Freya barely parked the car when Harper pushed the door open and stepped out, her body moving with sheer willpower more than strength. Her face was pale, lips trembling, but her voice was firm.
"Freya, can I be alone for now?" Harper said as soon as they arrived back to the penthouse.
Freya turned sharply, concern etched deep into her face. "Blue, don't we need to go back to the hospital? You look so sick."
"I'm fine. Just leave me alone for now, please." Her words were clipped, her breath shaky.
Freya hesitated, worry swirling in her eyes, but she nodded reluctantly. "Alright! Sage will stand guard at the door. I'll be here if you need anything."
"Thank you," Harper murmured, her voice cracking slightly. Without waiting for another word, she entered her room and closed the door.
As soon as it clicked shut, her body gave out. She collapsed onto the cold, tiled floor, gripping her side as a sharp pain shot through her back. She let out a pained gasp and arched forward. Her trembling hand reached behind her, and when she pulled it into view, it was smeared with blood.
"What the hell," she whispered, staring at the crimson stain. Panic flared in her chest. She leaned against the bed frame, resting her head on the edge, unable to hold back the tears anymore. They streamed freely down her face, soaking her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Quincy," she whispered between sobs. "I'm so sorry!"
Meanwhile, in Quincy's office at the mansion, tension sizzled in the air. He stood like a coiled spring, chest heaving, eyes wild. Then, without warning, he picked up a heavy glass vase and hurled it across the room. It shattered violently against the wall.
"Ahhh!" he roared, the sound filled with raw agony.
"Calm down, boss," Jesse said carefully from the corner, standing straight but cautious.
"Calm down?" Quincy turned toward him, his voice rough. "You're telling me to calm down in this situation?"
"If you won't calm down, what are you going to do about it? She already made her own decisions!" a sharp, commanding voice cut through the tension like a knife.
Quincy turned, shocked, as Fransisca strode into the room, arms crossed over her regal black coat. Her presence demanded attention.
"Mum? Why are you here?"
"What, I can't visit my son anymore?" she replied coolly.
"It's not that. You've never visited the house since Gianna moved in."
"I just don't like seeing her at all," she said flatly, stepping fully into the room. "I came here because she's not home right now, and I had to check up on you."
"I'm fine, Mum."
"You are fine?" She raised an eyebrow. "And you shattered the vase as soon as you came in?"
"I was just pissed off," he muttered, lowering himself onto a chair.
"I always told you to be in control of your mood whenever something happens. Did you just lose your control?"
"I didn't, Mum!"
Fransisca's gaze softened slightly as she stepped closer. "Son, I know this is about Harper. But you don't have to be this way."
"I shouldn't be this way? She chose Angel over me! She didn't even think it twice before she ditched me out there, Mum! I've been with her for so long—I was doing everything right—but she chose Angel over me just like that!" He slammed his hand on the table, voice cracking with hurt.
"I'm sure it must be so hard for her to make such a decision as well. After all, she is her family."
"And she doesn't consider me one?" he said bitterly.
"She's just your courtesan, not your wife."
"But I'm planning to marry her, Mum! I'm just waiting for everything to settle, then we can get married. I always have her best interest at heart—how could she do this to me?"
"You are still married to someone else, Quincy! What if she decides to stay with you and you end up jilting her?"
"You know I wouldn't do that, Mum."
Fransisca exhaled deeply, placing her hand on the back of a chair. "You know what Gianna is capable of. Angel is her only family—if she dies, then she will have no one. She'll be alone forever. How do you expect a 21-year-old to live her life without the hope of a family somewhere?"
"She's been fine! She was always fine before Angel came and ruined everything for us! That damn bitch—I'm definitely killing her myself!"
Fransisca's tone turned ice-cold. "If you kill Angel yourself, Harper will hate you forever."
"But why? Why?" Quincy's voice cracked again, full of confusion. "They were big enemies! They didn't even like each other. Even till now, she doesn't wanna see her at all."
Fransisca's voice dropped into something low and almost mournful. "Only a deep love can cause hatred. Since Blue came into the courtesan house, Angel saw her light. She loves the kind of human she will be. They shared a sister's bond. It was the great love she had for her that caused the big hatred. Angel admired her. Then the admiration turned to envy, then hate. As for Blue—she was just doing everything to survive. But she also liked Angel in her little way."
Quincy stared at her, shaken. "I can't believe this will ever happen to me. Am I just gonna lose Harper this way?"
"Sure."
"Like seriously, Mum?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes."
"I'm gonna cancel my subscription with her. I won't take another courtesan. I will go after her."
"You'll be breaking the rules."
"Should I leave her alone because of the rules?"
"If she was never a courtesan, then it's another case. But she is a courtesan. So she needs to abide by our rules—even outside the courtesan house. Not killing Angel or you going after Blue after her contract got terminated is not being fair to the other courtesans. The only way you can chase Blue outside the courtesan house is if she completes her contract. Then you can be together and get married. But since she's terminated from the house, she can't eat her cake and still have it. She needs to choose only one."
"Mum, can't you find a solution?"
"I have no solutions."
"Mum!"
"Forget it! I'm leaving."
"Mum!"
"Don't 'Mum' me to death! I'm going back to the house. Let's go, Jesse."
"Yes, ma'am."
Fransisca turned briskly and exited. The moment she stepped outside, she froze. Her sharp eyes caught movement to her right. She took a few steps back and tilted her head suspiciously.
"Jesse," she said slowly.
"Yes, ma'am?" Jesse followed her gaze.
Fransisca's face twisted in disgust. She walked swiftly to the side, reached behind a pillar, and yanked someone forward by the arm.
Gianna stumbled out, wide-eyed. The sharp smack of a palm echoed through the yard as Jesse struck her across the face.
"What the hell are you doing!"
"Gianna?" Fransisca scoffed, her eyes scanning her top to bottom with disdain. "Why are you hiding behind?"
"Nothing! Why did your PA slap me?"
"Why are you eavesdropping?"
"I wasn't! I saw that you were discussing something important with Quincy, and I decided to wait here till you were done since you don't like having me around."
"Really? You decided to wait—or you were eavesdropping?"
"I did not eavesdrop, Mother. I didn't hear a thing, I swear."
"I'm not your mother! Next time, if I'm talking to my son and I see you doing this rebellious act, I will deal with you severely!"
"I'm sorry, Mother."
"Let's go, Jesse," she snapped, walking off with disdain radiating from her back.
Gianna stood frozen, one hand still cradling her stinging cheek. Then she let out a furious, sharp scream.
"Ahhh! That old witch! How dare she treat me like this? You will regret treating me badly, I promise!" she snarled and stormed toward the door—only to smack her forehead painfully against it.
"What the hell! That hurts badly! This woman is such a bad luck, damnit!" She cursed under her breath and stormed into the house, seething.