Chapter 32
His expression quickly smoothed over, his voice calm and even, "I wouldn't dream of it."
With her hand still covering her mouth, Harper mumbled, "What?"
Her voice was muffled and indistinct.
His gaze steady on her, he uttered each syllable in a low, seductive timbre, "I won't let you—"
"Stop!" Overwhelmed, Harper pressed her hand against his mouth. Beneath her palm was the softness of his lips, warm as if breathing out a gentle heat. She recoiled as if burnt.
His eyes briefly dimmed, and then he pulled up a chair beside the bed. Cleaning the wound with alcohol-soaked cotton, he delicately applied a cool, soothing cream before rewrapping it with fresh gauze.
"Did Chloe stop by this afternoon?" he inquired.
Harper shot him a glance, thinking he must have allowed it. Receiving no answer, he prodded further, "What did she say to you?"
An ironic smile tugging at her lips, Harper responded, "She asked when we're getting a divorce."
Unspoken was the knowledge that Chloe coveted the title of Mrs. Getty for herself.
"She's been spoiled since childhood. Later on, she struggled with her health and suffered from slight depression, so she tended to speak without considering others' feelings. Try to limit your interactions with her," he advised.
Depression? Harper hadn't detected a hint of it in Chloe, who appeared haughtier than anything. Besides, depression didn't excuse hurting others.
Dropping the pretense, Harper said in a sarcastic voice, "Francis, you know what she's after. Once we're divorced, you're with her, and I'm out of the picture. Why will I need to interact with her?"
He seemed visibly perturbed, but Harper ignored it, "After my stitches are taken out the day after tomorrow, I'll make things clear to Abigail. I'll make sure she agrees to the divorce."
Just the thought of those marks on Chloe's neck made her feel nauseated, as though she had swallowed a fly.
Francis's brows twitched at her resolve before he revisited the same question, "Are you so eager to get a divorce? Is it because of him?"
His question reignited the turmoil within Harper.
"Francis, wasn't it you who wanted the divorce?" she countered.
"But you brought it up first," he grasped at the technicality.
Harper thought, 'Yes, I had indeed been the first to mention it, but it was after he had broken my heart.
'I had poured my heart and soul into this relationship, but what did I gain?
'Nothing but heartache.'
"Francis, I'm human, not some emotionless machine. Am I supposed just to watch my own husband cozying up to another woman and feel nothing?" she questioned.
"And for the record, my injury and the divorce have nothing to do with Keith. I just needed some fresh air and accidentally hurt my foot. Keith was kind enough to drive me to the hospital, that's all."
"And you... when you were getting all chummy with Chloe, did you ever spare a thought for the marriage vows you hadn't yet forsaken? Did you have even a sense of responsibility?"
Francis was taken aback. It was the first time she had ever voiced her dissatisfaction to him.
He couldn't quite define his feelings at that moment. Knowing that she was bothered by his closeness with Chloe oddly pleased him.
"I'll keep what you said in mind," he reassured her.
Harper let out a bitter laugh. What was there to watch out for after they had slept together?
She continued, "As for the divorce, I'm more than happy to proceed, so do me a favor and tell Chloe to back off and stop bothering me."
"Francis, you know me. Leave Keith alone unless you want me to despise you."
'Keith's involvement is nothing more than a classmate's concern.' She loathed Francis's tendency to sully others with his dirty thoughts.
And she didn't want her ten years of affection for him to become twisted and unrecognizable.
There was silence for a second.
Francis loomed over her with a predatory grace, his eyes glinting with a smile that bordered on a smirk.
Then he laughed. It was more like a mock.
"Are you just afraid of what I might do to your new lover after you move out?"
His words were cruel and stung Harper into a retort.
"Francis, not everyone is as low as you think they are."
She was clean, unlike the adulterer who dared to judge her.
"What am I like, then?" His obsidian eyes glinted as he pulled her forcefully into his arms. "Tell me, what's a man who's been with you for two years like?"
Harper struggled fiercely but was overpowered. "Francis! Stop it, would you? If you have needs, why not go to Chloe?"
His expression darkened at her words.
He released her, and the mocking curve of his lips vanished as he asked coldly, "Do you really want me to go to her?"
Harper pursed her lips. 'Do I want that?
'Can I say I don't?
'I simply said what he wants to hear.
'The devotion and exclusivity I longed for, he had given them all to Chloe.
'His heart no longer has room for anyone else.
'He's tainted, and I don't want him anymore.'
With closed eyes, she whispered, "Yes."
That single word seemed to drain all the strength from her body.
She heard the door close behind him as she collapsed onto the bed, tears flooding out unchecked.
Her heart felt as if it had been carved out, raw and aching.
She asked herself, 'Why does it hurt so much?
'Harper, oh Harper, he's just an unfaithful man. Why are you so heartbroken?'
...
At the hospital, Francis entered to find Chloe in bed, with Xenia helping her sip some water. Spotting him, she quickly sent Xenia off to make some tea.
"Chloe, did you go to the Moou Residence?" Francis's handsome face was expressionless, his voice cool and detached.
"Yes." Chloe's heart fluttered under his icy gaze. In a tender, fragile voice, she said, "I just brought Harper some fish soup today, hoping to help her heal faster, but it seemed to upset her."
"If it upsets her, then you should probably avoid meeting her," Francis suggested flatly.
"Francis, I have no ill intentions toward Harper. I wanted to thank her for taking such good care of you. When I left, though, she looked quite pale." Chloe clasped Francis's sleeve, her face etched with worry. "Is something wrong with her?"
"She's fine." Francis appeared reluctant to say more.
"You're angry, aren't you? Because I decided to visit Harper without asking? If it bothers you, I won't go again. I really just wanted to see if she was recovering well..." Her words faded into sobs as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Francis, did Harper say something?"
Seeing that she was choking on her sobs, Francis finally softened, "Stop crying. I'm not upset with you."
At that moment, Xenia came in with a cup of tea and quickly handed Chloe a handkerchief, saying anxiously, "Miss, you hardly slept last night because of the pain, and now you're crying again. Your body can't take this. Your father would be so heartbroken if he knew."
Francis furrowed his brow, "You were in pain last night? Why didn't you tell me?"
"It wasn't as bad as before. I thought I could endure it," Chloe explained gently, "Besides, it was late. I didn't want to disturb you." She still understood the importance of not overdoing it.
Out of nowhere, Xenia chimed in, "Miss, why would Mr. Getty mind being disturbed? You two are about to get married. Why not lean on him more?"
It was a pointed hint.
Both women awaited Francis's response, their expressions filled with anticipation.
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