Chapter 14
“Alright, since you insist, I’ll accept th
gifts. Mabel said with a bright smile, her tone light and airy. Then she added, almost offhandedly. “As for the engagement between our families, well… let’s see if you can fix that.”
Her phrasing was deliberate: She spoke of the FAMILIES engagement, leaving the question of who exactly would be engaged up for interpretation.
Matthew, however, didn’t notice the subtle jab. He was too caught up in his own relief, mistaking her acceptance for forgiveness. In his mind. Mabel was willing to reconcile, and that was all that mattered. He beamed at her, looking every bit like a fool who thought he’d won.
Watching his blissfully unaware expression, Mabel felt nothing but contempt. ‘What a pathetic man, she thought coldly. In her past life, she had given him everything – her heart, her trust, and even her family’s money when his business was on the brink of collapse. And the way he had repaid her? By tossing her into the ocean the moment she was no longer useful.
Now, his desperation only amused her. The more indifferent she was, the harder he tried to win her over.
Too bad for Matthew – Mabel now valued the loyalty of a stray dog more than the cheap affection of a two–faced man
Once Matthew finally left, Mabel leaned back against the couch, exhaling softly. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Rhea coming downstairs.
Rhea’s face was dark, her expression stormy. The faint bruises on her arms and neck were unmistakable, their purplish hue standing out starkly against her pale skin. It didn’t take a genius to guess what had happened.
Mabel felt no pity. If anything, she found the sight almost laughable. In their past life, these two had treated her like a fool, indulging in their twisted affair under her nose. Now, they’d defiled her storage room like it was some kind of private suite.
Feigning concern. Mabel’s eyes widened as she gasped, “Oh my, Rheal Did you get into a fight? What happened to you?”
Rhea froze, her fury momentarily hidden behind a brittle smile. She wanted to scream the truth – Your precious fiancé did this to me! He can’t keep his hands off me, so why don’t you just accept it and move on? But as quickly as the thought came, another one followed.
No. Let her stay oblivious. The more trust she puts in Matthew, the sweeter it’ll be when she finally learns the truth. Watching her world crumble will be worth the wait.
Rhea forced a small, sarcastic laugh. “It’s nothing serious. I just uipped and fell, that’s all.”
Mabel gave her a slow nod, her expression unreadable. “Is that so she murmured, letting the words hang in the air. Then, as if it were nothing, she waved her hand dismissively. “Matthew brought over a bunch of gifts earlier. I have no use for them, so why don’t you take them instead? Consider it a little welcome gift to celebrate your return to the Harper family? Before Rhea could respond, Mabel continued, her tone calm yet unyielding. “Mom and Dad aren’t home tonight, and it’s getting late. I’m heading to bed. You should get some rest too.”
Trash from a scumbag like Matthew was beneath her – Mabel wouldn’t touch it even with gloves on.
Better to let Rhea handle them, since she was so obsessed with trash.
Mabel didn’t wait for Rhea’s reaction. With a graceful turn, she headed upstairs, leaving Rhea seething in silence.
Rhea glared at the table piled with luxury goods, her fury so intense she felt as though she might explode.
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From the moment Matthew had walked through the Harper family’s doors with those gifts, she had been eyeing them, imagining how it would feel to finally own such treasures. Now that they were handed to her, however, she felt nothing but
humiliation.
The memory of Mabel’s casual dismissal stung. The way she had brushed the gifts aside, as if they were beneath her. Infuriated Rhea. Mabel hadn’t even hesitated, as if tossing crumbs to a stray dog-
Rhea clenched her teeth. What does she take me for? A beggar?
It was bad enough that Matthew had used her and cast her aside without a second thought. To now be on the receiving end of Mabel’s charity? It was too much.
Rhea’s frustration boiled over. Unable to hold it in any longer, Rhea began tearing into the gifts. Crystal perfume bottles shattered against the floor. Fine leather handbags were slashed open, their linings ripped to shreds. Porcelain trinkets, once painstakingly crafied, lay in ruins. Rhea tore and smashed until the table was empty, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
She didn’t realize that Mabel was standing quietly at the top of the stairs, watching her tantrum unfold
“Go ahead. Mabel thought with detached amusement. ‘Break it all. In the end, you’ll still be the one cleaning up the mess. Otherwise, how will you explain this to Mom and Dad? How will you keep up your little act of being the sweet, innocent girl?”
Once Rhea’s fury subsided and the living room was a war zone of debris, Mabel yawned and turned away, walking back to her room. She didn’t need to intervene Rhea would trap herself in her own mess.
Panic soon replaced rage. Rhea stared at the wreckage, her heart pounding. She couldn’t call the maids for help if they reported this to her parents, it would ruin her carefully crafted image. So, biting her lip, Rhea knelt on the floor and began cleaning up, her hands trembling with frustration. It was late into the night before the room was restored to order, leaving her exhausted and bitter.
In the days that followed, Matthew found endless excuses to visit the Harper family home.
Mabel kept her distance, maintaining an air of indifference. Whenever he asked for her time, she politely declined, citing her studies or other responsibilities. But she never outright kicked him out of house, leaving him clinging to the hope that he could win her over.
Rhea, on the other hand, played the perfect accomplice. She eagerly entertained Matthew, relishing their stolen moments together. Mabel even seemed to help their budding romance, subtly giving them opportunities to be alone. She wanted to give them more time and space to escalate their filthy passion.
The two didn’t waste these opportunities. Rhea flirted boldly, her suggestive words dripping with honey, while Matthew pretended to resist before inevitably giving in. Their chemistry was undeniable–like dry tinder catching fire.
To Matthew, Rhea was a convenient distraction, nothing more. She was warm, easy to manipulate, and willing to do anything for his attention. The thrill of sneaking around under Mabel’s nose only added to the excitement. Having both Harper sisters – one untouchable and the other pliable – fed Mathew’s ego, making him feel invincible.
But in his heart, Matthew still believed Mabel was the one he should marry. Her newfound aloofness only made her more irresistible, her cool demeanor fueling his determination. Compared to Mabel’s grace and elegance, Rhea felt like a cheap indulgence – a temporary fix.
Sometimes, even in the heat of his secret trysts with Rhea, he couldn’t help but picture Mabel in her place. Her beauty, her poise- he was sure she would be incomparable. Once, in a particularly thoughtless moment, he had covered Rhea’s face. with a scarf and whispered Mabel’s name. Rhea had nearly lost control then. Fury surged through her, and she wanted to slap him right there. But she swallowed her anger, forcing herself to stay calm. She couldn’t afford to push him away. Not yel. Mabel’s patience would pay off.
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At the rate things were escalating, it wouldn’t be long before the restous found themselves with an unexpected grandchild on the way.
Mabel, meanwhile, maintained her facade of ignorance, feigning blindness to their affair. But behind the scenes, she was far from idle. She had discreetly installed hidden cameras in various public areas of the house. Her goal? To make a greatest- hits collection of their “sweetest moments. When the time was right, she would release the footage, turning their dirty little secret into a public spectacle.
Mabel’s birthday was just around the corner when she received a tall from Oscar.
“Maybelle. his deep, velvety voice came through the line, “your birthday party is in a few days. What will you wear?”
Mabel immediately picked up on the subtle undertone in his question. Raising an eyebrow, she replied casually, “Whatever you gift me. I’ll wear.”
Oscar chuckled softly, the sound low and warm. He didn’t waste time with pretense. There’s a fashion auction tonight. Want to go with me?”
“Is this an invitation to a date? Of course, I’ll go, Mabel answered smoothly, a smile tugging at her lips. She agreed without
hesitation
After the call ended, Vincent, Oscar’s ever–dutiful assistant, couldn’t help noticing the slight curve of Oscar’s lips. It was. subtle but unmistakable a genuine smile, warm and unguarded
For any other man, such an expression might have seemed normal. But on Oscar, whose face was often carved from stone, it felt almost unsettling.
Even the iciest hearts, it seemed, could melt in the heat of love.
Vincent hesitated for a moment, then cautiously voiced his concerns. “Sir, Miss Harper’s been different… just recently. Her attitude has shifted so quickly that it might warrant a deeper look. Should I arrange for someone to investigate her?”
Oscar’s expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing. There’s no need. Whatever she wants to do, let her.”
“Yes, sir,” Vincent replied, bowing his head. He immediately regretted bringing it up.
“And one more thing.” Oscar added, his tone low and sharp, laced with warning. It’s Miss BARRETT now.”
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