his extended hand. "Yeah, manners, ever heard of them? Try bringing some along next time you step out."
Ben stuttered for a second before grasping her dig at his lack of decorum. Infuriated, he retorted, "Are you calling me rude, you little.."
Meeting his glare head-on, Harper remarked, "I don't see another man who's being rude here."
Pointing at her, Ben exploded, "You judgmental bitch! Who do you think you are, dissing me? I'm way above this loser you're clinging to."
Unable to unleash his full fury in a classy joint, Ben swallowed his rage, seething.
"Mr. Mitchell, you misunderstood. It's not that I look down on you; you're just dirt to me." Harper smiled at him and said, "And I really suggest you use less cologne. No matter how much you use, it can't cover up the stench of scum on you!"
Harper's cutting yet refined comeback left Ben fuming in impotent fury. Without allowing further retort, she marched into the restaurant, leaving him fuming.
Keith observed in a daze, impressed by the woman's unexpected protectiveness.
Ben laughed beside him, "I didn't expect her to be so protective."
Keith turned and gave Ben a cold look, a look so oppressive that Ben instantly fell silent.
Once seated, Keith, grateful, passed Harper the translation work. "Thanks for having my back out there."
To Harper, it was no biggie. "Friends look out for each other, right? You help me out with the work too."
Keith squinted at her, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
He had been pretending for so long that taking care of others had become a habit. This was the first time he felt someone unhesitatingly stand up for him.
And she didn't even think she was doing him a favor. Her natural demeanor moved him.
At that moment, he made a decision.
Keeping her by his side seemed like a good idea.
Society had darkened his personality so much that he couldn't help but get close to warmth when he saw it. He was even willing to do anything to keep that warmth beside him.
Handing her a dessert as a gesture of appreciation, Keith broached, "I remember your dream of Aurora. How about exploring it together? I'm headed there next month for work."
Seeking independence, Harper gently declined, not wanting to lean too heavily on others.
Acknowledging her stance with a smile, Keith left it at that.
Upstairs, Wesley spotted a familiar figure and slyly sent incriminating photos to Francis with a teasing caption: [Your wife is cheating on you.]
The chat interface showed Francis typing several times but sending nothing.
Despite Francis's elusive responses, Wesley shared his location and dropped a bombshell voice message, "Dude, Keith's popping the question downstairs!"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
