"Harper." Joseph's voice was hoarse, his tone bewitching. Harper felt a wave of discomfort, a sensation akin to the feverish nights of her childhood when her brother would care for her in their father's absence. Was it him? Harper's lips moved almost involuntarily. "Brian." In that instant, Joseph froze, a mix of disappointment and realization clouding his features. Brian Taylor, the man she had longed for, and the one she had been waiting for.
Joseph raised his head. "Harper, do you know who I am?" There was no response, only the steady rhythm of her breath, as she had already drifted into sleep. After a while, Joseph let out a mocking laugh, then turned and left the room. He persisted in providing her with cold water to lower her temperature, incapable of entertaining any other thoughts thereafter.
The next day, Harper awoke to the bright morning light. She supported her slightly sore head as she exited the room. On the sofa, she found only a blanket, with a note left on the coffee table. The note, written in Joseph's firm hand, read, "I have some matters to attend to at the hospital. Remember to take your medication." Harper smiled, a hint of bitterness in her expression. So cold and distant, not a single extra word. It was a stark contrast to how he treated Olivia.
In the following days, Harper did not see Joseph again. He was always busy, which she had grown accustomed. Her fever had subsided, and the burns on her back no longer pained her. Harper felt as if she had been given a new lease on life, except she hadn’t decided if she should bring it up, and how to bring up the matter of divorcing Joseph yet. She finished her morning routine, grabbed a piece of bread from the refrigerator, and sat down at the dining table, sipping her milk.
The phone on the table buzzed, and Harper took a long sip of milk before looking at the caller ID and answering, "Good morning, Patrick." The voice on the other end belonged to Patrick Hill, speaking in a relaxed tone. "Harper, your internship seems to be all set. There shouldn't be any major issues." Patrick was Harper's alumnus, who had joined the renowned fashion company, T-Shine, after graduating last year. He was both enthusiastic and skilled in his field, often helping out his fellow alumni. Patrick had learned that Harper had been looking for an internship, and coincidentally, T-Shine was looking for interns, so he had offered to recommend her.
"Really?" Harper couldn't help but feel happy. "Thank you, Patrick."
"Don't be so formal with me." Patrick seemed to be on his way out, as the sound of a door closing could be heard. "How about we meet in person? I can give you some tips." Harper immediately stood up and went to her room to change, agreeing readily, "Sure, I'll treat you to a meal."
Three hours later, in a bustling shopping mall, Harper and Patrick had just finished their Mexican meal and were strolling side by side. Patrick adjusted his glasses, his handsome face filled with confidence. "Your expertise makes you a great fit for interning at T-Shine. There are many innovative design concepts you can learn there. Once you're there, do your best, and maybe you can stay on after graduation."
As he spoke, he suddenly remembered some news he had heard a few days ago and turned to Harper. "I also heard that the headquarters of T-Shine is sending a very talented new president to Simbara. If you can win his favor, maybe he can help you become the next internationally renowned designer!"
Harper smiled. She didn't want to think too much about the future, but she knew she had to put her heart into her first job. "Thank you so much. It's all thanks to your recommendation that I can go to such a big company like T-Shine." Patrick smiled gently. "Don't be so polite. I'll always help you with whatever you need.
"If there's anything I can do for you in the future, don't hesitate to ask."
Harper was about to say goodbye to Patrick when she heard a familiar voice calling her name from behind. "Harper?" She turned around, and to her surprise, it was Olivia. Her eyes flickered. She seemed to be running into people she didn't want to see a lot lately. "It's really you!" Olivia walked over, a familiar smile in her eyes. "I thought I was mistaken." Patrick saw that she had run into an acquaintance, and he happened to have something to do, so he spoke up, "Shall I go back first? You can find me if you have any questions."
"Okay." Harper smiled and waved at him. "Take care on your way."
Olivia glanced at Patrick's retreating figure, but she didn't ask much. She put on a polite smile and said, "Let's go. I'll treat you to coffee. We didn't get to talk much last time, so it's a good opportunity to catch up." Harper thought, 'what is there to catch up on between us?' But looking at the smile on Olivia's face, she couldn't find the words to refuse, so she nodded gently.
The coffee shop, though located in the bustling city, was quiet inside, with a few scattered customers and soothing background music that put people at ease. Harper didn't have much to say to Olivia, so she stirred her coffee and listened quietly. Olivia took a sip of her coffee and sighed, "I'm starting my formal job at the hospital next week. I'll be so busy that I won't even have time to sit and chat like this." Harper understood the hardships of being a doctor and nodded in agreement.
Olivia looked at her, her face showing a hint of nostalgia, and she couldn't help but think of her former mentor, Benjamin Taylor. She spoke with a tinge of regret, "When Mr. Benjamin passed away, I was abroad, and I'm sorry I couldn't be there to attend his funeral." "It's okay." Harper smiled lightly. "It's all in the past. You must have had your reasons, and he would understand."
However, to her surprise, Olivia reached out and held her hand, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed with a genuine sense of regret, a sight that touched Harper deeply. "Harper, the truth is, I had to leave in a hurry because I was sick and had to go abroad for treatment. So I couldn't make it back for Mr. Benjamin's funeral."
"Sick?" Harper was taken aback. She had never heard a word about it. Wasn't it said that she went abroad for further studies? "Yes." Olivia smiled bitterly, her voice soft. "I had stomach cancer. I never thought something like that would happen to me. At the time, they had to remove almost half of my stomach."
Harper was at a loss for words. "I'm sorry. I had no idea about any of this. Are you okay now?" Olivia nodded. "It’s cured now. I believe that God made me go through those hardships because He has better things in store for me. I'm sure I'll be happy in the future, right?"
"Yes." Harper felt a bit unsettled, not sure why Olivia was telling her all this. If she wanted to talk, it would be more appropriate to confide in Joseph.
Olivia didn't notice her distraction and sighed softly, "Actually, I have some regrets over the years.
"I shouldn't have insisted on leaving, and I shouldn't have pretended that I wanted to go abroad for further studies. I'm sure Joseph was very sad at the time. But I was also afraid of what would happen if I couldn't make it." She paused, a tinge of regret flashing across her face. "What I regret the most is giving up my relationship with Joseph."
Harper felt a pang of unhappiness at her words. She didn't quite understand why Olivia was telling her all this. Strictly speaking, they weren't that close. But Olivia seemed sincere at the moment, as if she was truly confiding in a close friend. Harper sighed softly. If it weren't for Olivia's decision to give up back then, she might not have had the chance to marry Joseph later on. In a way, it was as if Olivia had taken advantage of her in the past, and now she was trying to reclaim what was once hers.
Harper was lost in thought, and Olivia asked again, "Harper, have you been in touch with Joseph all these years? Do you know if he has someone special now?"