Chapter 48 Meeting The Witness
Harper listened, a chill running up her spine, filling her with an indescribable fear.
Since signing the contract, Blaze, though prone to anger and outbursts, hadn’t harmed her, and she had gradually lost her fear of him. But now, that fear returned.
“Harper, listen to me. Unless I don’t want you anymore! Otherwise, you will always be mine!” Blaze said, each word dripping with menace.
Suddenly, he lowered his head and fiercely bit her lips.
“Master, there are a few people from the political circle who want to see you,” Dylan interrupted them, reporting to Blaze respectfully.
“Let’s go.” Blaze glanced at Harper and then left with Dylan, leaving her behind.
Harper stood at the doorway of the room, taking a long time to regain her normal breathing.
She touched her lips, which were even more swollen now.
The Blaze from just now… was so terrifying.
The cruise ship sailed slowly on the sea.
People chatted in the corridors. Harper walked alone, leaning against the railing, facing the sea breeze.
She rested her arms on the railing. She had a feeling that even if Lena testified for her, Blaze wouldn’t believe it. He only believed in himself. What should she do? Was she really going to stay by Blaze’s side forever? This wasn’t the life she wanted.
“Darling, the scenery here is beautiful.” A pleasant voice came. It sounded familiar.
Harper froze, turning to look to her right. Not far away, a young woman stood there, not wearing an evening gown but a white dress, her waist-length black hair fluttering in the wind.
Lena? Encountering her on the Serenity Sea cruise ship? The world was truly full of coincidences. Harper stared at her in a daze.
Perhaps sensing her gaze, Lena turned her face and saw her. A fleeting look of shock crossed Lena’s face, then she smiled and walked towards her.
“Harper, I didn’t expect to meet you here.”
“Yeah, what a coincidence.”
Meeting an old classmate again was something to be happy about, especially when that person was someone she had been searching for.
Lena looked Harper up and down, slightly surprised, then said, “Are you here to attend the banquet with someone too?”
“Yeah,” Harper nodded.
“I never expected our paths to cross like this. Remember three years ago, we were just waitresses on this cruise ship.”
“Yeah, we worked as waitresses together back then.”
If it wasn’t for that part-time job three years ago, she wouldn’t have been mistaken by Blaze.
“Oh,” Lena sighed after a moment of thought, “But speaking of fate, I saw the news recently, your sister married the prince of The Davidson Group.”
Harper’s gaze dimmed for a moment, about to ask about that matter.
“By the way, who are you accompanying today? Could it be the boyfriend your sister’s husband introduced to you? Are you also marrying into a wealthy family?” Lena asked curiously.
“No, he’s not my boyfriend,” Harper denied.
“Oh, really? I’m here with my boyfriend. Let me introduce him to you.” Lena walked back, linking arms with a man and approached with a happy smile on her face.NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.
The man looked like he weighed around 400 pounds, and his steps seemed to cause vibrations on the floorboards.
“Harper, this is my boyfriend James Anderson, the president of L Bank.” Lena smiled as she introduced James to Harper, “Darling, this is my college friend Harper.”
“Hello.” James extended a fat hand towards her.
“Hi,” Harper shook his hand.
“Your college friend is not as pretty as you.”
“Hey, stop talking nonsense,” Lena patted him, but her face was full of smiles as she leaned her head on his shoulder.
Watching Lena’s sweet smile, Harper suddenly felt a bit estranged. Lena seemed to have changed.
The Lena in front of her and the 400-pound man didn’t look like a couple in love at all.
The Lena from before was full of artistic cells, with a cool temperament, and never paid attention to the pursuit of boys. She came from a poor family and had been working part-time in college.
But now, Lena seemed different.
“Don’t be angry, Harper. My boyfriend always talks like this,” Lena said to Harper with a smile. “By the way, who are you accompanying?”
“Are you here with your boss?” James looked at Harper and asked.
At events like this, female companions were usually either secretaries, mistresses, or girlfriends.
“No,” Harper shook her head.
Lena looked puzzled. “You’re not here with your boyfriend or your boss?”
“Apparently, she’s a rich man’s mistress.” James spoke with disdain as he looked at Harper, understanding dawning on his face.
Before Harper could say anything, Lena nudged James. “Darling, Harper used to be a very good friend of mine. Why don’t you introduce her to a boyfriend?”
With that, Lena turned to Harper again, her face sincere. “Harper, being someone else’s mistress is undignified. Don’t degrade yourself. It’s better to find a boyfriend. My boyfriend knows a lot of people, would you like him to introduce someone to you?”
“I’m not anyone’s mistress, you’re mistaken,” Harper said somewhat helplessly.
“Huh. If you’ve already done it, what’s the point of denying it?” James scoffed bluntly, looking at Harper disdainfully, “Who’s your sugar daddy? How much do you make in a month? Since you’re Lena’s friend, if you really want a sugar daddy, I can introduce you to some powerful ones.”
Harper realized she always felt like she couldn’t explain herself in front of others, no matter what she said.
Suddenly, James looked behind Harper with a fawning expression and approached. “Mr. Foster, what a coincidence to run into you here.”
“Hello,” Dylan approached, smiling politely at James.
James immediately let go of Lena’s hand, stepping forward and shaking Dylan’s hand, “Mr. Foster, is Mr. Wychwood also on board the cruise? I’ve been wanting to cooperate with Mr. Wychwood for a long time.”
Previously, he had tried many connections but hadn’t even seen Blaze in person, only Dylan.
“Mr. Wychwood is still busy. If he has time, I’ll introduce you to him,” Dylan smiled, withdrawing his hand and turning to Harper respectfully, “Miss Shaw, Mr. Wychwood is waiting for you to dance.”
Upon hearing this, James was shocked, gaping at Harper.
Harper looked at Lena, “Lena, I need your help. Can you please stay close by for now?”
Lena looked at James, still a bit stunned.
James quickly nodded, “Yes, yes, we won’t go far. Miss Shaw, whatever you need, we’ll be waiting.”
Harper glanced at Lena before leaving with Dylan.
Once they were gone, James shoved Lena, his flattering expression turning fierce. “You’ve ruined everything for me, you woman! How come you didn’t tell me your friend is Mr. Wychwood’s woman? You made me lose face! And you wanted me to introduce a boyfriend when she’s already with Mr. Wychwood? Is there a richer sugar daddy in the world?”
“Mr. Wychwood?” Lena asked dumbfoundedly, “Which Mr. Wychwood?”
“Who else could it be? Only one. Blaze Wychwood!”
Inside the cruise ship, the lights shimmered. A female singer and dancer were performing energetically on the central stage, while below, male and female guests were dancing.
Blaze sat on a nearby sofa, his body slightly leaning back. Harper walked over.
“Where did you go?” Blaze glanced up at her, the anger from earlier still evident in his expression.
“Just walking around,” Harper replied cautiously, unsure of how to bring up Lena as a witness.
“Come dance with me!” Blaze stood up from the sofa and pulled Harper into the dance floor.
Harper placed her hand on his shoulder, matching his steps as they danced the waltz. Blaze held her close, his face gloomy as ever.
“Are you still angry?” Harper asked softly, keeping pace with his steps.
“Do you even realize why I’m angry?”
“I just want to understand the truth from three years ago. Why do you have to be like this?” Harper whispered even softer.
Blaze’s large hand pressed against her waist, exerting force to pull her closer. “Is that so? What I see is a woman who just wants to distance herself from me, to escape.”
Listening to his words, Harper tried to remain calm, “You’re overthinking it.”
“It’s better that way,” Blaze gazed into her face, leading her through the dance step by step.
“You’re a great dancer,” Harper changed the subject, her mind racing on how to bring Lena into the conversation without upsetting Blaze further.
“Leading someone like you is child’s play,” Blaze sneered. Harper breathed a sigh of relief, following his lead while glancing towards the edge of the dance floor.
She saw James holding Lena, sitting next to Dylan…
Harper felt a bit frustrated. How should she bring it up?
With both Blaze and Lena here, now would be the best time to talk about the events from three years ago.
She needed a plan…