Chapter 573 I'll Invite You to the Babies' First Birthday Party
Francis had spotted Vincent rocking that coat in the park.
Suddenly, Francis's face went dark.
Last night, Harper had rushed out with barely anything on, and while she waited, Vincent had thrown his coat over her.
But later, Isla brought a thicker jacket, yet Harper still chose to wear Vincent's coat when she came over.
Harper looked at Francis and asked softly, "How are you feeling?"
Even though Francis was exhausted, he tried not to show it. "I'm good."
Harper's eyes got teary, and she sniffled, saying softly, "How can it be?"
Seeing her red eyes, Francis felt a pang in his heart. His hand, resting by his side, lifted but stopped just a fist's distance from the bed.
It was like an invisible line was holding him back.
Francis could ignore his own reputation, but Harper might be staying in Emerald Isle for a long time; he couldn't ignore that.
"I'm sorry," Francis apologized. "Did I scare you?"
"No," Harper choked up, "I'm not that scared."
Francis's knee injury, in a way, was because of her.
If he hadn't been so determined to get rid of Stanley's threat to Harper, he wouldn't have gotten hurt so badly!
Francis looked at Harper's belly, his gaze barely focused. "How's your health? Are the babies okay?"
The two of them, talking gently like this, hadn't had such a moment in a long time.
Harper swallowed her bitterness and said, "I'm fine. The babies are well-behaved and don't kick me all the time."
"Kicking you?" Francis's interest was piqued. "The babies kick?"
Francis hadn't been around during Harper's pregnancy and had no idea about fetal movements.
"Yeah, sometimes they can be quite naughty." As Harper spoke, her belly suddenly protruded a little.
Francis watched in amazement. "Are they kicking you?"
"Yeah."
Seeing Francis's eyes light up, Harper softly asked, "Do you want to feel it?"
Francis's eyes shone brightly. "Can I?"
"Of course," Harper said. "You're the father."
Hearing this, Francis didn't feel the joy he had imagined. Instead, he felt that Harper was planning to distance herself from him.
Her calm mention of the babies indicated she had made a certain decision.
Francis's eyes gradually dimmed, but he couldn't help reaching out to Harper's belly, gently touching it.
The babies inside gave Francis a kick.
It was Francis's first time experiencing the miracle of life; it was truly wonderful!
Francis and Harper's children would continue to grow in this small belly.
"Harper, let me stay. I want to see them born with my own eyes." Francis pleaded softly, "I won't disturb you. Please don't make me leave."
Harper gently closed her eyes, feeling an indescribable pain.
Knowing that Francis was at risk of amputation, she couldn't just do nothing and let him go down.
He was still in his prime, with a bright future ahead of him.
Harper looked at him and said, "Francis, you are the babies' father; that's an undeniable fact, but..."
Francis knew the words following this "but" would be hurtful, yet he had to listen.
Harper continued, "But I'm married. I have my own life. If you stay, it will cause misunderstandings between my husband and me, and I don't want that to happen." Harper tugged at the coat, like she was trying to get warmer.
She was basically telling him that everything had changed and there was no going back.
She said, "What we had felt like a lifetime's worth of stuff. Since we weren't right for each other, splitting up was the right call. Now, I just want a simple life with Vincent. Can you get that?"
Francis's lips pressed tightly together, and the light in his eyes started to fade.
Harper knew Francis got what she was saying. It wouldn't take long for him to come to terms with it.
"I hope you can understand." Harper stood up, looking at the light streaming in from the window, her eyes downcast. "Don't worry. I'll invite you to the babies' first birthday party. Just go back to Northfield for treatment. The climate there is better for you."
After saying this, Harper lifted her foot and walked out.
"Harper, don't go." Francis called after her, his eyes filled with darkness.
He, exhausted, said softly, "I'm begging you. I really won't do anything. I just want to see the babies born. When Agnes was born, I wasn't there. This time, I really don't want to miss it."
The proud Francis put aside his pride and pleaded with Harper once more.
Harper's determined steps halted, but she said nothing.
Wesley's words still lingered in her mind, "In such cases, amputation isn't unheard of."
Francis couldn't have an amputation! Such a proud person, his life would be ruined if he had an amputation!
Harper closed her eyes and said coldly, "Francis, it's impossible for us. But you are still the children's father. I will let you see them in the future. But if you do anything irrational again, I won't let you see them. Clearly, they need a stable father more."
These words made Francis instantly fell silent.
The children were his bottom line. If he couldn't even see them, he would have no reason to live.
"Harper, do you really want to go this far?" Francis wasn't without a temper. He had never been a good-tempered person, but he had always held back for Harper.
He angrily said, "When we were at the hotel, you said that once we got out, our family would live a good life together. But you broke your promise and married someone else. You lied to me!"
Francis clearly remembered that in the banquet hall, Harper had supported him and said those words.
She had said it herself, and now she was overturning it herself.
And he had seen the surveillance footage. That Harper, whom everyone thought was heartless, would sneak to his ward every night to take a look.
She wouldn't go in, just look from outside, with her hunched shoulders and the gesture of wiping away tears. Wasn't that a sign of still loving him?
Francis didn't understand why Harper would give him hope and then push him into the abyss.
"Harper, you know I love you, and that's why you're so cruel to me," Francis said despondently. "You are so heartless."
Harper was at a loss, not knowing how to respond.
She knew her own thoughts clearly. It wasn't that she didn't love him, but she didn't dare to love him anymore. The cost of love was too high; she couldn't afford it!
The door swung open.
Vincent walked in, his face calm and gentle. "All done talking?"
Francis's face froze for a second, then he realized Vincent had been waiting outside the whole time.
So, Harper had planned this conversation with Vincent beforehand?
Francis found it hard to swallow, but the truth was staring him in the face.
Vincent took Harper's hand and looked at Francis. "Mr. Getty, it's better for your leg to be treated back in Northfield. We'd be happy to have you come over for the babies' first birthday party."
Compared to Vincent's openness, Francis's selfishness and insistence seemed pretty disgraceful.
Right then, Francis felt like a shameless guy trying to wreck someone else's marriage.
Francis clenched his fists, his body going rigid.
Vincent glanced at Francis calmly, not bothered by his lack of response or rudeness.
Vincent lowered his head and said gently to Harper, "Let's go home."
"Okay," Harper nodded.
That simple word carried a sense of reliance.
Harper leaned heavily on Vincent, and they looked just like a loving couple.
Vincent's hand shifted from holding to interlocking fingers, and the two walked out hand in hand.
For a moment, Francis felt an urge to get out of bed and chase after them, to break them apart.
Harper had once promised to be with him, but now she was leaving without hesitation, holding Vincent's hand.
Francis tried to get up, but his stiff legs had long lost their feeling. He couldn't even manage to chase after them.
The bedside lamp crashed to the floor.
The loud noise reached Harper's ears.
She knew they had truly reached the end.
Harper wanted to be brave, but the cost was too high for her to bear, so she had to give in.
The dangers lurking around them hadn't disappeared with Audrey's death; instead, they continued to grow in the darkness.
Harper had to prepare for the worst. If she couldn't escape, the children would still have Francis.
Parents were irreplaceable, and at least one of them should remain.
If they were destined not to love each other, then Harper's greatest wish was for Francis to live safely and healthily.
As they walked, Harper didn't even realize her face was covered in tears.
Vincent stopped in front of the car, pressing Harper's shoulders to let her lean into his embrace.
"Just cry if you want to," Vincent said, looking down at her hair. "No one can see."
Harper's shoulders shook, finally able to cry freely without being noticed.
Vincent felt heartache seeing Harper shed so many tears. He stroked her hair and said gently, "Why be so strong? You don't need to go to the battlefield."
Vincent, usually mature and gentle, rarely made such teasing remarks.
After hearing this, Harper's mood unexpectedly lightened a bit.
Vincent sighed and said, "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on his treatment."
Vincent felt like a failure, not as brave as Francis. At least Francis dared to pursue love, while he himself didn't dare to say anything. He feared that once he spoke, everything would vanish, leaving him in an even worse situation.
Harper felt embarrassed for soaking Vincent's sweater with her tears. "I'll have Isla buy you a new one when we get back."
Vincent thought, 'If Harper bought it, I would accept it.'
He smiled, "No need, it's not that precious. Let's go home."
He opened the car door for Harper.
After the car drove away, the straight figure at the hospital window remained standing there.
Francis watched Vincent and Harper laughing and being affectionate, feeling as if his heart was being stabbed, bleeding profusely. Holding her, hugging her, comforting her—those were supposed to be his roles.
Vincent had completely taken his place.
Francis left by plane the next day.
Returning to Northfield for surgery at this time meant he would miss Harper's delivery.
Francis didn't want to miss Harper's delivery, but Harper didn't give him the chance. She was ruthless and decisive.
She used facts to show him that she truly intended to live a good life with someone else.
Francis couldn't calmly watch their affectionate actions.
If this continued, he didn't know what he might do—something crazy or even more degrading.
His upbringing and pride wouldn't allow him to continue like this.
It was better to return to Northfield and give her the peace she wanted.
After learning that Francis had left, Harper didn't show much concern.
She still went out for walks every couple of days, with Vincent always accompanying her.
In the evening, the dishes on the table were all made to Harper's taste.
But she seemed uninterested.
Vincent walked in. "Ready for dinner?"
Harper looked up at Vincent, a bit puzzled. "Vincent, why are you here?"
A servant took Vincent's coat and hung it up.
Vincent said, "I'm here to have dinner with you."
Recently, Vincent had been busy with the procedures to leave the Perry Family, using the excuse of taking Harper to live in another country.
The Perry Family had a rule that once married, one could leave, but few chose to actually leave Emerald Isle.
They had power and opportunities here, making it easy to do anything.
But Vincent's thoughts didn't align with these people.
The Perry Family was inherently treacherous and combative. In the early days, much of their wealth was plundered.
The first generation of them were notorious bandits, and it took years of transformation to rebrand themselves as wealthy and refined.
But at its core, the Perry Family still believed that anything was permissible in the pursuit of profit.
Vincent couldn't engage in such dirty deeds. Leaving the Perry Family was both his long-held wish and his mother Jade Marie's wish.
Jade had been forcibly married to Gabriel. After having children, she was neglected among Gabriel's many wives.
She became increasingly despondent and finally, when Vincent was eight, she hanged herself with a silk scarf.
The night before her death, Jade told Vincent, "Vincent, my only wish in this life is to leave the Perry Family. I'm about to achieve it. Don't hate me. If you're unhappy here, be brave and leave when you grow up. I'll support you."
The next day, Vincent realized that Jade's idea of leaving was actually suicide.
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