Chapter 4

The smell of sterilizers was so pungent when Anthea woke up that she frowned. She opened her eyes and saw Harlan at the bedside. His jacket was draped casually over the back of the chair. His sleeve was rolled up to his elbows, revealing his well-defined forearm. "Thea!" He immediately leaned closer after he saw that she was awake. Placing his warm palm on her forehead, he asked, "Does it still hurt?" Anthea subconsciously turned away. Harlan's hand paused in midair, causing him to gulp. "I'm sorry," he apologized in a deep and husky voice. "I had something important to attend to yesterday, so I didn't answer my phone. I didn't know you were in a car accident. Please forgive me, alright?" Something important to attend to? Did he mean sleeping with Beatrice? Anthea was reminded of the suggestive moans that came from the other end of the call. She smirked, but her tears stained the white sheet instead. Harlan thought she was in pain, so he rang for the doctor. … Once the doctor checked on Anthea, he commented, "The surgery was successful, but she needs to recuperate for two weeks." He paused before glancing at Harlan meaningfully and added, "It's best to have someone stay by her side to take care of her." Nodding, Harlan replied, "I'll be right by her side." He was not lying. Over the course of the next few days, he had barely left her side and even reserved the entire floor of VIP rooms to let her recuperate in peace. When Anthea wanted to have some fresh air in the garden, Harlan carried her downstairs carefully, fearing that she would bump into things. When she said she was craving some food from the western part of the city in the middle of the night, he drove to buy it without any hesitation. By the time he returned, the food was still warm. If this had been in the past, Anthea would have been so touched that her eyes would well up with tears. However, she felt empty now. She would have believed Harlan had she not seen how he loved Beatrice. … On the day she was discharged from the hospital, Harlan put on the seatbelt for her and said gently, "Thea, I've prepared a surprise for you." Before she could respond, his phone rang. "Harlan, are you coming to the class reunion tonight?" an old classmate asked over the phone. "Forget it. I'm just wasting my time. You definitely won't come," the classmate teased and continued, "It's better if you don't, anyway." "After all, Beatrice is coming as well this time," they elaborated. "I have no idea that she is this shameless. Everyone knew she dumped you for a chance to study abroad. We all hate her vanity, yet she still tries so hard to associate with us." Harlan's fingers stiffened as he said, "I'll come." "What? You're coming?" the classmate asked in shock. "Yes." Harlan glanced at Anthea and added casually, "I'll take my girlfriend with me. She was hospitalized earlier, so it's a perfect time for her to relax a little." The classmate laughed. "Alright. You can also piss Beatrice off and show her what she has lost out on." Gazing at Anthea after ending the call, Harlan explained gently, "I'll take you out to unwind a little." Her fingertips were trembling a little. To unwind a little? He clearly said he had a surprise for her earlier, but he no longer brought it up. Taking her out to unwind was also just his excuse when he merely wanted to see Beatrice. However, Anthea did not blow his cover. Feeling exhausted, she just closed her eyes. … The class reunion was held at a private club. In the private room, the lights were dim, with the sound of glasses being clinked filling the room. The crowd went wild after Harlan appeared with his arm wrapped around Anthea's waist. "Damn! Harlan has shown up!" "He even brought his girlfriend! Isn't she the junior who kept following him around and bringing him water back then?" Someone deliberately commented loudly, "What a match made in heaven! She looks like a great person, way better than a certain materialistic ex!" Beatrice's face paled as she sat in the corner. As she held the wine glass, her fingers trembled. Harlan, on the other hand, took meticulous care of Anthea the whole time, as if he had not noticed Beatrice. As soon as Anthea sat down, he helped her to adjust the cushion. Once she sipped the wine, he handed her a glass of water, commenting, "Go easy on the wine. You've not fully recovered." Another person teased, "Mr. Jefferson, you're spoiling your girlfriend so much. You must be so in love with her." Harlan merely smiled and stroked Anthea's head gently. However, it was obvious to Anthea that he had been looking at Beatrice from the corner of his eye. She finally could not stay seated and headed to the restroom, only for Beatrice to stop her on her way out. "You saw everything from outside the hotel room last night, right?" Beatrice let out a smug smile. "How does it feel to watch Harlan sleep with me? Anthea, you're really good at holding it in." Anthea's nails pierced into her palm, but she was calm on the surface. "I'm not affected. Please make way." "Not affected? Why are you pretending to be all high and mighty?" Beatrice grabbed her hand, demanding, "Anthea, listen up. If I hadn't made the wrong choice back then, Harlan would have been mine. You're nothing but a thief who swooped in. I'll be honest with you—I'm back this time to snatch him away!" Leaning closer to Anthea, she grinned as she added, "Do you know how much he loved me back then? In high school, he skipped his classes and stood in line for three hours just because I said I wanted to have the cake in the northern part of the city. "In college, when I suffered from period cramps, he rubbed my belly for me for the entire night. Even now—" Beatrice lowered her voice and said smugly, "He said he hates me, but he kept taking me over and over again last night, refusing to stop even after the day broke. "He loves me so much, so how are you going to win him over?" Anthea felt her heart drop. She slowly looked up at the person in front of her. She had only liked Harlan in secret and watched how he liked Beatrice in the past, never once going head-to-head with her. Therefore, even after Beatrice dumped Harlan for money, Anthea felt that she might have had her own reasons to do so. Otherwise, why would Harlan be so hung up on her? However, Anthea finally understood something that day—this was simply who Beatrice was. She was selfish, materialistic, and without boundaries, yet Harlan was head over heels for her. "I wish you success, then," replied Anthea, shaking Beatrice's hand off and leaving without looking back. … Everybody was suggesting to play "Never Have I Ever" when Anthea returned to the room, and they quickly got her to join in. They were worried she did not understand the rules, so they deliberately explained it to her. All the participants were to hold up five fingers and take turns saying something that they had never done. If the others had done it before, they had to put a finger down. The first to have five fingers down would be the loser. Beatrice walked in behind Anthea. Once she heard about the game, she quickly rushed over and said she wanted to play, but everybody ignored her. "Thea, you start the game," suggested someone. "You go first." Anthea raised her fingers and thought of the way Beatrice taunted her earlier, which made her smile. There was no need for Beatrice to provoke her because she no longer wanted Harlan. "Never have I ever been the one in this group to get married soon," Anthea began softly. "Put your finger down if you are getting married."