Chapter 5

It was only then Vanessa realized she had forgotten to remove the bracelet. Her expression froze briefly, then she frowned and said, "What are you talking about? A friend gave it to me. Could you let go? You're hurting me." Knowing he had misunderstood, Harris gradually calmed down. After a long pause, he asked, "Which friend gave it to you?" Vanessa stared at him, puzzled. Why was he so insistent on knowing? "A male friend," she answered. Harris' hands clenched at his sides. Just as he was about to press further, Waverly came over and slipped her arm through his as though she was staking her claim. Her tone, though apologetic, was anything but sincere. "Vanessa, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you'd be back tonight. I only prepared a candlelit dinner for Harris and me. I hope you don't mind." Vanessa glanced at her and uttered, "It's fine. I've already had dinner." After that, she went upstairs. Under the dim light, Vanessa removed the bracelet and kept it in a drawer. The weight of the gold still lingered on her wrist. She reached for her glass, only to find it empty. Sighing, she stood and opened the door to fetch some water. Unexpectedly, she bumped into Waverly, who had just changed into a different outfit. Now that they were alone, the smile on Waverly's face turned smug and mocking. She ran her fingers over her silk nightgown and lifted her chin. "Vanessa, how do you like this nightgown?" Vanessa's gaze swept over the garment before she looked away without a word. Waverly interpreted her composure as silent heartbreak. Her grin grew more triumphant, and her tone dripped with pride and provocation. "Your brother picked this out for me. He said he's been saving it for a special occasion. He promised to tear it off me in bed tonight…" As if suddenly realizing her words, Waverly covered her mouth, her cheeks flushing with faux embarrassment. "Oh, I forgot that you've never been in a relationship. I shouldn't be telling you these things." Vanessa's expression remained impassive as she started to respond, but Waverly lifted her wrist to reveal a protection bracelet. "By the way, I should thank you. If it weren't for your kindness in always inviting me over to your house, I would never have met your wonderful, devoted brother. "Look, back then, I was so envious of the protection bracelet he got for you after praying for your safety. And now, he's done the same for me." Vanessa's heart clenched as she stared at the bracelet. A whirlwind of emotions surged through her. In her mind, she saw a younger version of herself, bedridden with a fever for three days and nights. She remembered the boy who'd relentlessly prayed for her recovery. When he finally returned, he carefully placed the protection bracelet on her wrist. "May the gods protect my girl and keep her safe forever." The image shifted, and she now saw Harris placing another protection bracelet on Waverly's wrist, repeating those same words. Vanessa drew a sharp breath and forced herself to shake off the memories. But before she could fully collect herself, Waverly opened her mouth again, eager to gloat further. Vanessa no longer felt thirsty. Wordlessly, she shut the door in Waverly's face. Late at night, Vanessa finally began to drift off after tossing and turning for what felt like hours. Just then, she heard the faint sound of her door being opened. Rubbing her eyes, she started to sit up, only to see a tall figure approaching her. Before she could react, the person pushed her down onto the bed and started kissing her wildly. The faint scent of cedar hit her nose, and her entire body went rigid. "Harris?" Vanessa gasped. "What are you doing? S-Stop… Harris…" The intimacy was unbearable, shaking her to her very core. When he was about to take things further, Vanessa found a sudden burst of strength and shoved him away. With a thud, the drunken Harris fell to the floor. Vanessa took several deep breaths to calm her pounding heart before picking up her phone to call for the maids to help Harris out of her room. Once he was gone, she hurriedly locked the door and returned to bed. However, sleep was impossible. What on earth had just happened? Why had Harris come to her room and kissed her like that? Was he drunk? Had he mistaken her for Waverly? These questions plagued her mind, keeping her awake for the rest of the night. The next morning, Vanessa took a long time getting ready before heading downstairs. As she entered the kitchen, she saw Harris plating a dish and casually spoonfeeding Waverly. Waverly beamed at him, her eyes narrowing with joy as she leaned in to plant a kiss at the corner of his mouth. Tilting her head, she gazed at him adoringly. "Harris, how do you even find time to cook when you're so busy at the company every day?"