I Once Married You (Harper and Benjamin)

I'm Not Free

The whole morning passed like this. The staff at the Courthouse had already got off work. Harper remained seated in the car, waiting patiently, until Curtis finally arrived. Curtis said, "Mrs. Martin, Mr. Martin has to stay in the hospital with Ms. Davis. I'll take you back."

"How is Lauren?"

"She's fine. It was a food-induced allergy, so her heart beat faster. Now, she's taken medicine and injections, and it's under control."NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

"I see."

Curtis drove the car.

Harper remained silent, feeling inexplicably irritated. She wondered why, now that Lauren was well, he could not spare some time to get through the divorce proceedings. It seemed that nothing could outweigh Lauren.

When Harper returned to Pineview Villa, the servants were all frightened. She asked Draven, "Why was Ms. Davis allergic?"

"She is allergic to almonds. It was the cook's negligence. Harper, don't worry."

Harper frowned slightly, pondering, "If Lauren is allergic to almonds, Benjamin would have already warned the cook, right? How could such an accident happen?"

She didn't think much about it and just felt a little strange.

In the hospital ward, Lauren rested against the bed while receiving an IV drip. Though her face was marked with red spots, they had considerably diminished since she began her course of injections and medication. Her gaze remained fixed on Benjamin, seated on the nearby sofa, engrossed in his work on the computer.

He had been here to accompany her for most of the day, which made Lauren feel very sweet and moved.

He really cared about her the most.

Lauren couldn't help but ask, "Benjamin, I am well. If there are a lot of matters, go to the company, and don't worry about me, okay?"

"There's no rush. After you finish the IV, I'll take you back and go to work."

Benjamin glanced at Lauren gently.

"Benjamin, you are so kind to me." She showed a sweet smile, which was unique to a girl in love.

Staring at her, Benjamin said, "As long as you are happy."

Lauren said, "Benjamin, I'm delighted. H-Have you and Harper completed the formalities?"

In fact, she wanted to ask upon seeing Benjamin, but she didn't get the chance. There were doctors and nurses, and then Curtis came. It was only now that she could do it. She looked at Benjamin expectantly, waiting for him to nod and say yes.

But he went quiet for a long time. Lauren asked in confusion, "Benjamin, what's wrong? Why don't you speak?"

He replied, "The formalities haven't been completed yet."

Lauren's eyes widened in astonishment. She subconsciously flew into a rage and asked, "Why? Why haven't they been completed?"

Benjamin frowned slightly. Belatedly realizing she had lost control, she hastened to explain, "Benjamin, I don't mean anything else. I only want to know why."

"Harper and I had just arrived at the Courthouse when Draven called and told me that you were allergic and hospitalized."

He made a concise explanation.

Lauren naturally understood the reason. Unsure whether to feel relieved or disappointed, she whispered, "I'm sorry, Benjamin. It's all my fault. If I hadn't eaten haphazardly, you and Harper's proceedings wouldn't have been delayed. Otherwise, you would have been divorced by now. I..."

"Well, Lauren, as long as you're fine, it doesn't matter. Other things can be rearranged."

"Okay."

Looking at Benjamin, Lauren nodded and felt very unhappy.

A question popped up in her mind. She thought, "Without my accident today, would he really have divorced Harper?

Furthermore, Draven mentioned that the bowl of soup I consumed in the morning had been prepared under Benjamin's personal instruction, so I ate it without hesitation. Additionally, I only had a small amount of bread. How could I suddenly develop an allergy?

Does it have nothing to do with Benjamin?"

The more she pondered, the clearer it became that she understood him less and less. She wondered what he was thinking.

*****

In the Martin Manor, Paul also learned that Benjamin and Harper were not divorced.

He didn't say anything. With his eyes closed, he continued listening to the opera to pass the time.

Lily murmured, "Is Benjamin bewitched by Lauren? I need to find a chance to meet her."

No one noticed a meaningful smile on Paul's face.

*****

At night, Benjamin returned to the bedroom.

Harper was still waiting for him. At the sight of him, she asked, "Benjamin, is Ms. Davis okay?"

"Yes, she is. It's just a minor allergy."

"Well, that's fine." She said, "Shall we go through the divorce procedures tomorrow?"

Benjamin's face instantly darkened, and he said coldly, "I'm not free tomorrow."

"Can't you spare half an hour?"

"No."

Benjamin refused directly and said, "Harper, the Martin Group is not mine alone. There are countless employees. I cannot put other people at risk because of a personal matter. If I slack off even a little, many families will be in dire straits."

His tone and eyes were inexplicably chilly.

Harper asked softly, "When will you be free?"

"I'm not free for the next period," Benjamin said bluntly.

Harper was silent for a while. Feeling unaccountably displeased, she said, "Benjamin, I don't believe that taking half an hour out of your schedule will affect the Martin Group. Or maybe you have the time but do not want to go through the formalities. Are you in love with me?"

Benjamin snorted, "Harper, do you know what you are talking about? What makes you think that?"

"If not, why don't you go with me?"

"I told you I'm not available."

Benjamin's face was icy, and his eyes were deep. He was in a bad mood.

Harper pressed forward step by step. "You have time to spend the whole morning with Lauren, but can't you spare half an hour to go through the divorce procedures with me?"

"What right do you think you have to compare yourself to her?"

Benjamin's cold question hushed Harper.

Her eyes widened. She then understood his words.

She thought, "Yes, I am not worthy to be compared with Lauren. He loves her deeply, but what about me? I mean nothing to him."

Harper was heartbroken.

Benjamin approached her and asked, "Why are you so anxious? Do you want to be with Frank, so you can't wait to distance yourself from me?"

Harper looked up at him. Their eyes locked, and neither ducked. Before he could say anything else, she said softly, "Yes, I want to be with him, so can you divorce me quickly?"

She thought, "Since he can say that I am not worthy of comparison with Lauren, why can't I tell him that I'd like to be with someone else?"

"Harper, how dare you provoke me? Are you courting death?" Benjamin said furiously.

"Benjamin, I'm telling the truth. After all, isn't that how you treat me?"

She thought, "As he can do it, why can't I follow suit?"

"Have you forgotten your identity? You have never had the right to say no during our marriage. I make all the decisions. I have told you this clearly from the beginning. What? Are you going to regret it?' Benjamin asked coldly.

"We are about to get divorced, so what's wrong with me dating someone else? Aren't you already planning to marry Lauren?"

Harper didn't know why it seemed like a heinous crime for her.

Benjamin sneered, raised his hand to pinch her chin, and asked, "Are you determined to be with Frank?"

Her silence signaled agreement. Since he interpreted it that way, she saw no need to elaborate.