Chapter 25
James gave a faint smile, filled with pity and self–reproach.
He had people keep watch by the hot spring pool and catch a glimpse of Harper when she was changing clothes. He didn’t need to look closely; even through the mist, he could see the scars all over her body.
Those scars were evidence of the suffering Harper had endured over the years, and it was far worse than they had imagined.
“Harper, all of that is in the past,” James said earnestly, trying to ease Harper’s worries. “Ava cares about you. You will still be the young lady of the Walker family. Mr. Walker said it himself.”
Harper shook her head, holding her knife and fork. “Ava does care about me, but I’m not her daughter.”
Having spent these days with her, James could sense her pain and melancholy. He was prepared to spend a long time helping Harper work through her feelings.
Mason overheard this as he approached.
Isabella stood beside him, casually linking her arm with his, and greeted Harper at the table. She raised her arm and called out, “Harper!”
James turned around and met Mason’s deep gaze. He looked back with a complicated expression, but Isabella forcibly pulled him over. “So you came here with Assistant James. No wonder they all say”
“Enough,” Mason said, slightly impatient. “Aren’t we supposed to be cating?”
“Just happened to sit at the same table as Harper.”
Chapter 25.
17
Isabella sat down and asked, her eyes darting between James and Harper. the layers of ambiguity growing stronger and almost igniting into flames. “We’re not in the way, are we?”
It was already too late to say that they were in the way.
Isabella sat next to Harper and glanced at her plate. “Harper, why are you eating so little? You never used to diet before.”
“It’s not a diet.” James, aware that Harper’s personality had changed and that she no longer liked to associate with people like Isabella, spoke up for her. “She just doesn’t have a good appetite and eats less. If Ms. Turner likes, she can order another portion.”
“Mason, what would you like to eat?” Isabella brought over the menu.
She seemed to be ordering food, but in reality, she was stabbing at
Harper’s heart. “I remember you like bluefish, right? But of course, Harper knows you best here.”
Closing the menu, Isabella propped her chin on her hand, and it was unclear whether her tone was hostile or just casual.
“Harper, what do you think?”
Mason didn’t step in to help. Harper lowered her eyes, a faint fragrance emanating from her. She nervously curled her fingers, and everyone was looking at her, with Mason’s gaze the most intense, as if he urgently needed an answer.
After a moment of stalemate, James wanted to answer for her, but Harper looked up. She was going to marry James, and she shouldn’t hesitate about such a question. “I don’t remember.”
“How could you not remember?” Isabella pressed on, making it hard for Harper to breathe. “Didn’t you remember everything about Mason even better than your own period?”
With that, she covered her mouth and laughed.
James frowned deeply. “Ms. Turner, if you’re not here to eat, please don’t disturb us.
“What’s the matter? Just a joke.” Isabella’s lips drooped as she teased again, “Harper, your fiance is a bit stingy, isn’t he?”
No matter what Isabella said about Harper, it didn’t matter, but she couldn’t mock James.
“He’s not stingy.” Harper’s expression was sincere and resolute. “He’s very good.”
As soon as she finished speaking,
Mason, who had been silent, let out a sneer from between his teeth. He suddenly stood up, kicked a chair, and before leaving, he threw out a sarcastic remark, “Ms. Sullivan really has a bad memory for important. things.”
Not only that, but she changed her mind quickly.
If he remembered correctly, when Harper was pursuing him, she never sincerely said he was good like this. In that case, he was even worse than
James.
After drinking a glass of peach juice that Isabella handed her at the dinner table, as soon as Harper got back to the room, a large rash appeared on her arms and neck. She wasn’t allergic to peaches, but the itching was
uncontrollable.
