"Ma'am!"
Gianna turned sharply from the window, her silk robe billowing behind her. "Yes?"
"The boss withdrew all your personal guards."
Her eyes widened. "What the hell! Why?"
"He caught the guards that we sent to get rid of the doctor."
Gianna staggered back a step, her face draining of color. "The doctor? Oh my goodness—the doctor! He didn't find out anything, did he?"
The aide hesitated. "I think he did."
Her nails dug into the velvet armrest as she gripped it for balance. "Is he home yet?"
"No ma'am. He has been at the courtesan house the whole time."
Her nostrils flared. "What is he doing there?"
"He is taking care of Blue."
Her voice rose like a whip. "That bastard!"
"What should we do now, ma'am?"
Gianna's voice trembled, her hands moving to her temples. "I have no idea. I have absolutely no idea! How about the nurse?"
"The house got rid of her for harming their courtesan."
Her knees nearly gave way as she stumbled back to the settee, eyes wide with panic. "Oh my God," she gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. "The courtesan house found out already?"
"Yes ma'am."
Her lips curled with disbelief. "Since Quincy knows this, why did he remove my guards?! Is he planning to get me killed?"
The aide's voice dropped. "I think so, ma'am. The house will come after you. The boss didn't return home either… he must have given up."
She shot to her feet, rage flaring in her expression. "He gave up on me?! Is he crazy?"
"Maybe he doesn't want the courtesan house to get back with him too. He's still your family after all, and they always punish the whole family for harming their courtesan."
Gianna slapped the nearby vase, sending it crashing to the floor. "Are you dumb?! Do you think the courtesan house can hold the Dylan son for anything?"
The aide flinched. "But regardless of your status—"
"Shut up!" she barked, eyes blazing. "Don't you get it? Quincy is the owner of the courtesan house. His parents are the power holders. Do you think he'll kill himself for some courtesan that he hired?"
There was a stunned silence.
Gianna narrowed her eyes. "So that's it."
She straightened her shoulders, her voice turning cold. "Since Quincy is forcing my hand, I will go ahead with my plans… and abandon him too."
"What should we do now, ma'am?"
Her voice sharpened with resolve. "Let's go to the island."
"Right now?"
"Yes, right now! Should I wait for the courtesan house to kill me first?!"
"No ma'am."
"Then tell the guards to prepare the car."
"The boss dismissed everyone, ma'am. They're not to tend to you."
Gianna glared at him like he'd grown a second head. "Then drive yourself! What are you here for?"
"Yes ma'am…" the aide mumbled, rushing out.
Later, in the golden lounge of the courtesan house, sunlight spilled through sheer drapes as Harper curled up beside Quincy on a velvet divan, draped in a silk nightgown.
"So tell me, babe, why did you decide to host a party out of the blue? You just got back from the hospital."
Harper leaned her head on his shoulder, smiling faintly. "It's almost a week since I got back here. I can host a party. I'm well and fine."
"So what's the reason?"
She lifted her gaze to him, her voice calm but dangerous. "It's a bait."
"A bait?"
"I'm bringing my enemies together… and bringing them to me."
"By hosting a strippers party? What the hell, babe? You even wanna host for the 3 nights—you're spending millions."
Harper smirked. "Totally worth it."
"Is that why you kept me at the courtesan house?"
"Why? You don't wanna stay here?"
"Of course I want to! I like being with you the most. I feel so good anytime I'm with you."
Harper's expression softened. "Me too, babe."
"After this is all over, I'm taking you to my home."
She blinked. "Your home?"
"Yes, baby."
Harper tilted her head. "I don't wanna stay in your home."
"Why?"
"You already got one woman there."
"No, no, Harper—that's just one of my houses. It's not my home. I have a home that I grew up in—it's my family home, and that's where my wife lives."
"Why didn't you take Gianna there?"
Quincy scoffed. "Why would I take Gianna there? She'll ruin everything I cherish. If my mum comes home suddenly and meets her there, she'll spank my head."
Harper laughed, her hand flying to her mouth. "You sound like a mummy's boy."
"I am!" he grinned.
"Right from the field, I could see how much you like your mum."
"She's literally my bestie."
"I thought you'd be close with your dad more."
Quincy chuckled. "My dad is too playful to be a bestie. He just likes having fun. He rarely gets serious. But Mum… she takes everything serious. She leads me through life. I confided in her. When Father told me I was gonna marry Gianna, I was already skeptical—but Mum not liking her already made me lose interest in everything."
"Really?"
"Yeah! She rarely dislikes people, but once she does—it just means you're a bad person. She's a good judge of character. She can sense your aura from the first day."
Harper tilted her head with amusement. "I guess so. She could read through me the first day I was brought to the courtesan house."
Quincy beamed. "She told me back then—'Oh my Quincy, a girl was brought here today. She
was sold to me. I know you'll be mad about this, that's why I'm telling you ahead that I bought a girl. She was pretending to be a boy, but she's quite fascinating.'"
"She said that?" Harper burst out laughing.
"Yes! She said she could feel that you'll shake the courtesan house—and that's what she lives for! Drama! The chaos in the courtesan house needs a bigger chaos to calm it down."
Harper smirked. "So I brought the bigger chaos?"
"You surely did! I mean, who will poison herself just to get rid of chaos?"
"Stop!" She doubled over with laughter.
Quincy smiled warmly. "Even though you had to do so many risky things, you still brought order to the courtesan house. You ousted the bad eggs. You united the courtesans. You made everyone feel equal."
"They're almost not united yet. The noble courtesans still don't wanna get along with the regular courtesans."
"I think it's only Olivia who's not getting along. The rest have started mingling."
Harper raised a brow. "Really? You've started gossiping too?"
"I'm not!"
She smirked. "How do you know who is getting along with whom?"
"This is my courtesan house. I know what's going on here too."
"If you say so."
He leaned closer, brushing his fingers along her cheek. "So… are you gonna go home with me, Harper?"
"I'm still a courtesan."
"It doesn't matter. A courtesan can get married."
"That can only happen once I leave the house—at 30."
He held her gaze. "You're not leaving the house. You'll remain my courtesan—and you'll be my wife too."
Harper's eyes widened. "Just like your mum?"
Quincy smiled. "Yes. Just like my mum. You'll keep being my courtesan… and I'll make you my wife too."
"I didn't say that I was gonna marry you."
He knelt dramatically, taking her hand with a playful wink. "I'm proposing to you right now, Harper. After all this is over… I hope you'll consider me and make me your husband."
Harper looked at him, heart fluttering. "I'll consider it."
"As your ladyship pleases."
"Stop teasing me, please!" she said, giggling—and they both burst into laughter, the sound echoing sweetly through the lounge.