Chapter 9
Ava didn’t let go, “Harper, I was wrong these years for not visiting you.”
“I understand.”
Touching her hair and the bony shoulders and neck, Ava asked what she truly wanted to know, “Do you still have feelings for Mason?”
Before she could finish, Harper shook her head, “No, I know my place. You can rest easy.”
“1
“I didn’t mean that”
“I know. I won’t cause any more trouble.”
Especially not the kind of trouble that could lead to someone’s death. She wouldn’t dare to make such a mistake again.
The more sincere Harper was, the more heartbroken that smile became. “I will try to introduce you to some men If we can get married, that would be best, but if not, I won’t stay and make things difficult for you.”
-Leaving Harper in the rain was too much. Noah’s mother brought him over early in the morning to apologize personally, and Ava accompanied them downstairs.
Harper caught a severe cold and was groggily pulled up to wash and change into the clothes Ava had prepared. The nanny nagged a bit, mainly complaining about how thin she had become. The smallest–sized dress didn’t fit her waist, and it had to be sewn with a few stitches to fit properly.
Urged to go downstairs, the nanny had sewn in a hurry, and the needle had pricked her flesh several times. Harper gritted her teeth and didn’t
288 Vouchers
Chapter 9
make a sound.
Downstairs, Winifred was pulling Noah and apologizing to Ava. The sound of footsteps came down, and the three of them looked up. Wrapped in their gazes, Harper lowered her head shyly and slowed her pace. Ava stepped forward and took her hand, leading her over.
“So this is Harper?”
The Bennett family had only recently emerged in Moridise in the past two years, and they didn’t know much about the things surrounding Harper. At first glance, she was just a thin and quiet girl, with no trace of the arrogance and domineering behavior that hers had described.
Winifred stood up and reached for Harper’s hand, but she stood still like a
statue.
wee
“It’s all my fault for not raising my child well. Noah is like this, always joking around.” Winifred tugged at Noah and urged, “Aren’t you going to apologize to Harper?”
Noah casually adjusted his collar, glanced at Harper, and curled his lip with disdain. A dimple on his left cheek added a touch of nonchalant charm. “Sorry about that.”
In the past, Harper would have looked down on a man like him. She had fantasized countless times about marrying Mason, becoming his bride, and having his children. She had thought of him through so many cold and windy nights, only for those dreams to turn into nothing.
Facing Noah, who stood right in front of her, Harper forced a smile that wasn’t very pretty. “It’s okay.”
Noah was taken aback for a moment, wiped the side of his nose, turned his face away, and didn’t look at her anymore. He seemed very uncomfortable.
Chapter 9
288 Vouchers
Ava tried hard to matchmake between them and had the driver take them to dine separately.
On the way, Noah sat on the other side, propping his face with his hand and looking at the street scenery outside. Harper sat beside him, sitting properly with her hands on her lap and her face lowered in silence.
This was completely different from what Noah had heard about her. People had described Harper as willful and arrogant, always trying to draw attention to herself, making a lot of noise, and using her family’s power and influence to be the center of attention in any situation.
But the Harper in front of him was quiet and reserved, like a white jasmine with weak vitality and a faint scent; even the color of its stem was dull. If it were buried in the farthest corner of a flower bed, it might never be noticed until it withered away.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Noah ignored Harper, got out of the car by himself, and went in. He ordered a lot of food without asking about Harper’s dietary restrictions or opinions.
