CHAPTER 86 - JEALOUSArai's subordinate, Sir Phillip, walked away after bowing solemnly. The tall, black-haired, and dark-skinned man immediately carried out the order.
After finishing preparing, Arai went to her favorite boutique to wait for Harriet. The sun was already high on the horizon as she was warmly greeted by the designers and waiters, and she was immediately seated in a special waiting room. She didn't have to wait long, and Harriet arrived in a horse-drawn carriage, along with a few guards.
But when she saw Harriet appear, Arai was silent for a moment. A friend she hadn't seen in a long time looked even more charming.
"Harri!"
Arai jumped into Harriet's arms as she entered the boutique. She was taller than Harriet, so Harriet could bury her face into Arai's plump breasts.
"Oomph! Arai!" Harriet returned her friend's hug cheerfully after breaking free from her cleavage.
Arai stepped back a little and grabbed Harriet's shoulders, then watched her whole body from head to toe in admiration. She nodded in satisfaction. "You are okay. You also gain weight. Good," she commented.
"Eh?" Harriet looked surprised.
Arai pulled her to a sofa and sat next to her. The tall woman wearing a luxurious crimson robe looked intently at Harriet's face. "You're more beautiful than the last time we met. Could it be that you have a breakthrough in new skincare products from beauty alchemists?" asked Arai.
"Huh?" Harriet tilted her head, even more surprised.
Seeing the confusion and how relaxed Harriet was, Arai guessed she hadn't heard anything about the rumours. She breathed a sigh of relief and felt a little worried at the same time. She didn't want to be the first to tell Harriet the rumour, the eye of the storm, but this was her job as Harriet's best friend.
"Harri, my dear, my beautiful best friend, try to answer my question," said Arai seriously.
Harriet blinked. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously at her friend. Meanwhile, Arai opened her mouth and revealed her question.
"Are you happy now?"
***
Liam sat in a wheelchair overlooking the hotel room window balcony. His hands rested on the arms of the wheelchair as he looked up at the capital's bright sky.
Sir Russell was standing behind him, and two other Lycans were installing a room divider so that people entering through the door wouldn't see the inside of the room right away.
"When did Madam say she would be back?" Liam asked.
Sir Russell couldn't see Liam's expression because he was standing behind him, but he could tell that Liam was in a complicated mood.
"Madam said she would be back before diner time, Milord," replied Sir Russell.
"Mm," Liam nodded once.
In his hand was a piece of paper. It was the report from the Lycans who lived in the capital as Duchy Almandine's informants. It was Harriet who placed them all over the continent, but she had gone to see her best friend, Arai Padparadscha and had not had time to read the report.
So Liam read it first.
Liam pushed the report paper back at Sir Russell. He didn't say anything.
"May I show this report to Madam, Young Lord?" Russell asked, confused that Liam had been silent.
"Yes. Just show her," Liam replied.
Sir Russell hesitated and looked again at the contents of the report on the piece of paper. "Uhh, should I hide that you've read this report?" he asked again.
Liam shook his head. "Just put the report paper like that on the table. She'll know I've read it," Liam replied calmly.
Sir Russell furrowed his brows. Was Liam angry? With the contents of a report like this, of course, Liam would be angry. Putting the paper on the table and letting Harriet know he'd read it would only be the start of an argument.
But Sir Russell knew he was not to meddle in the private affairs of his masters. He put the paper on the table and read its contents once more.
[Many eyewitnesses saw Madam Harriet Goldlane dating a young and handsome secret lover after marrying Young Lord Almandine]
It was a rumor that was circulating in the capital.
After Sir Russell left the room with the other Lycans, leaving Liam alone, they looked at each other. They were nervous because on the first day their two masters arrived in the capital, rumors like this appeared.
The Lycans knew this was a baseless rumor, considering they knew Harriet never went anywhere alone. Neither did any foreign man appear and secretly meet with Harriet, for the security of the Duchy of Almandine and the town in the North was excellent.
If there was such a person, the Lycans would know first.
But why did Young Lord look so disturbed? Shouldn't Young Lord be the one who knew that truth best?
They wondered because they didn't know that Liam lost his memory. Right now, Liam was doubting himself, not Harriet.
Did Harriet not love him? Did Harriet have a lover and their marriage was getting in the way of their relationship? Was Arai Padparadscha Harriet's lover, so that Liam's former self was jealous of Arai? Were all the memories he had that Harriet loved him just lies and dreams? And what really happened in his still missing memory?
Liam looked down at his stiff legs. He hated himself because ever since he got off the carriage, he couldn't move his body properly. He knew this was the effect of riding for more than a week in a horse-drawn carriage… but still. He felt pathetic.
Harriet was a nice woman. She couldn't possibly be cheating on him, so maybe she had ended her relationship with that other man to become his wife.
Rumors always had a basis, there would be no smoke without a fire. Even though most rumors themselves might not be facts. Whatever caused the rumors, it must have been based on speculation that there was another man in Harriet's life.
Liam felt his empty chest tighten and heave. He wanted Harriet to love him forever, and he wanted so badly to be healed so he could love Harriet forever too.
But whatever he did, if he wasn't the place where Harriet's happiness lay, then what could he do?
Liam wasn't usually someone who had the habit of overthinking, but this was about the true love of his life. He had every right to be worried and insecure… even though he felt like an idiot right now.