Chapter 6
I woke up to the sharp smell of disinfectant.]]
My body was wrapped in bandages, every movement exhausting.]
“Harper, you’re finally awake. Thank God you’re okay. Thank God Daddy protected you this time…“]
A warm, weathered hand stroked my hair.[]
I looked at Dad’s haggard face and burst into tears.[]
After a long moment, I slowly reached toward my belly.[]
The flatness under my fingertips destroyed me completely…]
“Dad… my baby…”
Dad’s tears hit my pillow. It took him forever to speak:[]
“We couldn’t save him, Harper. Daddy tried everything…”
Crushing despair flooded my heart. I was about to respond when the door burst open.[]
Blake stumbled in, looking like hell.[]
The second he saw me, he dropped to his knees beside my bed.[]
SLAP!
Dad slapped him hard and was about to have security throw him out, but I stopped him.
“Dad…“]
After eight years together, we needed closure.[]
Dad understood. He sighed deeply and left the room, but not before warning me: “Harper, don’t go soft on him this time…“[]
After Dad left, Blake seemed to breathe easier.[]
He grabbed my hand, his red eyes brimming with apologies: “I’m so sorry, Harper. I never thought things would go this far. I asked the doctor before putting you in there–he said since you were full–term, with proper monitoring, there wouldn’t be serious problems. I didn’t know it would hurt our baby…”
“Harper, I know you don’t like Claire, I promise–just forgive me and I’ll never contact her again, Please?“]
Seeing Blake’s remorseful expression, eight years of memories flashed through my mind like a movie.[]
I’d first met Blake in Dad’s office.]
Back then, Dad had been interviewing candidates for a personal assistant position. Blake was a recommendation from some no–name headhunter–a fresh college grad.]]
Dad already had his preferred candidate and was about to dismiss the remaining applicants when he saw Blake in the doorway, head split open and bleeding from a fallen chandelier.]
Underneath him was me.
That massive chandelier had suddenly crashed down from the company ceiling. Without Blake, I would’ve died that day.[]
This incident earned Blake a chance to work for Dad.]
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Chapter 6
He wasn’t particularly talented or worldly. His people skills and business abilities were mediocre at best.]
But Dad was always grateful for genuine favors.
Because Blake had saved my life, Dad began teaching him the same way he’d taught me–patiently showing him how to navigate society.
More importantly, Dad started teaching Blake about business.[]
I’d grown up surrounded by wealth, and all the boys I knew had followed paths paved by their fathers.]
I’d never met someone with such raw hunger for success.[]
He was like wild grass, desperately trying to take root in our privileged world.[]
Dad was the first to notice my feelings for Blake.[]
On my birthday, he called me into his study for an all–night conversation:[]
“Harper, Blake isn’t right for you. I understand his drive attracts you, but that same hunger will end up hurting you. You should find someone from our own world…”
I cut Dad off before he could finish.]
And I never gave him another chance to voice his objections.[]
After that birthday, I moved out of the family estate with my suitcase and quit my job at the family company.
This was my way of showing my determination to be with Blake.[]
Dad stopped interfering after that.[]
So Blake and I naturally started dating, then got married.[]
In those early days, we were practically the talk of the town–people said we’d broken the centuries–old “equal social standing” rule that governed our circle.
Blake gradually established himself at Winston Industries while my startup began showing promise.
No matter how late Blake worked, he’d always wait outside my office building with flowers, ready to take me home.
Everyone knew Blake never scheduled business dinners past 9 PM.]
In fact, he’d usually leave by 8:30 to come find me.[]
Blake’s love gave me confidence when facing Dad.]
On my birthday eight years later, in that same study, I’d raised my wine glass and smiled at Dad: “See? I’ve got great taste in men. Now that we’re having a baby, you can finally give us your real blessing, right?“]
He looked up and, for the first time in eight years, responded to my relationship with Blake: “Harper, how about we make a bet? If Blake passes this test, I’ll hand over the Winston empire to him completely…”
That’s how our wager came to be.]
The next day, Dad was pushed off a boat into the ocean by business rivals.]
Within three days, Winston Industries completely collapsed like a wounded beast…]
