Chapter 27
Despite the towel underneath her, she could still feel the cold, hard countertop.
"Um..." Harper tried to speak, but all that escaped were faint whimpers, which only seemed to spur him on.
Pushing against his chest with her uninjured hand, she tried to shove him away. She could feel the defined muscles of his abdomen through his thin shirt—taut and strong. She didn't realize that her feeble resistance only piqued his interest further.
Francis effortlessly lifted her hand and pressed it against the mirror behind her, his other hand supporting her lower back to hold her close. His long legs braced against the bathroom vanity, ensuring she wouldn't slip down.
The restraint was thrilling yet mortifying.
Harper cursed herself for reacting so strongly. Just as she thought she might faint from his kisses, he stopped and nestled his face in her neck. His warm breath tickled her skin, sending shivers down her spine.
A sudden sharp pain made her gasp. "Ah—"
She felt a sting on her neck. There was a mirror behind her, and as she looked, she saw the reddish-purple mark he had left on her neck. "Why is your skin so delicate?" Francis murmured with a smirk, glancing at the mirror as if it allowed him to see through to her very soul.
Her face flushed so deep it might as well have bled. "You, you..." She was too enraged to finish her sentence.
Francis raised his chin slightly, the mark from her bite still visible as if reminding her of the small act of defiance she had inflicted. Harper gritted her teeth in frustration. 'What a vengeful man he is? I only bit him but didn't kiss him. Is this his way of retaliating?'
The incessant vibration of a phone broke the charged atmosphere, and without leaving her embrace, Francis took the call. It was Victor informing him of a meeting time.
After hanging up, Francis bent down to lift her. Harper hastily dodged his hands, on full guard. "What are you doing?"
Francis raised an eyebrow. "What do you think?"
Ignoring her protests, he lifted her off the counter and placed her gently on the bed. Standing nearby, he took off his shirt, revealing his muscular chest. Harper fought back tears, closing her eyes to regain composure.
'How can he be so insatiable? Is it a mating season for him?'
Seeing her eyes shut, Francis couldn't help but smile. "Do you want me? Too bad there's no time now. Maybe next time." When Harper opened her eyes, she was met with Francis's grinning, handsome face that dazzled her.
'I've been played. He's the worst.'
She buried her flushed face in the covers, refusing to look at him. It was just too embarrassing.
Francis didn't tease her any longer and went to freshen up and change his clothes. When he returned, he was buttoning up a crisp white shirt, fitting each one carefully into place. Harper had never seen any other man wear a white shirt quite so stunningly.
Yet behind his dashing and dignified appearance lurked a more predatory nature. He approached her with a hint of a smirk, "Can't get enough of me, can you?"
Before Harper could respond, Francis leaned in and nipped at her earlobe, whispering, "Be good and wait for me. I'll give you plenty to look at tonight."
Harper's cheeks flushed crimson, and she darted under the covers. Francis seemed to have taken a liking to her ears, never missing a chance to kiss or nibble, fully aware of her sensitivity there.
Outside the door, Francis reminded Auntie about Harper's dietary restrictions and encouraged her to eat more for her recovery. Auntie nodded, impressed by Francis's care for Harper, noting his good looks and considerate nature.
Glancing back at the closed bedroom door, Francis had an unspeakable feeling. 'She belongs there, within my control. Is she an insatiable little ingrate? Then I'll just have to satisfy her more often.'
Once in the car, Francis instructed Victor, "Check if Harper has any close male acquaintances at the university."
...
After eating and resting, Harper's heart raced, and her thoughts raced even faster, puzzled by Francis's behavior. Despite their two years of marriage, she couldn't understand why he didn't seek Chloe for intimacy. Wasn't there supposed to be more passion with a loved one? Perhaps he worried about Chloe's health. Was she too fragile for his affection? The more Harper thought about it, the more convinced she became.
Later that afternoon, Auntie called her downstairs, mentioning a visitor. Harper was surprised, as not many people knew she lived there. As she came down the stairs, she saw Chloe sitting in the living room. Harper hadn't expected Chloe to visit their home at the Moou Residence.
"Harper, how's your hand?" Chloe looked well today, her voice soft and her smile gentle.
Taking a seat, Harper replied coolly, "I doubt you're here out of concern for my hand, Miss Musk. There are no strangers here, so please speak freely."
In the brilliant daylight, the woman's pale skin and radiant beauty stood out like a dewy begonia. Chloe couldn't help but notice the pure yet enchanting face before her, her underlying disdain poorly veiled.
Harper was a natural temptress, a plaything for others.
"You've got it wrong. I just came to see how you're doing. I also had my maid from home prepare some soup for you to help you recover."
As Chloe set the soup on the table and lifted its lid, she spoke with a tenderness that belied her true intentions. "You need to be in good health to sign the paperwork at the Marriage Registry Office, right?"
Harper knew that this was what Chloe was ultimately aiming at. She managed a small laugh, not in the mood for their usual verbal sparring. "I'll sign the papers, don't worry. But you should take this soup back. Enjoy it yourself, Miss Musk."
Undeterred, Chloe nudged the soup closer to Harper. "Francis mentioned you love fish. He suggested I bring you this fish soup made with deep sea fish. It's rich in nutrients. Won't you try it?"
Harper's smile cooled by half. She had thought that Moou Residence's tight security meant Chloe couldn't enter without Francis's permission. The warmth of the morning was, as expected, just her illusion.
The strong, fishy smell of the soup in front of her was almost overwhelming. Harper felt increasingly nauseated and bolted to the restroom to hurl.
After she finished throwing up, Chloe's voice came from behind her. "Harper, that was intense. Are you possibly pregnant?"
Panic flitted through Harper's heart for a moment before she regained her composure and replied with a calm voice, "Just caught a cold last night."
"A cold?" Chloe's eyes narrowed, her skepticism clear. She had instructed the home chef to make the fish soup as pungent as possible to test Harper.
Recalling the children's clothes she'd seen at the mall, Chloe was convinced that Harper had to be pregnant.
Chloe clenched her fist until her nails dug into her palm.
'It's bad enough that this woman had stolen my man, but the idea of her secretly bearing his child and seeking status through maternity is unbearable.
'I won't allow this child to exist!'
With a smile plastered back on her face, Chloe said, "If you aren't pregnant, that's for the best. You know Francis's stance. He'd insist you get rid of it."
Harper went pale. She knew Francis's stance all too well, which was exactly why she had kept her pregnancy a secret.
Chloe sneered, "And with your lowly status, any child you'd have will be deemed illegitimate, won't they? Why subject a child to such humiliation?"
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