"What?" Harper was taken aback, her eyes flickering for a moment before she shook her head. "I don't know. I lost touch with my father's students after he left, and I wasn't really close to Dr. Lucas. I just happened to run into him at the hospital that day."Harper's words carried a hint of guilt, considering she was married to the man and resided under the same roof. But it was true that they weren't close.
Olivia nodded, then blinked at Harper. "I had dinner with him a few days ago, and I felt like he still had feelings for me." At this moment, there was a hint of excitement in Olivia's eyes, as if she were a young girl eager to try something new. She said, "I want to win him back."
Harper smiled instinctively, wanting to offer some encouragement, but she suddenly felt a little breathless. On Olivia's face, there was an air of confidence, as if she believed that she could have him back with just a thought. And indeed, he would come back. After all, Olivia was right. How could Joseph not have feelings for her? She was the one he had liked all these years.
Harper's gaze drifted emptily, watching the people in the cafe come and go, much like the passing and parting of acquaintances in one's life. She couldn't stay for another minute.
Harper stood up. "Dr. Smith, I just remembered that there are some internship materials I haven't sorted out. I should head back. We can make plans another time."
"Alright." Olivia also stood up, then suddenly asked, "Where do you live? Do you want me to give you a ride?" She smiled at Harper. "We can hang out more in the future."
Harper blinked helplessly. Where did she live? Wasn't it in the apartment of the man Olivia was interested in? But how could she say that?
Harper shook her head. "It's still the same old address, out of your way. Don't bother."
Harper left the cafe and went straight to Joseph's apartment by taxi. She couldn't make sense of Olivia's words today. Was she really without anyone to confide in, or had she sensed something and was testing her? But it didn't matter. She had already made up her mind to divorce Joseph. Whether these two people would continue their relationship had little to do with her.
Harper took out her keys and opened the door. There was an extra pair of black shoes on the shoe rack.
She raised an eyebrow. He was back.
Harper changed her shoes and looked into the room. The sunlight streamed through the French windows, casting a warm glow on the carpet. The man sat in a chair, his hand supporting his chin, looking at a medical case with great concentration.
He faced the light, his whole being enveloped in a golden aura, his profile exquisitely chiseled, his deep-set eyes and slightly furrowed brows giving off an air of aloofness.
Joseph turned around at the sound, his face expressionless. "You're back."
Harper averted her gaze and responded, "You're back early today."
"Yes." Joseph shifted his position, rubbing the bridge of his nose. There were faint dark circles under his eyes, a sign of fatigue. "I've been up for two nights in a row. Since there were no surgeries, I came back to rest."
"Why don't you take a nap then?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Harper regretted them. She sounded too concerned, and he might not need her care.
Joseph's gaze fell on her face, his eyes deep. "After finishing reading this case."
He asked again, "Have you eaten?"
Harper nodded. "I had something. How about you?"
"I've eaten."
Harper felt a bit sweaty and uncomfortable. "I'll go take a shower."
She didn't say much more and walked toward the master bedroom.
This bedroom was originally Joseph's, decorated in a simple style, with a light gray wardrobe and a beige bed. After they got married, he gave her this room. She was too lazy to make any changes, perhaps because deep down, she didn't feel like it was her territory. So, until now, it was just a few more stuffed animals on the bed and a couple of rugs on the floor.
In the vast house, from the living room to the bedroom, there was no sign that it was the home of a newlywed couple. There was no trace of their life together, let alone wedding photos.
It was funny. When they got married, they didn't even discuss sleeping in separate rooms. It seemed natural. Did they both understand that this marriage was just a temporary arrangement and wouldn't last long? So, they treated each other like roommates, not disturbing each other.
Harper took a shower, her mind heavy with thoughts. When she came out, Joseph was still sitting in the same place, looking at the medical case.
She thought for a moment, then sat not far from him and casually said, "I ran into Olivia at the mall today."
Joseph paused, then casually turned a page in the case. "OK."
His reaction was off. Why did he seem so indifferent? Did he want her to continue or to stop talking?
"Aren't you going to ask what we talked about?"
Harper licked her lips, feeling a bit nervous, but also a sense of finally having a common topic with him.
She knew very well that Joseph couldn't be truly indifferent to Olivia.
The man raised his eyes, his gaze heavy. "What did you talk about?"
His tone was no longer indifferent, more like a questioning.
The expression on his face seemed to say, "If you want me to ask, then you'd better make it clear."
Harper raised an eyebrow.
This was the right response.
He should be concerned about whether she said something she shouldn't to Olivia.
Just as Harper was about to speak, a drop of water from her hair fell, wetting the wool carpet under her feet.
Joseph's gaze followed the dark water stain on the carpet, and he said in an displeased tone, "Go dry your hair."
Harper was speechless.
This was too much. How precious was that piece of carpet to him?
But Joseph's gaze left no room for doubt. She dared not speak out in anger, so she reluctantly got up and took a hairdryer from the drawer, plugging it in.
She deliberately turned the hairdryer to the highest setting.
A hot gust of wind, accompanied by a strong noise, vented her dissatisfaction.
Joseph's peripheral vision caught her childish action, and his deep gaze flickered, thinking about something.
After a while, the sound of the wind suddenly stopped.
Just as Harper was about to put away the hairdryer, the man spoke behind her, "Go on."
She bit her lip. Was he in such a hurry to hear about Olivia?
A little annoyed, Harper turned back and met Joseph's gaze.
In that instant, her annoyance vanished.
What was there to be annoyed about?
He had never belonged to her.
Harper tilted her head and said, word by word, "Do you think I would say anything to her?"
She leaned over and took a sip of water.
"You..." Joseph's expression flashed with displeasure, as if he had already concluded that she had caused trouble for Olivia, and his tone was heavy. "She can't handle any more stress now. She was..."
"I know."
Harper interrupted him, her voice flat, "Stomach cancer, right?"
Joseph pursed his lips, his complex gaze moving over her, but he remained silent.
Honestly, Harper was a little impressed with herself.
In spite of her husband's affection for another woman, she could still force a smile and say, "Don't worry. I didn't say anything."
As soon as she finished speaking, the expression on the man's face seemed even more unpleasant than before.
She couldn't understand. She had already said that she didn't bully his loved one, so what else was there to be angry about?
Joseph closed the medical case, stood up with a gloomy face, and said, "I'm going to bed."
After speaking, he took long strides toward his bedroom.
As he passed by Harper, she distinctly smelled the faint scent of sandalwood mixed with the smell of disinfectant on Joseph's body.
Her gaze subconsciously followed Joseph's figure, watching him move further away from her.
At that moment, an impulse surged in Harper's mind.
She didn't want to see Joseph's back like this again, for the umpteenth time.
Harper spoke, her voice somewhat hoarse, "Wait!"
Joseph's tall figure paused, and before he could turn around, he heard the girl's calm and light voice from behind.
"Joseph, let's get a divorce."