Chapter 501 I Can Give Whatever He Could
"What makes you so special? What gives you the right to judge me?" Audrey suddenly lost it and yelled, "If it weren't for you, Francis would totally, totally be in love with me."
She'd been crushing on Francis since she was a kid and even pretended to be a boy to get close to him. When she got busted, Audrey said it was because her dad, Felix, wanted a boy, so she dressed up like one.
Even though it was a solid excuse, Francis still kept his distance. Audrey acted like Felix made her study abroad to ease the awkwardness with Francis. She was obsessed with him, always plotting. She had to keep this weird, not-too-close, not-too-far thing going.
While she was abroad, Audrey kept tabs on Francis and found out about Chloe and Harper. But she never took them seriously. She thought Francis was just being nice to Chloe out of gratitude and pity.
As for Harper, who was a minor issue back then, she figured Chloe could easily frame her and get her divorced from Francis.
Audrey never took Harper seriously. But she never saw it coming that Harper, the least significant one, would be the one Francis would die for.
Audrey's nails dug into her palms, her eyes burning with jealousy. She was insanely jealous of Harper for getting such deep love from Francis.
Audrey gritted her teeth and spat, "It's all your fault, you bitch."
"I think you're mistaken." Harper's voice was calm and cold as she said, "Even without me, Francis wouldn't love you."
Love didn't follow a sequence, nor did it follow logic. But one thing was for sure: no love meant no love. A guy wouldn't fall for a girl he never loved, no matter what.
Sadly, Audrey didn't get this; otherwise, she wouldn't have done all these crazy things.
At the door, along with the cops, came a swarm of media. Audrey's calm facade instantly shattered, and she exclaimed in shock, "You called the media."
"Yep." Harper admitted openly.
Audrey was so mad she gritted her teeth, huffing, "You actually used such a dirty trick?"
She wouldn't shake off the accusation if the media found out about her connection with Logan.
"Dirty? Trick?" Harper stopped and turned to look at her, saying, "Audrey, do you see me as a good person?"
At that moment, Audrey realized that Harper's way of speaking was almost identical to that man's. It made her feel a chill of fear deep down.
"You want my life," Harper sneered, her eyes cold as she said, "Remember, this is just the beginning. The public will find out the crimes you committed sooner or later. Audrey, I will fight you to the end."
Audrey was shocked by the fierce determination in Harper's eyes. And for the first time, she realized she was up against a real opponent.
As the media got closer, Audrey suddenly covered her face and cried, "Ms. Murphy, I have no grudge against you. Why are you framing me?"
Audrey maliciously thought that even if she got caught, she would drag Harper down with her. She added, "I believe the police will clear my name. I'm also a victim. Do you think this will bring down the Hernandez family?"
Harper found her act boring and called her out, "No grudge? You messed with the father of my kid. We're always gonna be enemies."
Just like that, the media swarmed in like sharks. A reporter shouted, "Ms. Murphy, you said Ms. Hernandez harmed the father of your child. What do you mean by that? Can you explain?"
Harper didn't say a word, just waved them off and turned to leave. Behind her, Audrey's eyes flashed with venom.
In the hallway, Harper had barely taken a few steps when someone called out to her.
"Harper." Keith walked up slowly, looking a bit pitiful as he said, "Don't be sad."
To Keith, Harper was just wasting her time. Francis was dead, and now no one could stop him, nor would he let anyone try.
Harper didn't even bother to talk to him, her face cold as ice as she snapped, "Get out of my way!"
Keith didn't budge, so Harper sidestepped to walk past him. But Keith grabbed her arm.
Keith smirked and said, "The Getty Group will definitely be mine."
Harper shook off his hand without a second thought and shot back, "Keith, you won't succeed."
"Don't you see what's happening?" Keith didn't like her cold attitude, his fingers clenching as he asked, "You just hate that I'm an illegitimate child, right? Now that Francis is dead, I'm the rightful heir of the Getty Group."
His eyes gleamed as he said, "I can give you everything he could."
Harper paused, looking at Keith coldly, and said, "He's not dead yet."
"Harper, don't be stupid. In that situation, there wouldn't be any remains. Why are you lying to yourself?" Keith's voice was low as he said, "Come to me, okay? I'll do better than he did."
A loud slap landed on Keith's cheek.
"Francis is not dead!" Harper warned coldly, "Next time you spread rumors, it won't just be a slap."
Keith's cheek burned. He stared at Harper, then suddenly grabbed her wrist and pushed her against the wall.
"Harper, do you get it?" Keith's body was very close, his breath brushing Harper's face as he hissed, "Francis is dead. I can hurt you as I please. So be nicer to me, and maybe, I'll go easy on you."
Harper's face turned red with anger, and she raised her other hand to slap him, but he caught it. Keith pinned both her hands against the wall, trapping her, and smirked, "Seems you don't listen to advice. Do you want me to force you?"
He trapped her slender wrists under one hand, in a very humiliating position. Then, he lifted her chin with his other hand, casually saying, "Let me think. With one slap, you owe me one kiss. Think about it, okay?"
Harper's fists clenched tightly, trembling with anger as she said, "Keith, is this how you pay respect to your brother?"
"Of course." Keith's tone was cocky as he said, "Francis is dead. I'm just taking care of my brother's widow. It's a good deed, isn't it?"
Harper gritted her teeth and snapped, "You had a hand in the explosion, didn't you?"
Keith was slightly stunned and said, "No, I didn't know."
Harper said briefly, "Swear?"
Keith's voice was cold as he said, "Harper, I would never hurt you."
"You don't dare swear, do you?" Harper sneered, "And this is your good deed?"
Keith's eyes turned cold.
At that time, Ryan had said he didn't need to worry about anything and that he would help him get everything. But he didn't expect that Audrey wanted to take Harper's life, and Ryan wanted to take Francis's. Neither of them knew what the other was thinking, but they clicked right away.
Keith finally got it, but it was too late; the damage was done.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, he let go of her wrists and said softly, "I know you've been wronged. I promise you, I'll make it right."
Just because he couldn't deal with Audrey now didn't mean he couldn't deal with her later.
"No need," Harper shot back without hesitation, pushing Keith's chest to create some space, and said coldly, "Keith, no matter what you do, I will never be with you, not even as friends. You should give up on that idea."
Her blunt rejection stung Keith. Keith grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, his eyes glaring as he threatened, "What if I don't?"
Harper was furious and struggled desperately, snapping, "Let go of me!"
Keith ignored her, his eyes dark and venomous as he added, "Harper, do you think I can get the Getty Group but not you?"
The thoughts he had buried deep inside for so long exploded now that he no longer had to suppress them. Her pale face, so close, looked fragile but beautiful. Harper's trembling lips seemed to be inviting him to kiss her.
Keith's hands tightened around her waist, his voice obsessive as he croaked, "There will never be another Francis in this world, and you will only be mine."
Just as his lips were about to touch hers, Harper kneed him hard in the stomach.
"Ah... you!" Keith clutched his abdomen, the pain making him stagger back a step, his face dark as a storm.
Harper dusted off her hands, turned her head without even a glance at him, and asked, "Did you get it all on camera?"
Victor stepped out of the shadows, holding a phone, and replied briskly, "Yeah. And it's clear."
Keith's face turned extremely sour in an instant. "What?" He reached out to grab Harper's arm, but Victor quickly blocked him.
Victor stood protectively in front of Harper, watching Keith warily. Keith's veins on his forehead bulged, and he knew what was happening and said, "Harper, you did this on purpose?"
It was all her plan. Harper smiled, "How about this headline? 'Getty Group new CEO attempts to molest the late CEO's ex-wife in public'?"
Keith's brows furrowed tightly as he said, "You wouldn't. You can try and see if you can get it out."
Blocking a piece of news was a small matter for him.
"Why would I release it to the media?" Harper feigned confusion and said, "Just playing this news on a loop within the Getty Group should be enough. Let them see your ambitious nature, isn't that good?"
Keith's brow furrowed deeply, and he threatened, "Harper, are you sure you want to go against me?"
Harper knew that Keith, having endured for so many years, was not simple. This video could only control him for a while but not forever. But her goal was to disrupt him, to make him cautious, and to hold him off for as long as possible.
Harper answered Keith with her actions and turned to ask, "Victor, did you make it?"
Victor nodded in agreement and replied, "Yes, it's spread all over the Getty Group."
Keith punched the wall hard in fury and asked, "Harper, you're digging your own grave."
Harper's expression was indifferent as she said, "Keith, if you hadn't had any inappropriate ideas, I wouldn't have gone to this length."
"Why?" he asked. Keith, feeling a bit better, straightened up, his expression puzzled. He added, "I love you just the same. I can give you everything. Why can't you love me back?"
Harper suddenly smiled, "You're not him."
In this world, no one could replace Francis, the one who would do anything, even give his life for her.
Outside the Getty Group, Victor walked alongside Harper, reporting, "Our people went for Joseph, but he disappeared a couple of days ago. Mr. Getty had always had people protecting him, but after the incident, someone took advantage of the chaos to abduct Joseph. It's likely he's in grave danger."
Harper said, falling into thought, "Keep looking."
Before getting into the car, Victor suddenly asked, "Do you really believe Mr. Getty is still alive?"
"He will come back." Harper's expression was calm, but her tone was firm as she said, "He promised not to leave me."
It dawned on Victor that the once delicate and protected Harper now resembled Francis so much. She had grown into a strong and resilient woman.
Victor couldn't help but believe Harper's words. Sometimes, a bit of hope could carry people through grief.
As Victor got into the car and started the engine, there was a sudden knock on the window. It was Abigail. He hurried out of the car and greeted her.
Abigail waved her hand and said, "Give me a moment with Harper."
Harper politely got out of the car as well. Abigail looked at her, then at the ground, and finally spoke after a while, "Can I see my granddaughter?"
Harper shook her head and said, "Abigail, I can't introduce you to her right now."
Abigail's face fell, and after hesitating for a few seconds, she said, "Can I at least see her from a distance?"
Harper wanted to refuse but couldn't bring herself to say it. No matter how Abigail had treated her before, her love for Francis had never changed.
After thinking for a moment, Harper nodded in agreement.
Harper went to the studio to pick up Agnes, while Abigail's car waited by the roadside. Harper came out holding Agnes, who bore a striking resemblance to Francis. The child's delicate face combined the best features of both parents, making her very beautiful.
Abigail couldn't help but smile, but as she did, she started to cry. No matter what, at least she wouldn't be alone in this world.
The driver saw Abigail's tears and asked, "Mrs. Getty, should we follow them?"
Abigail wiped her tears and sobbed, "No."
Harper was taking good care of Agnes, and she didn't want to interfere any further.
After a few minutes, Abigail said, "To the police station."
Abigail wanted to follow up on the case in person, where Audrey drugged her with someone's help.
The Hernandez family was very resourceful, and Audrey hadn't been directly involved, so she would likely be released soon. But Abigail couldn't let her get off so easily; she had to be detained for at least 48 hours.
As the car drove slowly, Abigail asked, "Jonathan, does he have any other family?"
The driver in the front replied, "We're looking into it. It's said he has a teacher, who is like a father to him."
Abigail instructed, "Make sure to contact him."
"Yes, Mrs. Getty." Abigail looked out the window, praying in her heart, hoping that Harper's belief was true, that Francis was really still alive.
Meanwhile, at the Auroria Biological Laboratory, on a white sterile bed lay a handsome man whose eyes were tightly shut, his lips a lifeless pale. A person in a sterile suit beside him frowned and asked a female doctor, "Is there really no solution?"
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