Chapter 412 It's Not Love
Francis didn't give her a chance to react. He rubbed her nose and, with a raspy voice, said, "Alright."
Then, he scooped her up and carried her straight into the bathroom.
Harper yelled, "Put me down!"
They were both stark naked, and Harper felt like everything was on fire, not knowing where to put her hands.
"I'll help you wash up," Francis said, placing her on the towel-covered counter. He quickly filled the tub and then lifted Harper into the water.
Harper thought she must've been tricked by his pitiful act.
Francis didn't seem like a weak patient; in bed, he was full of energy.
She soaked in the tub, watching Francis busy himself, and just closed her eyes.
After the bath, Francis carried her back to the bed, and Harper was surprised to see he had changed the sheets.
The clean, soft sheets felt amazing as she lay down.
Francis said, "Get some rest; I'll go take a shower."
He never wore clothes overnight, and he had brought clothes with him when he came up last night.
Harper heard the water running in the bathroom and felt a headache coming on.
Francis must've thought she had accepted him.
When he came out fully dressed, Harper had calmed down. "Francis, I need to talk to you."
Francis looked at her cold face, sensing something was up, and his excitement faded.
He lowered his eyes and said, "Go ahead."
"It's not love. It's just two people with physical needs helping each other. Don't get it twisted."
Francis looked up, hurt in his eyes. "Twisted?"
Harper knew she sounded harsh.
But she wasn't sure if it was just a moment of impulse. She decided to cool things down until she could see clearly.
"Yeah, just physical needs. Don't get it twisted," Harper repeated.
Francis felt like his heart was being squeezed. It hurt a lot.
His brows furrowed, eyes filled with pain and coldness. "Harper, do you really want to treat me like this?"
Harper could see he was genuinely hurt, but past events had left her wounded too.
Even though Chloe was no longer a threat, Audrey had appeared, despite him saying he didn't like them.
Too many women were after Francis!
Who's to say another Chloe wouldn't show up?
Who's to say the past abandonments wouldn't happen again?
Call her fragile or indecisive, she was scared and insecure.
After thinking it through, Harper became even calmer. "I haven't changed my mind; you misunderstood."
The air turned icy.
Harper felt the room grow cold.
The next second, Francis kissed her out of nowhere.
He held her, his hands cradling her head, his tongue prying open her teeth, giving her a passionate, wet kiss.
Harper's eyes widened, her mind blank; he actually kissed her again.
She held her palm against his chest, softly pushing him and gasping, "Francis."
The kiss was intense and emotional, lasting five minutes before Francis let her go.
Harper's face turned pale, and without thinking, she slapped him.
Five finger marks instantly appeared on Francis's cold, pale face. He didn't dodge or stop her.
Harper's breathing was uneven. She said furiously, "Francis, you can't kiss me when I don't want to."
Francis acted like he didn't hear her, staring at her swollen lips with those dark, intense eyes. "You still like me. You could've pushed me away, but you didn't. You love me."
Harper's face twisted at the word 'love.' That past love had hurt her too much.
Her eyes turned icy, and she said coldly, "Francis, I admit I wanted you just now, but that was just a physical thing. It could've been anyone. Stop making it complicated."
Francis stood there, stiff and numb.
His heart felt like it was being stabbed by a thousand tiny needles, his face contorted with pain.
He didn't buy that it was just physical. He didn't believe a woman who valued loyalty would say that.
Her words were a slap in the face.
Harper knew that for him, no other woman would do.
Francis's eyes were cold as ice, and he said, "So, you got what you wanted and now you wanna kick me to the curb?"
Harper found Francis high maintenance. Thinking of Molly's situation that still needed his help, she couldn't be too harsh.
She frowned and said, "I just think there's no need to make it complicated. It's not like I was the only one enjoying it; you didn't lose out, did you?"
Francis's heart ached even more.
His voice was cold as he said, "Since you enjoyed it, let's do it again!"
With that, he picked her up and threw her onto the bed.
His dark eyes were stormy.
Harper's face went pale.
At that moment, Francis overlapped with memories from the past; he had lost control.
"Francis, only if I allow it." She struggled to sit up, but Francis locked her wrists and pinned her down.
His eyes were blazing, his words cold, "Didn't you say it's not love, just physical needs? I still need you now."
Panic surged through Harper. She shook her head and kicked frantically, trying to break free. "I don't need you anymore. Francis, you're crazy," she cried out.
Francis grabbed her ankle, his grip iron-clad, even as a shadow of pain flickered in his eyes. His voice trembled with suppressed emotion, "I wish I were crazy. Then I wouldn’t have to endure this torment for so long."
At that moment, Francis truly wished he could surrender to madness, to obliterate all feelings and moments of weakness. It would be easier, he thought, to be utterly heartless than to be so helplessly undone by her presence.
He leaned down, suppressing the pain in his heart, and pinched her chin to kiss her again.
Harper dodged left and right, but Francis's eyes were bloodshot, looking extremely stimulated.
His arms were like clamps, tightly controlling her! He didn't show her any mercy.
Harper felt like a fish on the chopping block. She hated it.
Her eyes reddened, and she said with a sob, "Francis, I hate you."
This sentence threw the furious Francis into an ice cave.
His eyes were extremely hurt, and he said hoarsely, "You hate me?"
Harper's lips were bloodless, her voice weak as she said, "Yes, you always hurt me and disrespect me!"
Francis's heart hurt even more. Was that all she remembered?
He had lowered himself again and again to make peace, only to be met with her hatred and humiliation.
All of this finally made Francis lose hope! He slowly got to his feet, feeling nothing.
His heart hurt so much he didn't want to speak. After suppressing it for a long time, he finally said coldly, "You can try with another man."
After saying that, he turned and left the room.
Harper was stunned. Francis had just threatened her.
She now really regretted that she had impulsively had sex with him.
Francis hadn't changed at all.
As long as things didn't go his way, he would only use his methods to control her.
Harper was also glad that she had kept a clear head and didn't give in.
They really weren't suitable for each other.
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