Harper was taken aback, then turned her head blankly and asked, "What's wrong?"
Joseph took two steps over, turned off the gas, and looked at her with a slightly cold gaze. "The clothing with the zipper on the sleeve, and it scratched Olivia."
"How is that possible?" Harper furrowed his brow and instinctively explained, "The design elements of that outfit aren't uncommon, and the zipper used is a very small, delicate round-headed zipper."
"It's what I saw with my own eyes," Joseph interrupted her, "She was indeed scratched."
Harper pursed her lips, still finding it hard to believe. "That couldn't have been my fault. It must be a problem with the factory not handling the zipper properly."
"If you’re not sure I can do it well, you shouldn't take on tasks casually."
Joseph furrowed his brow and turned out of the kitchen.
Harper looked at him in disbelief, she was unwilling to take on the work at first.
From the beginning, she didn't want to design clothes for Olivia. It was he who insisted she should take the job. Now that Olivia had suffered a minor injury, she had became a scapegoat for all eternity.
Harper took off her apron, chuckled coldly, and said, "Yeah, I couldn't do it. I couldn't design clothes well, and I don't know who insisted on having me help Olivia with the design. Wasn't it just causing trouble for her?"
Joseph didn't expect her to be so sarcastic. Her expression grew colder. "What did you say?"
"I didn't say anything wrong." Harper was also furious, looking at him fearlessly. "I couldn't do it well. So, why didn't you stop her from coming to me? You insisted on making me promise!"
Watching Joseph's increasingly impatient expression, Harper couldn't be bothered to argue with him anymore. She simply turned around and ran out the door.
After the sound of the door closing, the room suddenly fell silent.
Joseph stared at the spaghetti in the pot, his eyes gradually darkening with understanding...
After Harper left the apartment, she strolled casually along the neighborhood all alone.
Joseph didn't chase after her.
She raised her hand to adjust her clothes, the night breeze carrying a slight chill, but not particularly cold.
After walking for a while, Harper took out her phone and casually scrolled through social media platforms.
After seeing a post, she suddenly stopped, and her footsteps became unbearably heavy.
Olivia posted a social media update two hours ago
Olivia: [I got a little injury, but it was just a slight bleeding. Dr. Lucas hurriedly gave me some medication, making it seem like a big deal. If someone didn't know, he would think I was about to undergo surgery.]
The illustration showed a man standing tall with a refined profile, his serious expression faintly tinged with concern, much like the look of someone who had seen their lover get hurt.
Harper suddenly let his hands droop weakly, feeling awkward at this moment.
‘Harper, what are you still expecting?’
Time flew by. Three days had passed since her argument with Joseph. During these three days, for Harper, it felt like time stood still.
She never saw Joseph again.
During work, she was listless. Inadvertently, she glanced at the desk calendar, and the next second, her eyelashes quivered!
‘Tomorrow is the 20th. it's...’
At that moment, the painful memories she didn't want to mention flooded her mind. She tilted her head back, her eyes involuntarily turning red, as she sank into memories.
Three years ago today, it poured rain in Seaspring Valley City.
Her father Benjamin Taylor attended a lecture in Sunshine Bay City. Just as it ended, he took out his phone and called her, saying, "Harper, don't worry. Dad will make it back. I'll be there to celebrate your birthday with you tomorrow!"
At that time, Harper looked at the heavy rain outside the window. The flashing lightning and thunder were a bit scary. She willfully said, "Dad, you’d better keep your word. If I can't see you tomorrow, I'll be angry!"
"Sure! I can celebrate your birthday with you! Do you want to talk to your friend Joseph? He asked me to wish you a happy birthday."
Harper became a bit shy and said, "No, it's okay. Be careful.!"
Benjamin was a professor at medical school, and at that time Joseph was his favorite student.
This time, he went on a business trip to Sunshine Bay City, and he brought Joseph along.
On this rainy night, the driver, exhausted from rushing back to celebrate her birthday, got into a car accident on the way.
The driver and Joseph both got injured.
But only his dad never came back.
Harper thought that this might be God punishing her.
Why did she have to celebrate her birthday?
If she hadn't been spoiled and arrogant, Dad wouldn't have gotten into trouble.
Since then, Harper had never celebrated her birthday again.
In her mind, there was no difference between her birthday and her father’s memorial day, and she was the one who committed the murder!
She could never forgive herself!
At this moment, Harper stared blankly at the ceiling, unable to help but wonder, what kind of life would they be living now if Dad hadn't had that accident back then?
Time passed by quietly like this.
Another notification sound from her phone snapped Harper back to reality.
She wiped the corner of her eye and opened the text message.
It was sent by Joseph
Joseph: [There is an emergency tonight, so I won't be going back home. See you at the old graveyard tomorrow morning.]