CHAPTER 87 - LIAM, HARRIET, AND ARAIWhile thinking that, he tried to reach for the glass of water on the side table. Since he was quite far away, he had to turn the wheel of his chair a little, but his hands felt weak. As his hands trembled, and his head felt dizzy, he accidentally nudged the glass with one hand outstretched forward.
PRANG!
Sir Russell rushed into the room and saw Liam's leg injured by broken glass.
The man in the wheelchair looked up and smiled blandly at Sir Russell.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," he said, pulling the shards of glass from the skin of his calves that was covered with his trousers and throwing them away.
Sir Russel pulled out Liam's wheelchair away then called for the maid to clean up the broken glass on the floor. The burly and tall man saw the wound on Liam's leg and it didn't close immediately.
Liam's regeneration had slowed considerably more than before, even slower than a normal Lycan. Even though he was a very strong Alpha.
"Get me a glass of water, Russell," Liam said quietly.
Sir Russell fetched Liam some water and helped him drink. He could see Liam's hands were shaking badly in front of him.
"Why are you so adamant about coming to the capital, Young Lord?" asked Russell in a low voice.
Hearing that, Liam laughed blandly.
"It's all because I'm stupid," he said quietly.
He was afraid of someone named Arai Padparadscha. He was afraid that Harriet would leave him. And once he got to the capital, he heard rumors about Harriet's secret lover instead.
He half regretted it and half felt he deserved this. To think a woman as perfect as Harriet loved him was arrogant, and this was his punishment.
"Cough-cough, cough," Liam started coughing.
Sir Russell quickly took a handkerchief from the desk drawer, but someone quickly got ahead of him. The person's hand was outstretched with a handkerchief, which she always kept in her pocket.
"Milord, are you all right? Are you hurt?"
Liam turned his head to see Harriet kneeling on the floor with her feet fresh from her injuries. The woman frantically rushed into the room when she saw that there was a commotion in the room. She saw the bloodstained glass shards on the floor and Liam was coughing, so she immediately panicked and rushed over to him.
"Stand up, Madam, the floor is still…" Liam remembered the floor covered in shards of glass, and a flash of terrifying memory flashed through his head. "Ugh! Cough-cough, cough, cough!"
"Call our physician now," Harriet turned to Sir Russell, who immediately went to carry out orders.
Liam took Harriet's hand and pulled her onto his lap in the wheelchair.
"Don't hurt your legs again!" he said quickly as he hugged the woman to face him.
Harriet blinked in surprise. Liam was no longer coughing, although traces of blood were still visible on his chin and the corners of his lips. The man tilted slightly to check Harriet's legs and tried to lift her skirt.
"Eh?!" Harriet was startled, holding Liam's hand, but Liam persisted until they were both interrupted by someone–
"Ahem!"
Liam was surprised to see a stranger appear in the room.
A beautiful woman with very beautiful curves, and bright orange hair like the sunset. Arai Padparadscha entered the room with awkward steps, although her body remained straight and exuded a strong authority.
Her demeanor was similar to Harriet's but more arrogant and fiery.
"Introducing myself to Young Lord Almandine," said the woman, unsure of where to look because Liam and Harriet were still sitting in the same position. "My name is Arai Padparadscha."
***
"Are you happy now?"
Arai's random question made Harriet even more confused.
"Why…"
"Just answer it, Harri," insisted Arai solemnly.
Harriet was silent. Before long, Arai saw the woman take a deep breath and stare at an empty space.
"I'm truly happy, Arai," said Harriet softly.
Arai felt a tremor in her chest seeing that. Worry immediately enveloped her and made her forget all her own problems about her lover or all the sadness that had made her go drinking last night. Harriet looked much, much stronger and tormented at the same time.
The woman looked up and looked at Arai with a sincere, gentle gaze. "Thank you for asking. I can surely say that I'm happy," Harriet said softly.
The dark-skinned woman before her wore a helpless expression. Her brows furrowed and she gave Harriet a complicated look. The rumors she heard…
"You… can't possibly have an affair, that's for sure, right? Who was that man who made you like this?" asked Arai weakly.
And then Harriet looked back at her in complete confusion this time.
"Huh?!"
Harriet's unintentionally loud voice made the boutique designers and waiters turn their heads toward them. Arai saw the look in Harriet's eyes with her eyes narrowed in suspicion and disbelief. She looked very confused and offended.
Now, seeing Harriet's reaction, Arai believed there was a misunderstanding here. Not just a misunderstanding, but perhaps the rumors were completely unfounded.
"Having an affair? Who?" asked Harriet, not caring that everyone was paying attention to them.
"Rumours, Harri. You did not know?" asked Arai, who immediately reached for a paper report from her men and handed it to Harriet.
As soon as Harriet read it, her brows furrowed even more in disgust and her eyes stared down disdainfully at the paper.
"Who is the source of this rumor?" asked Harriet coldly. She immediately remembered that she had not yet received a report on the state of the capital from the Lycan she had stationed here.
Did Liam end up reading it first?
Harriet's hands immediately shook, and her eyes wavered.
"Which street dog gives birth to nonsense like this out of their disgusting mouths?" asked Harriet in a cold voice, and everyone in the boutique froze.
"Harri, calm down," Arai took her hand gently. "You know you have enemies in the capital."
"Cecilia Morganite? Ezekiel Euclase? Heh," Harriet stood up. "I didn't know they started playing this way. No. I should have known they were going to play this way once I got caught up in their game last year," Harriet walked away from there.
Right now, she just wanted to go back to Liam's side and talk.
She will never have an affair, even if she was forced to. There was no man she had loved more than Liam, and there would never be. Even if death did them part, Harriet would never–
The anger that exploded throughout Harriet's body slowly subsided. Arai who was following her also stopped when Harriet stopped walking in front of the boutique. She was surprised to see Harriet looking so distraught. But slowly, Harriet regained her composure.
By now, Harriet was starting to get back to the way she was because she remembered Liam would definitely believe her. Liam would have believed her because she had never done anything bad. Liam knew that best.
Harriet turned to Arai and took her hand.
"Will you come with me to meet my husband?" said Harriet softly.
Arai almost choked on air seeing Harriet like this. Had her best friend just begged her to come with her to explain this mess to her husband?
Rather than her troubles with her ex-boyfriend, it seemed that Harriet needed help much more–
"Of course, Madam. Of course," said Arai half confused and half wanting to laugh. It felt so ironic.
Along the way, Harriet looked uneasy. She gripped the skirt of her dress and looked like she was on the verge of breaking. At the same time, Arai was curious about Harriet's husband who could make Harriet this worried.
Was he that scary? Didn't everyone know how the man was a dying old man who couldn't get out of bed? But she was true that he was also a monster, a mighty Alpha Lycan.
Maybe even though he was dying, he could still get Harriet into trouble?
That was very possible.
Harriet herself didn't know why she was so worried. Lately, Liam's attitude had been strange, and his health had also deteriorated. Hearing those rumors would definitely surprise him. She knew how much Liam loved her, and bad thoughts could be toxic to his health.
Even so, what she was really worried about was the fact that there were rumors that spread and were aimed at her on the first day she arrived in the capital. This really showed how complicated her past as a politician in the capital was, a side she found to be shameful to show Liam. The incident one year ago too...
Arriving at her hotel, Arai followed Harriet who walked briskly up to her room. On the stairs, they saw the maids rushing into a room, and Harriet's heart sank. It was her and Liam's room.
Harriet almost ran towards the room, followed by Arai who was confused by how panicked Harriet's face was.