Chapter 2
Ahead, Ethan noticed a familiar tall figure in the rain. He suddenly stopped. “Mason, look who’s here.”
Mason Brooks held an umbrella and smiled faintly, but his eyes were cold and distant. Since that incident three years ago, he had become quiet and withdrawn.
He hummed softly and glanced past Ethan. When Harper heard his name again, she thought she’d feel excitement or urgency to see him. But none of that came. Not even a trace of nervousness stirred.
It turned out that after losing all hope, she felt a strange calm–her emotions loose, touched only by that barely perceptible, icy glance. It was
Mason.
In the misty rain stood two men: one elegant and dignified, the other dark and handsome. In terms of family background, looks, talents, and character, they were evenly matched. They had been close friends since. childhood, always attracting attention wherever they went.
In the past, one was her brother, the other the man she loved most.
Now, both had become her enemies.
Her hand weakened, and the umbrella tilted slightly. She stayed under it. and, out of politeness, greeted, “Mr. Brooks, it’s been a long time.”
When Harper still had the surname Walker, she would never have addressed Mason this way.
Her words opened up a chasm between them, nothing like the sweet, affectionate title she used to call over and over again.
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Chapter 2
“When did you come back?” Mason’s voice carried no warmth. Mixed with the sound of rain, it cut to the bone.
Ethan, with a hint of amusement, said, “The family heard that her biological father fell into the river and drowned. Mom kept going on about it, so here we are–brought her back. Brought trouble back with her, more like. Who knows who she will end up killing this time before she is satisfied.”
Glancing at Mason, he added with a smirk, “Mason, you had better be careful–careful not to get tangled up with that troublemaker again.”
Back in those years, Harper had clung to Mason relentlessly–finding out what he liked, keeping the cigarettes he had touched, creating countless “chance” encounters, all just to get one step closer to him.
Everyone in their circle knew she liked Mason. Everyone also knew Mason could not stand her.
This book had been added on your bookshelf.
Otherwise, when her true ramy background was exposed, he would not only have refused to help her–he would not have gone so far as to use every possible means to nearly cost her her life.
If Ethan was the second person who hated her most, Mason was the first. His dark, cutting gaze, sharp as a blade, pierced through the rain falling off the umbrella, as though he could slice Harper to pieces. “Is that so? She still dares?”
Fear rose up inside her.
Harper gripped the umbrella tighter, her voice trembling. “Mr. Brooks, I will not. It was my fault in the past for causing you trouble. I am sorry.”
Standing in the wind and rain, her malnourished body was swallowed by oversized clothes. The wind billowed her loose pant legs. She spoke in a wavering voice, without a trace of the grace that had once belonged to Ms. Walker.
11:57
Chapter 2
How had she become like this?
Back then, bolstered by her family’s favor, Harper had not hesitated to insult Ethan, her older brother, and Mason had been obliged to treat her with some courtesy because of the Walker family’s connection to Ethan.
In Moridise, she had ruled with arrogance, stirring up trouble wherever she went. No one dared cross her, but many despised her.
Yet in just three years-
Without the Walker family’s protection and status, she was now living worse than a stray dog on the streets, even learning how to beg.
Mason stepped forward, his gaze level as he brushed past Harper. His tone, casual and understated, struck harder than Ethan’s blunt cruelty.
“I will go ahead, before something filthy dirties my eyes again.”
Ethan let out a dry laugh, then urged Harper. “What are you standing there for? Get inside.”
“Oh–right.” Harper came back to herself and hurried after him.
As she stepped over the threshold, her foot caught on something, and she stumbled forward, her chin hitting the floor hard enough to make her back molars ache.
