Chapter 4
Harper paused.
She looked at Serena on the sofa. The woman tilted her head, giving Harper a sidelong glance, her red lips curving into a swung
smile.
Harper immediately understood and rubbed her temples in annoyance.
“I don’t even know who her father’s enemies are. How could I leak her whereabouts?”
Finn’s expression darkened as he pulled out a stack of photos and threw them at Harper.
“Then how do you explain these photos of you meeting with Mr. Smith’s enemies?”
Harper glanced at the photos on the table, her face going cold.
These were taken days ago when she was selling luxury items to a buyer in a café.
No wonder the man had agreed so readily without haggling, insisting only that they meet in person at the café.
Seeing Harper’s silence, Finn assumed she was admitting guilt, his handsome face turning frighteningly dark.
“Haven’t I told you, regardless of the rumors circulating about Serena and me, that we have a completely platonic relationship? I’ve never seen her as anything but a sister.”
“I’ve always treated Serena like a sister, and she’s genuinely kind–hearted. And you’ve been with me for eight years–you know how I’ve treated you all this time.”
“I proposed to you just days ago, for God’s sake. How could you hurt and provoke her like this? How is that justifiable?”
Harper felt her heart being stabbed with each word.
During their eight–year relationship, one year was him pursuing her to spite Lucas for Serena’s sake, and five years were spent with him disabled while she cared for him.
During those five years, he had been moody, broken down, and wept in the night.
All because he had raced cars recklessly to satisfy Serena’s vanity.
Yet he had forgotten all this pain that originated with Serena.
For those five years, to help his recovery, Harper had secretly studied rehabilitation, massaging his legs daily without fail.
When his mood darkened, she consulted the best psychologists in Riverside to learn how to comfort patients with disabilities.
He remembered none of her sacrifices.
How ironic.
Chapter 4
Harper wanted to ask how he could claim Serena was just a sister when they were trying for a baby together, but she restrained herself.
“Yes, I’ve finally understood how you’ve treated me these past eight years, and how you’ve treated her.”
Finn’s expression tightened. “What are you going on about?”
Harper didn’t want to argue. She pointed to the bandage on her head and smiled bitterly.
“Yesterday when she was kidnapped, I was injured too–five stitches in my head. Would I be stupid enough to hurt her and end up injured myself?”
Despite Harper pointing out this obvious fact, Finn was so fixated on Serena that he still didn’t trust her.
Harper was grateful she would be leaving in three days.
“Finn, since you’re convinced I did it, what do you want to do about it?”
“I’m not saying I don’t believe you. It’s just that I’ve known Serena for sixteen years and seven months, and she’s never lied.”
After a pause, Finn frowned deeply, deciding to resolve the matter:
“Harper, you made Serena cry. You need to comfort her.”
At that moment, Serena, who had been quietly weeping, threw a ring into the pool with a sudden gasp.
“Finn, I accidentally dropped the ring you gave me into the pool.”
Then, looking at Harper, Serena lifted her red lips in challenge:
“How about this? You don’t need to comfort me. Just retrieve that ring, and I’ll forgive everything you’ve done to hurt me.”
It was early winter, and the pool water was freezing cold.
Harper’s head wound hadn’t healed. She looked down at Finn, who was seated.
He kept his eyebrows lowered, his dark eyes hidden.
His long fingers tapped the table, his elegant head bowed, not offering her a single glance.
In that moment, Harper felt something pierce her heart, causing a dense, spreading pain.
She suddenly remembered the six months after Finn was diagnosed as disabled.
His grandfather visited the hospital and, learning there was little hope for recovery, began selecting another heir.
That night, Finn disappeared from his room. When Harper found him, he was pushing his wheelchair into the turbulent sea, letting the cold water rise to his chest.
Harper frantically tried to persuade him to stop, but he shoved her away:
“Stop pretending to care about me. You’re just my girlfriend, not my wife. If you really want to help me, the wind and waves
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Chapter 4
are strong tonight. Swim one lap, and I’ll listen to you from now on.”
Harper stared at him blankly. She wanted to tell him she wasn’t pretending–she truly wanted to be his wife.
So without hesitation, though she couldn’t swim, she plunged into the sea.
The waves were fierce, and she quickly lost consciousness. When she opened her eyes again, she met Finn’s worried gaze.
His expression was terrible, his jaw tight with tension.
“Why didn’t you tell me you can’t swim? Are you crazy? Jumping into the sea when you can’t swim?”
She looked up at him, her voice hoarse:
“Finn, even if your legs never heal, I still want to marry you. I really… like you more than you think.”
After that, Finn never took her near the sea again. Even the pool at home was kept empty.
She found it strange to have an empty pool, and Finn eventually compromised, allowing the staff to fill and change the water daily.
With these thoughts, Harper twisted her lips, her expression blank:
“You want me to get the ring? Fine… I’ll get it.”
