Suddenly, Joseph's forehead veins bulged, and dizziness hit him. He forced himself to close his eyes briefly, replaying last night's events.
Yeah, he remembered now.
Eric called, but Harper didn't show.
She turned him down over the phone.
Then,Olivia called, and he gave her the address.
"Don't be with other men, please."
"There are no other men, it's always just been you."
"Do you love me?"
"I love you."
So it wasn't Harper who said those things. It wasn't her.
Joseph's eyes were dull, a hint of panic creeping in.
"What's wrong?" Olivia asked, barely lifting her eyelids before closing them again, looking exhausted. "If it wasn't me, who else could it be? I'm really tired. Can we sleep a bit longer?"
Seeing Joseph like this, he probably couldn't remember. Otherwise, he wouldn't have listened to her so much.
But did he think it was Harper?
A shadow of gloom flashed through Olivia's eyes and then disappeared.
Joseph's hand, frozen in mid-air, slowly clenched and finally retracted.
"Last night, you were with me all night?"
Harper really didn't come?
"Yes." Olivia nodded shyly and hid under the blanket, "After I called you, I came over and you wouldn't let me leave."
"I'm sorry."
Joseph's lips pressed into a straight line, his brows furrowed.
An uncontrollable headache struck, and he exhaled silently, getting out of bed. He picked up a robe from the floor and put it on haphazardly.
The next moment, Joseph's entire body stiffened.
He hadn't noticed earlier, but on the side he had just lifted, there was a glaring red stain on the white sheets.
Joseph looked at Olivia on the bed, the guilt on his face contrasting sharply with the astonishment in his eyes.
He could now confirm that he had mistaken someone else for Harper because he was drunk.
But even so, he was the one at fault, and Olivia was the victim.
About Harper.She didn't even want to come see him.
"Joseph." Olivia's eyes were filled with undisguised affection, "I volunteered. Don't worry about it."
"Olivia, there's something I need to tell you." Joseph looked at her, his eyes clouded, "I'm married."
Hearing this, Olivia was not surprised, but she reacted quickly, feigning shock while gripping the bed sheet tightly!
"What did you say?"
Joseph's brows furrowed slightly, "I'm married, to Harper."
"How is that possible! You... you and she said..."
Olivia was stunned, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
"Joseph, you're lying, right? How could you be married to Harper? I've loved you for so many years, why didn't you tell me? Even if I love you, I wouldn't let myself end up like this! What have I become?"
Her cries filled the room.
But Joseph seemed not to hear her.
He just stared blankly at a corner of the room, his expression void, a subconscious reaction to the shock.
Joseph didn't know why, but from the moment he opened his eyes and saw Olivia lying beside him, he felt empty inside.
It wasn't until two burning tears fell on the back of his hand that Joseph shuddered slightly and slowly came back to his senses.
He instinctively pulled out two tissues and handed them to Olivia, opening his mouth several times before finally saying, "I'll take responsibility."
Joseph's voice was as low as it could get, like the bottom had fallen out of his emotions.
Even though Joseph was a clever man, given the circumstances, he could only vaguely wonder if this was all part of some cosmic plan.
He and Olivia, it was a done deal.
And Harper, maybe he really should say goodbye to her.
After all, Harper didn't care about this marriage at all; she just wanted to escape him.
Might as well take this opportunity to correct all the wrongs and put their accidentally intertwined lives back on track.
Consider it as him letting her go.
Off to the side, Olivia wiped away her tears, masking her emotions, and asked gloomily, "Take responsibility? How? I never intended to ruin someone else's family."
Joseph lowered his head, silent for a moment before saying, "Harper and I didn't marry out of love. Our marriage was never substantial. According to the original plan, I will end this marriage today."
"Really?"
Olivia's eyes brightened but quickly dimmed again, "But are you sure Harper won't be hurt? She's young and has no family; she probably sees you as a beloved. Actually, even if you keep taking care of her, I won't mind."
Joseph shook his head slightly, "She won't."
Harper never saw him as a beloved.
The man she considered her beloved, the one she waited for year after year, was Brian Lewis.
Olivia obediently responded, and then, as if just realizing she was still lying in bed undressed, her face blushed slightly.
Joseph gave her a quick glance, then frowned and looked away.