Chapter 37
Chloe, who had never faced such humiliation, turned pale and began to sob. She whimpered through her tears, "Abigail... I know you don't like me, and I don't blame you. But I just wanted to visit Dylan. I have no ill intent..."
"Knowing full well you're disliked, why insist on intruding? Your skin must be thicker than the city walls! Here to see Dylan? The last thing Dylan needs is a home-wrecker. You're not here for him. You're here to upset him!"
Abigail's words were laced with venom, with no regard for the many eyes upon her.
Francis frowned, "Mom, please, don't do this."
After all, Abigail was a figurehead of the prestigious Getty family, and such public displays could tarnish her reputation.
"Don't 'Mom' me. Dylan is furious, and here you are, bringing riffraff home. You've lost your mind!" she spat.
"Mom, you've got it wrong about Chloe, she's not what you think—"
"Francis!"
Chloe's tearful interruption cut him off, her sobs betraying her fear that he might reveal their lack of an actual relationship, exposing her earlier lies.
Through her tears, Chloe pleaded, "Please, Francis, no more. I know Abigail has her biases against me, but I truly love you. We're deeply in love..."
Francis's brow furrowed, about to clarify, when Chloe suddenly collapsed to her knees with a thud.
With tears streaming down her face, she begged, "Abigail, please accept our love. If you do not, I'll kneel here forever!"
To outsiders, it would seem like Abigail was a heartless witch tearing apart a loving couple, unaware that this 'love' was marked by an affair and a home-wrecking mistress.
Harper felt her heartache with piercing pain. She struggled to breathe in the heavy atmosphere. If this was true love, then what was she? An unwelcome intruder?
Even Abigail couldn't help but sneer at Chloe's audacity.
With arms crossed, she looked on coldly, "Don't think I'm oblivious. You're just exploiting the fact that you saved my son's life, thinking that's why Francis is looking after you. He pities you, that's all!"
She then pointed at the nearby bodyguard and commanded, "She likes kneeling? Drag her to Main Gate Street and let her kneel there. Do you want Dylan to wake up to this spectacle?"
Chloe, head bowed and trembling, knew Abigail meant every word. 'Nothing was beneath the disdainful matriarch.'
As the bodyguard approached, Chloe collapsed onto Francis's legs with a yelp, a spark of cunning in her eyes.
She knew Francis wouldn't stand by idly. His favor was her shield. No matter what, she'd always outmatched the despicable Abigail and Harper.
Sure enough, Francis reached out, helping Chloe up and stopping the bodyguard.
Abigail roared with fury, "Francis, are you trying to piss me off? Is that it?"
Harper couldn't take it anymore. She felt nauseated.
The whole situation disgusted her.
Tugging at Abigail's sleeve with a pale face, she pleaded, "Mom, can I leave now?"
Abigail gripped Harper's hand tightly, her voice fierce, "We're leaving together. I'm done with that son of mine!"
With that, the two of them walked away, side by side.
Behind them, Chloe's eyes brimmed with tears as she clung pitifully to Francis's arm, "Francis... How could Abigail say such things? Did I cause you trouble?"
She felt deeply wronged and longed for Francis to comfort her.
But to her shock, Francis pulled his hand away, his voice icy, "Chloe, you shouldn't have come. Grandpa can't handle any stress. Remember this, and don't let it happen again!"
Chloe was frozen, unable to believe her ears.
Francis had never spoken to her so harshly before.
The next moment, Francis instructed the bodyguard, "Take Miss Musk back to her hospital room. Make sure Grandpa is closely guarded!"
Without another word, he left.
Chloe's face went pale with anger.
She didn't dare to hold him back, knowing it wasn't the right time. Any more words would just irritate Francis.
Watching Francis's retreating figure, a sense of unease crept into her heart.
'Why does he seem more and more like a stranger to me?
'Surely Harper, that little snake, was causing trouble between us.'
With this thought, a surge of hatred prompted Chloe to clench his fists, leaving a bloody mark.
'Dream on if you think you can steal my man!’
'Francis can only ever have eyes for me.’
'I'll make him dote on me again, just like before!'
...
At the hospital room door.
As the angry Abigail confronted Francis, he questioned, "Where's Harper?"
Abigail snorted dismissively, "Harper? Who's Harper?"
Somewhat exasperated, Francis replied, "Mom, can you please act your age?"
"I'm not acting my age? You're the one who's naive about your own feelings!" Abigail retorted arms crossed. "The housekeeper was telling me how you assured Dylan you wouldn't divorce Harper. Are those your true intentions, or were you just placating Dylan?"
Francis looked up, his expression indifferent, "Does it make a difference? Either way, Grandpa can't be distressed right now."
"There's a huge difference!"
Abigail was beside herself with frustration, "If it were just for Dylan, I'd convince him myself to tell you two to get a divorce right away. Stop dragging Harper through the mud. And don't use Dylan as an excuse. He adores Harper. Do you think he'd stand by and watch her be unhappy?"
The very thought was enough to send Abigail into a rage, "Why should that sweet girl at home have to put up with your constant bullying? Once wasn't enough. You had to team up with that shameless woman to torment Harper. What did I do in a past life to deserve this? You're driving me crazy!"
"When have I ever bullied her?" Francis furrowed his handsome brows, clearly perplexed.
Three dark lines appeared on Abigail's forehead. Who could have guessed that a business prodigy could be so clueless about matters of the heart?
"You flaunt your affections with other women right in front of Harper. Did you ever stop to consider how she feels?" Abigail pointed out sharply.
Francis scrunched his eyebrows together, "My relationship with Chloe is completely platonic. I've done nothing wrong, Harper."
With a bit of relief, Abigail thought to herself, 'At least my son wasn't tarnished beyond repair.'
"Does Harper know that?" The disdain in Abigail's voice was as clear as day, "That woman hangs all over you like a koala. Anyone would take you for a womanizer!"
Francis's eyes were deep and thoughtful, keeping his contemplations to himself.
Abigail, observing her son's devastatingly handsome face, regretted making him so attractive a little bit.
'If he were less appealing, maybe Harper wouldn't have so many rivals, and she might be happier.' But then, as Abigail bore the thought a little longer, it didn't feel right either. 'If he were less attractive, he wouldn't be worthy of Harper.
'Harper was such a catch, so beautiful!'
"Where's Harper now?" Francis inquired once more.
This time, without any teasing, Abigail gave it to him straight, "I had the driver take her home. She should've just arrived at the underground parking by now."
Francis nodded and was about to leave when Abigail reminded him, "If you're serious about chasing after her, you better do it fast. Make your intentions clear. Harper was set on divorcing you today. If Dad hadn't accidentally heard it, you'd already be her ex-husband by now."
"It was an accident that Grandpa heard of us getting a divorce?" Francis's eyes darkened, and he abruptly raised the question.
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