Chapter 588 He Loves Her Very Much
A young guy's voice cut through the air, "Are you nuts?"
Harper didn't mean to eavesdrop, but those voices were way too familiar.
Then the girl piped up again, "Noah, listen, I'm not just hooking up with guys to tick you off. I'm gonna sleep with them and make you jealous!"
Harper glanced over. It was Lily, rocking a pink fur coat and sounding all spoiled.
Noah, clearly annoyed, shot back, "Lily, how many times do I have to tell you? I don't like you. Remember that camping trip? You got drunk and kissed me in the tent. That was my first kiss. I let it slide, but now you're all over me!"
Lily, fuming, yelled, "Noah, are you even a man?"
Noah raised an eyebrow, "Does being a man mean I have to put up with this? Even if you sleep with a hundred guys, I won't get jealous because we have nothing to do with each other. Got it?"
Lily stomped her foot, furious, "Not a hundred, I'll find a thousand. I'm heading to the bar right now to find some guys!"
Noah shrugged, "Go for it! But the bars around here aren't that big. Finding a thousand might be tough."
Lily stopped crying and smirked, "I knew it, you can't stand to see me go."
Noah crossed his arms, eyebrow still raised, "I'm just saying, you might need to hit up a few more bars. One won't cut it."
"You!" Lily was so mad she couldn't even speak and ran off, covering her face.
As she passed Harper, Lily didn't recognize her and kept running, still crying.
Noah didn't waste any time either and walked off in the opposite direction.
Harper frowned, thinking, 'Lily and Noah? What's the deal with Francis then? Is he just a pawn in Lily's game to make Noah jealous?'
Harper's mouth twitched. She never thought Francis would end up being used like that.
Back in her room, Harper fed the babies, and then Jasper showed up.
They were going to invite Arthur out on the day of the babies' birth celebration.
The babies would be secretly sent to Clayton's place beforehand to keep them safe.
Clayton had already taken Agnes back to Northfield, where gun control was super strict and safer than other places.
To make sure they could rescue Elodie without any worries, Harper agreed.
As the main event of the babies' birth celebration, Harper obviously couldn't be absent, so the babies would have to be on formula for a few days.
Harper thought about what she had just seen with Lily and told Jasper.
She asked, "Jasper, maybe you should let Francis know to keep an eye on Lily to avoid any drama."
After all, Lily was Francis's responsibility. If something went wrong, he wouldn't be able to explain it to the Sullivan Family.
Jasper was taken aback. He hadn't had the chance to update Harper about Francis lately.
Francis had been in a coma for five days due to severe blood loss. Even though he got a blood transfusion later, it was a bit late, and he developed complications in his leg. The doctor diagnosed it as osteoarthritis.
The doctor said Francis would probably need a cane for the rest of his life, with a slim chance of full recovery.
The doctor felt pretty bad about it because, based on how Francis bounced back from previous surgeries, he should've been able to walk just fine.
But that night when Francis saved Harper, he carried her for so long that he messed up his joints without even knowing it. Later, the massive blood loss led to serious knee complications.
All this added up to Francis probably having a permanent limp.
Jasper had no clue how to break this to Harper.
Harper seemed upbeat now, but that was because she didn't know. If she found out Francis got crippled because of her, Jasper couldn't even imagine the guilt she'd feel.
Jasper remembered when Francis woke up and heard the news, he just sat there, silent for ages.
Given Francis's status, he had to show up at a lot of events. Suddenly being crippled would definitely stir up a ton of gossip.
Jasper felt super guilty. If he had seen the complications coming during Harper's delivery, none of this would've happened.
In the end, Francis just told Jasper not to tell Harper about his blood donation. He didn't want her feeling guilty.
Jasper felt awful and recently found a chance to bring the two babies to see Francis.
During the rescue, Francis hadn't even looked at the babies. When he finally saw them, his eyes lit up a bit, breaking through the lifeless look. A flicker of something akin to warmth touched his heart. After all, they were his kids.
Back then, Francis was more worried about Harper. He knew donating that much blood could lead to all sorts of risks, even death.
But if Harper was gone, what was the point of his life? He couldn't handle it and would've followed her if she died.
After holding the babies for a bit, Francis handed them back to Jasper and said calmly, "Harper's always worried I'd fight for custody. Tell her not to stress. I won't. If you need me to sign something to guarantee it, I can do that anytime, or Victor can draft something for you to check out."
Jasper felt a deep sense of guilt towards Francis. He regretted all his past misunderstandings about him.
He realized no one could love Harper more than Francis.
Jasper said softly, "Honestly, if Harper knew your condition was because of her, she'd definitely forgive you."
Jasper felt he couldn't be too selfish. Even though he favored Harper, he couldn't let Francis sacrifice himself like this and just stand by.
He genuinely hoped Francis and Harper could be together. Nothing beat having a family united.
Francis was quiet for a bit and then shook his head. "I don't want her to choose me out of guilt and sympathy."
Harper found it odd that Jasper wasn't saying much and asked, "Is Francis really that busy? He doesn't even care about the person he brought?"
Jasper hesitated and then said, "He's not feeling well lately and is in the hospital."
Harper was taken aback, "What do you mean not feeling well? Didn't he come to discuss a project? Didn't they say his leg was healed and just needed some rest?"
Jasper shook his head, "I'm not really sure about the details. Why don't you go ask him when you have time? He's in the VIP ward on the second floor."
Jasper felt that was all he could do.
The issues between them needed to be sorted out face-to-face.
Since Francis didn't want Harper to come back out of guilt and sympathy, Jasper decided to keep it under wraps for now and see what Harper really felt.
If Harper couldn't let go after seeing Francis's condition, it would mean she still had feelings for him.
At that point, Jasper would consider telling her the truth and let her make her own choice.
But if Harper truly had no feelings for Francis, even in his current state, and wouldn't be with him, then Jasper would selfishly keep the blood donation a secret.
Jasper didn't want to see Harper make a decision out of emotional obligation.
After Jasper left, Harper was restless for a long time. She didn't know how bad "not feeling well" meant.
But now, it seemed like this wasn't something she should be concerned about.
Harper thought about it and decided not to go.
The next day, she went for a walk in the small garden, ending up in the VIP ward area on the second floor.
This wasn't even on the same path as the small garden.
Harper convinced herself that since she was already here, she might as well take a look, even if it was just a quick peek.
She walked inside, but the room was empty.
"Ms. Murphy," came Victor's voice from behind, "Are you here to see Mr. Getty?"
Harper turned around, blushing, and stammered, "I... I just pass by."
The VIP ward was highly private; she couldn't just "pass by" here.
Victor saw through her but didn't say anything. "Mr. Getty just went for a walk in the garden. You can find him there."
Given Francis's current condition, Victor naturally hoped Harper could offer some comfort.
Seeing Harper standing still, Victor worried she wouldn't go and asked, "Would you like me to take you there?"
Harper snapped out of it, "No need, I know the way."
She hesitated for a moment but decided to go see him.
She wondered why Francis's health was still so poor after all this time since she had given birth.
When she reached the garden, she saw Francis's back in a wheelchair from a distance.
Just as she was about to approach, she saw Francis, who had been sitting, suddenly stand up with the help of his cane.
Then, Francis let go of the cane, seemingly trying to take a few steps. As soon as he moved one leg, the other couldn't support him, and he fell back into the wheelchair.
Harper covered her mouth, utterly shocked.
She remembered that Francis used to be able to stand up and walk independently for a short distance without relying on the cane.
How had it suddenly become so severe?
Despite falling, Francis didn't give up. He stood up with the cane again and repeated the attempt, with the same result.
Without the cane, he couldn't walk at all.
Then, Harper saw Francis throw the cane aside, sitting in the wheelchair with one hand hanging limply, looking utterly disappointed.
Seeing this, Harper felt a sharp pain in her heart. She couldn't understand how Francis's condition had gotten so bad.
No wonder Jasper wasn't as hostile towards Francis anymore.
Just then, a ball rolled over and stopped right at Francis's feet.
A chubby boy, Bryan Thorne, along with two skinny kids, ran over to get the ball.
Seeing the ball at Francis's feet, Bryan shouted, "Hey, cripple!"
Francis didn't react, but Harper's hand clenched instantly.
Bryan had clearly seen Francis's earlier attempt to stand and walk, laughing loudly, "The cripple in the wheelchair, don't pretend you didn't hear me!"
Francis turned his head, his eyes cold, "Are you talking to me?"
Bryan was startled by Francis's gaze but quickly remembered that his parents were powerful. He couldn't lose face in front of his friends.
Bryan laughed loudly, "Who else would I be talking to? There's only one cripple here!"
Bryan's words made one of the skinny kids, Manuel Ross, laugh as well.
Manuel laughed and said, "This cripple is so funny. I just saw him trying to stand up!"
Harper was furious, wanting to rush out and teach those two rude kids a lesson. But she was afraid Francis might not want to see her.
Francis had always been very proud. If she went out now, it might backfire. She had to hold back and keep watching.
"This gentleman looks quite handsome. He seems like he could be someone important," said another skinny boy, Bill Myers, as if trying to remind Bryan not to mock someone who might be powerful.
Bryan scoffed, "What's the use of being handsome? Who would like a cripple?"
Bryan clapped his hands and walked closer to mock, "Cripple, if you can pick up the ball for me, I'll ask my dad to get you a prosthetic leg."
Manuel didn't understand and asked, "How does he fit a prosthetic leg? Doesn't he already have legs?"
"What's the use of having legs if they can't walk? He's just like a piece of trash!" Bryan's words were particularly vicious.
Harper could tell at a glance that Bryan was the kind of spoiled brat who bullied others because his family had money.
So young and already so malicious, who knew how arrogant and bullying he would become when he grew up.
Bryan continued to mock, "I say, just cut off those legs and fit a prosthetic. It would be better than those useless legs!"
Francis's face was cold. He seemed unwilling to waste words on these kids. He preferred to deal with the parents who raised such kids, believing it would be more effective.
Seeing Francis's indifferent attitude, Bryan felt disdainful.
"Cripple, I'm talking to you. Didn't you hear me?" As Bryan spoke, he maliciously kicked Francis's leg that couldn't stand.
Francis's eyes turned cold, and just as he was about to reach out, a stone flew out and hit Bryan's calf.
Bryan sat on the ground, crying loudly, "Who the hell..."
A hazelnut flew directly into Bryan's mouth. Though it didn't hurt as much as a stone, it was enough to make him feel a lot of pain!
Bryan cried out, "Who..."
Halfway through his shout, he covered his mouth, afraid of getting hit again for cursing.
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