Chapter 56 Slapping Some Sense Into Chloe
Watching Chloe fume and stamp her feet lightened Harper's mood considerably.
She rather enjoyed seeing Chloe so agitated and helpless against her.
Chloe maddened to the point of frenzy, gripped her purse strap until her knuckles turned pale.
Then, her eyes twinkling maliciously, she managed a smile. "Fine, I'll admit I provoked you on purpose last time."
"But only because Francis treasures me so much that he promised to wait for our wedding night. He loves me, and he wants to give me the romance of a perfect ceremony."
Chloe wasn't scared of Harper confronting her. Who could prove these words came from her lips? She could just as easily claim Harper was framing her with lies.
Chloe advanced, cornering Harper, her voice dripping with malice, "What does it matter to you if he's sleeping with you now? It's only because Francis has a thing about only being intimate with his wife."
"What's there to be proud of? You're just a means to an end."
Harper stayed silent, but her face uncontrollably paled.
Catching sight of this, Chloe coolly surveyed Harper's midsection and let out a sneer, "Oh, and do you know why Francis is so against having kids?"
Harper stiffened, asking with a tense voice, "What are you implying?"
Chloe, skilled in reading people, could tell from Harper's reaction that her guess was spot on. 'Francis doesn't want children, and that's why this woman won't dare speak of her pregnancy.
'It was indirect proof that Francis doesn't love her.'
Chloe's smile turned sweet and taunting, "Because Francis once told me he'd only want children with me. It's not that he doesn't want kids. He's just waiting for the day I give him a child."
Harper's heart shuddered violently. 'So, his staunch refusal was because he intended for his children to come from the woman he truly loved.' Despite reassuring herself it didn't matter, a real pang of distress resonated within her.
Chloe's words carried a pointed sting, "I advise you to face reality sooner rather than later. Someone of your standing shouldn't harbor delusions of social climbing through offspring. You know there's a saying, 'Like mother, like son.' A schemer like you is bound to have a messed up, freakish child..."
Before Chloe could finish, Harper's hand swiftly rose, and the sound of a slap echoed sharply through the air.
Whack!
The slap landed unhesitatingly across Chloe's face.
Harper shouted, fury in her voice, "If you utter one more word out of line, I'll smash your damn face in!"
She had tolerated everything else, but Chloe cursing her unborn child was something she couldn't bear!
Chloe's mind went blank, stupefied by the slap. She'd never been hit before. 'How dare this wretch strike me!'
"You lowlife! I should have finished you off at that party!"
Chloe enraged, lunged forward, swinging her designer purse, aiming for Harper's face.
Harper dodged, but the zipper grazed her cheek, causing pain. She grabbed Chloe's wrist and retaliated with a slap. Harper wasn't strong, but she had enough to handle Chloe.
Harper's almond eyes were fierce, "Try scheming against me again, and I swear you'll regret it!"
Thinking back to the recent party, she couldn't shake the feeling that Chloe was involved. 'Perhaps she even knows about my pregnancy and was trying to use someone else to do her dirty work.'
Harper knew she couldn't afford to show any weakness in front of Chloe.
Tears streamed down Chloe's face for free, her expression the picture of innocence. "What nonsense are you spouting? When have I ever schemed against you?"
Harper sneered. "Just remember, I don't start trouble, but I sure as hell end it. Cross me, and I'll take you down with me, even if it kills me!"
Chloe shivered suddenly as if struck by the chilling ferocity in Harper's eyes.
With that, Harper broke away, determined not to get entangled with Chloe any longer.
Chloe lunged, aiming to claw Harper's face apart, but before she could act, she caught sight of Francis approaching.
She let go at once, flinging herself dramatically to the ground, using Harper's arm to ensure a heavy fall.
A terrible scream pierced the air as her head knocked against the railing with a dull thud. It sounded a serious impact.
Turning around, Harper met the oncoming Francis. His piercing eyes were cold, his handsome face etched with displeasure.
Seeing her rescuer, Chloe let the tears roll down unchecked. "Francis, it hurts..."
Francis paused in front of Harper and asked, "Did you do this?"
The man's face was back to its usual cold composure. Harper felt that even breathing was painful.
He didn't ask why she hit her. He didn't need a reason, just the fact. Thus, there was nothing left for her to explain.
"Yeah, it was me," Harper responded coolly, with no sign of wanting to justify herself.
Francis's gaze bore into her as if trying to see through her.
Harper didn't look away. She met his eyes head-on.
Unable to wait any longer, Chloe's crying amplified, "Francis, the pain... it's unbearable..."
Without another word, Francis held up Chloe and prepared to leave.
"Francis!" Harper called out to him.
He hesitated slightly, then turned back to look at her.
Struggling to maintain her composure, with a flicker of hope in her eyes, Harper beckoned softly, "Don't go."
Their eyes locked, and Francis frowned, "Go back to the hospital room."
Harper let out a bitter laugh.
Her beautiful face was etched with disappointment. "Francis, you're the one who said we wouldn't divorce."
'Is everything you say now being overturned so soon?’
'Why offer hope only to shatter it yourself?’
'Does it matter to you if the person you don't care about is in pain?' Harper thought.
Chloe's face twisted in rage, choking back sobs, gasping, "Francis, my head is spinning... am I going to die?"
Francis lifted his foot to leave, repeating his earlier statement, "Go back to the hospital room and wait for me."
Harper's heart shattered as if something had broken within her.
Her eyes glistened, holding back tears with a stubborn strength in her voice.
"Francis, I'm not going to wait for you."
"If you leave, then don't expect me to wait either."
Francis's expression chilled. He hated threats more than anything.
Suddenly, Chloe turned ashen, her body trembling violently.
Without hesitation, Francis strode away briskly.
A gust of wind caught Harper off guard, and the tears she fought to contain spilled down her cheeks.
Tears streamed down her face, but her lips curled into a smile.
She laughed at herself for always overestimating her own importance.
She laughed at herself for always thinking she mattered more in his heart.
Taking a step, she wandered forward aimlessly.
Out of nowhere, a child dashed into her path and bumped into her hard.
Without an apology, the kid vanished instantly.
A fine, sharp pain spread through her lower abdomen, growing more intense by the second.
Harper's face lost its color, and she slowly squatted down, curling in agony.
"Harper?"
A gentle male voice pulled her from her pain.
Looking up, Harper called out to a familiar face, "Senior..."
Before she could finish, the world spun, and she collapsed forward.
"Harper!" Keith caught her in his arms, rushing her toward the emergency room.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
