The air grew thick with tension. Harper watched Joseph shielding Olivia behind him, and she felt extremely sad.
"I ordered it, but I didn't know she couldn't eat it."
She did feel some self-blame, not considering that Olivia had just had surgery and couldn't eat spicy food. And that Tacos dish was indeed spicy.
At the same time, she felt somewhat strange.
Olivia was a doctor herself, so she should know what she couldn't eat.
Joseph glanced at her and coldly said, "Do you think everyone is as healthy as you?"
Harper froze, not expecting him to say that. "You..."
Joseph seemed like he didn't want to hear more from her. He didn't look at her again, picked up Olivia, and left in big strides.
Harper stood still, unable to move, feeling very heartbroken.
Joseph took Olivia back to the room, laid her carefully on the bed, and then went to pour her a glass of water.
Olivia's face was still very pale. She drank a sip through a straw and held her stomach, still looking pained.
Joseph looked at her and asked, "Should I take you to the hospital?"
"Don't bother." Olivia shook her head weakly. "In this situation, going to the hospital won't help. I've taken medication, so resting a bit will be fine."
Although eating something spicy posed a risk of recurrence, it hadn't reached a critical point yet. She was very clear about it.
Joseph nodded, and didn't insist further. "Then rest well. I'll go out for a bit."
Olivia looked at him, and said weakly, "Where are you going?"
Joseph didn't answer that question and placed the water on the nearby cabinet. "If you need anything, just call me."
After returning to the room, Harper sat at the table, holding a piece of paper but couldn't focus. She felt heavy and unhappy.
Aria was nowhere to be found, she wanted to talk to someone to distract herself.
She didn't know how Olivia was doing now.
Harper couldn't help but feel worried.
Although it wasn't intentional, if this matter had to be pursued, it was because she didn't ask beforehand and ordered the dish on her own.
Seeing Olivia in so much pain, she felt a hint of self-blame.
Should she call to check on her?
Harper picked up her phone, pressed it a few times, then put it down.
It might not be appropriate to call now. It wouldn't be good to disturb her rest.
And with Joseph protecting Olivia so fiercely, maybe he would come to seek justice for her soon?
She wasn't wrong this time.
Not long after, the doorbell rang.
"Why are you here?"
They stood in and out of doors, neither looking good.
Joseph bypassed Harper and walked in, ordering, "Don't participate in tomorrow's competition. Come back with me."
Harper had thought of many things he might say, but she didn't expect him to ask her to withdraw from the competition right away. She didn't react for a while.
"What? Why?"
Joseph fell silent for a moment, then turned around. "There is no reason."
Hearing his calm tone, Harper instantly got angry, firmly saying, "No. This is something I've always wanted to do. I can't give up just because of a word from you."
She had been working hard to become a qualified fashion designer, working on her final project, and looking for internships.
And this competition was like a stepping stone for her to truly enter the design industry.
Did He want her to give up this hard-earned opportunity with just a casual remark?
She couldn't agree.
Joseph put his hand in his pocket and suddenly turned to look at her, with a hint of sarcasm in his eyes. " You just can't bear to be separated from Patrick."
Harper didn't know how to feel when she heard him mention Patrick in such a conspiratorial way again.
They had no relationship, but why did it seem like it was a big deal to him?
But this time, Harper didn't deny it. Looking into his eyes, she said, "This has nothing to do with you.
"Joseph, have you forgotten that we will soon be divorced?
"After the divorce, I will have my own life. Whether it's Patrick or anyone else, I have the right to choose to be with someone else, and you have no right to control me."
Seeing her serious expression, it seemed like she had indeed fantasized about a lot of good things after the divorce. She seemed to have no attachment to this marriage.
His eyes grew more gloomy, with a mix of restraint, anger, and deep helplessness.
Harper didn't look at him anymore, casually bringing up a smile.
"You too." She fiddled with her clothes. "By then, you and Olivia can openly be together, no need to be so secretive anymore."
Joseph frowned, knowing she was referring to last night.
Harper thought he was living with Olivia.
But then he thought of the intimacy between Harper and Patrick these days, and her defense of him before.
Joseph concluded that Harper wasn't worried he would misunderstand.
In that case, he also didn't need to care if Harper would misunderstand.
Joseph opened his mouth but closed it again.
Seeing him silent, Harper felt even angrier. "It's nothing. I'm not just finding out about what's going on between you and Olivia."
Joseph looked at her with a slightly sullen expression, suddenly changing the subject. "Do you know that you almost caused her harm during dinner? Stomach patients are very fragile. If they accidentally eat the wrong thing, it could even be life-threatening."
Harper shivered, looking up at Joseph.
Olivia did look very bad when she left just now.
"Is she really serious? Did you take her to the hospital? How is she now?"
Joseph looked at her stuttering and said coldly, "She took medication and is now fine."
Hearing this, Harper breathed a sigh of relief.
If Olivia had gotten seriously ill because of those few bites of spicy food, she would have felt very guilty.
Joseph's face still looked bad, and his gaze carried an unclear meaning. "Do you know that even after surgery, cancer patients can still relapse at any time? One wrong move could undo all the progress. But you still ordered such a stimulating dish. What were you thinking?"
Harper was stunned, not expecting him to say such words.
As if she deliberately wanted Olivia to get sick.
She really couldn't say she liked Olivia much, but she didn't hate her either. She just felt a little uncomfortable around her because of him.
She explained, "Because the waiter recommended the signature dish, I thought I'd give it a try..."
Joseph felt those words were meaningless, interrupting her, "Enough, you don't need to explain."