Chapter 9 The Hospital's Urology Department—You Really Should Visit

Compared to Claire's excitement and angry accusations, Harper was much calmer — her emotions weren't affected at all.

Anyone with eyes could see that Harper had been caught up in something that had nothing to do with her, and was most likely being framed.

That said, things were exactly as Harper had said — not easy to explain, and getting into a fight at a dinner party was beneath her.

Harper swirled her wine glass and raised an eyebrow. "How do you know I don't have any of Ruby's jewelry? Have you seen every piece I own?"

She took a sip of red wine, her confident voice carrying across the room. "Once you get the necklace, you'll know for yourself whether it's real and whether it's identical."

With that, Harper didn't spare Evan or Claire another glance. She turned and walked away to another part of the party.

She had no desire to look at either of them anymore. They were completely ruining her mood.

When Claire heard Harper offer to replace the necklace with an identical one, a mocking smile crept onto her lips and her voice rose. "Everyone knows how hard it is to get a necklace designed by Ruby. Most styles only have a few pieces made, and some are completely one of a kind. The moment anything of hers hits the market, it's snapped up instantly. There's never any stock left, and no one ever gives theirs up."

She paused deliberately before continuing with a sneer. "The necklace I'm wearing — there are currently only three of them, and all three already have owners. And you're saying you'll replace it with an identical one? Don't make promises you can't keep, or you might end up eating your words."

The guests around them chimed in, all agreeing that Harper was just talking big.

"Exactly — this isn't something just anyone can buy. Having money isn't enough. That's easy to say."

"She's right. That's just empty talk. Way too fake."

"If you broke it, just apologize and pay for it. Why make up stories like that? It's obvious she doesn't want to pay. I actually had a decent impression of her just now — didn't expect her to be like this..."

Evan didn't believe Harper could actually replace the necklace with an identical one either. He knew exactly how much money she had and what jewelry she owned.

But he said nothing more at that point. Harper was already gone. He turned to Claire instead. "Have someone look at it and see if it can be repaired. If not, we'll just buy another one."

"I'll try to get it repaired. You gave it to me, so it means something different." Claire agreed, though she was still unhappy.

Evan assumed she was upset about the necklace and said a few more words to comfort her.

After that little incident, nothing else happened at the party.

When it was over, Harper got into her car and messaged her assistant Lily, asking her to send Claire one of the necklaces she had in storage.

She had designed those necklaces herself — how could she not have one? And even if she didn't, having one made wouldn't be a problem.

The driver was about to pull away when Evan suddenly rushed forward and blocked the car.

He knocked on the window.

Harper rolled it down, wondering what he wanted now.

Evan leaned down, frowning. "Harper, get out. We need to talk."

"There's nothing for us to talk about." Harper moved to roll the window back up.

"Fine, we can talk like this if you won't get out." Evan quickly stopped her. He hadn't finished what he needed to say — he couldn't let Harper leave yet.

Harper looked at him with barely concealed impatience. "Say what you need to say. It's getting late and I need to get home and rest."

Evan pushed down his anger, his tone carrying an air of someone doing her a favor. "I'll invest in you. In return, you drop the divorce and keep quiet about what you said about me. Don't forget who you are — the only reason anyone dares to work with you is out of respect for me."

The implication was clear: the only thing Harper had going for her was the title of Mrs. Morgan. Without that, she had nothing worth anyone's attention.

Harper was furious. He thought absolutely nothing of her — he believed she was nothing without him.

This was the man she had fallen for at first sight, the one she had willingly married. She must have lost her mind back then.

"I made myself very clear last time — you're my ex-husband. My life is none of your business, and I don't need your charity." Harper spoke slowly, making sure Evan caught every single word.

"As for the divorce, I've already signed the papers. I'm just waiting for your signature. I'm not changing my mind." Three years of giving everything she had was enough. Three years with nothing in return — she wasn't going to throw the rest of her life away too.

Looking back now, she felt those three years had been completely wasted. She had thrown away three years of her life for nothing.

Harper's tone was firm, but Evan didn't believe her.

He never believed she would actually go through with the divorce.

If she wanted to leave now, why had she married him in the first place?

There had never been any emotional foundation between them. He had never been kind to her. If she couldn't take it and wanted to leave, she would have left long ago — not waited until now.

"Fine, forget those two things. What about the rumors you spread? Morgan Corporation's stock took a serious hit because of what you said. You need to take responsibility for that." Evan said it through gritted teeth.

Public opinion had shifted a little, but not enough. It would be best if Harper came out and cleared things up.

But if she'd been willing to do that, she wouldn't have said what she said in the first place. She had done it on purpose — so what now?

Harper gave Evan a look that said there was nothing she could do. "That was the reporter's interpretation. It has nothing to do with me. I'm not dealing with it."

That was just stonewalling, and it was infuriating.

The tension radiating off Evan grew heavier. The look he fixed on Harper carried a clear threat. "Husband and wife are one. Telling the world I'm not capable — how does that help you? And then there's the necklace. You don't have the money, you don't have the connections, and you can't get your hands on a Ruby design. When you can't deliver, it'll prove you were lying, and that's just more trouble for me. Don't make my life harder."

"Do what I say and follow my instructions, and I'll take care of Claire's necklace for you." He added that last part after a moment's thought, convinced Harper had no reason to refuse. He was already offering her plenty.

Three years. She had learned his preferences, picked up on his habits, cooked his favorite meals with her own hands.

And none of it had ever earned her so much as an extra glance from him.

Now his words carried the certainty of someone who thought he knew her inside and out.

On the surface, she didn't know Ruby — that much was true. But it wasn't like he'd ever helped her with anything before. He'd just gone ahead and declared her guilty.

So that was what he'd been building up to.

Typical Evan. Everything came down to what he could get out of it.

Harper relaxed and leaned back against her seat, her eyes full of contempt. "I said I'd pay for it, so I will. I don't need your help. But you — you should get yourself checked out at a men's health clinic before it becomes a bigger problem."

"Drive."

She gave the driver no chance to let Evan respond. The driver followed Harper's order and pulled the car away.

Caught off guard, Evan nearly stumbled and fell.

Harper's parting words were still ringing in his ears, and his expression darkened with fury. "Harper, you'll pay for this!"

How dare she — saying something like that right to his face!

If the car hadn't sped off so quickly, he would have dragged her out and made her explain herself.

Not far away, Claire had watched the whole thing from inside her own car. She was terrified they might reconcile — terrified that Evan's heart had made room for Harper, leaving no space for her.

The look of amazement on Evan's face when he saw Harper at the party — she couldn't get it out of her head.

Watching Harper's car disappear into the distance, and seeing that Evan and she seemed to have parted on bad terms, lifted Claire's mood considerably.

There could be no chance of them getting back together. She wouldn't allow it.

She had spent years working toward marrying him. She would not allow anyone to stand in her way.

"Evan can only be mine."