Chapter 451

Harper took a deep breath, feeling a mix of emotions.

Saying goodbye was hard, but lying to her best friend was even worse. She felt awful for not being honest with Bella about her feelings for Sean Spencer.

Harper knew she couldn’t keep this from Bella for long. Still, she decided to keep it a secret until she knew her relationship with Sean was going in the direction she planned and hoped for.

And, if Sean rejects her, Harper realizes there is no point in letting Bella know her feelings toward Sean.

“Girl, it’s time for us to part ways again,” Harper said, her voice trembling with sadness. She hugged Bella tightly and continued, “I promise you, I’ll be here in November to celebrate your birthday and Dax’s. Take care of yourself, and don’t work so hard, hmm p>

“Hmm, I will,” Bella said while smiling.

Bella continued, “You too, take care and have fun! Don’t work too hard. Let Boss Jack Foster handle the office matters.” She chuckled as she released her embrace and noticed tears welling up in Harper’s eyes. “Don’t cry p>

Harper waved her hands near her face, trying to stop the tears from flowing. “Sure, I will! I will make him work like our slave He stifled a laugh; imagine Jack complained.

“I’ll be waiting for your return in November, Harper! You have to come and bring Jack, too… I miss him already,” Bella said, fighting back tears. She didn’t want to cry, fearing Harper might start sobbing too.

“Sure, I will drag him to come with me. Okay, okay… I’ll go now, Bella… Bryan, Sam…bye!” Harper smiled at them and walked away. She can’t stay there for too long, or she might cry.

“Harper, next time you come, bring my brother-in-law too!” Bella shouted after her.

Harper almost choked. She said nothing and simply waved her hand without turning to see Bella and the others.

Bella smiled as she watched Harper walk away. She stood where she was until her best friend was out of sight. Then she turned to see Bryan and Sam standing near her.

“Alright, let’s go, guys…” she said and started walking.

“Where are we going, ma’am?” Bryan asked, glancing at her.

“Home. I’m tired and need to sleep,” Bella answered, covering her mouth to hide her yawn. This surprised Sam, who noticed the changes in her that he saw today.

“Yes, ma’am!” Bryan felt relieved. He had already received orders from his boss, Tristan, to ensure Bella returned home after they finished sending off Harper.

Astington Military Base.

Sean had just parked his car in the outdoor parking area of the tallest building. Before he turned off the engine, his cell phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket, indicating that he had received a text message.

He didn’t rush to check it. Instead, he stepped out of his car and leisurely walked toward the building.

After some time, he finally checked his cell phone, thinking the short text message was work-related.

However, Sean’s steps abruptly halted when he saw the sender’s name.

“Harper? Why did she text again p>

A furrow appeared on his forehead as he opened the text message.

Instantly, his knees felt like they were turning to jelly. He was shocked to read her reply:

[Harper] I’m sorry, Sean. I can’t p>

“What does she mean?” The line on his forehead became even more apparent. Seconds later, a scary thought crossed his mind. “Damn it!” he cursed while checking his chat history with her.

His heart sank when he saw the text he had sent to her.

“What the hell!! How could I send such a text to her p>

Sean clearly remembered not sending the text when encountering his sister Keira earlier.

Sighing deeply, Sean read Harper’s reply a few more times. For some unknown reason, reading her refusal disappointed him. The feeling almost matched when Bella rejected him.

“So, she can’t He murmured as his lips slightly curled into a frosty smile. He shook his head slightly while continuing to talk to himself. “Man, it looks like you lost your opportunity p>

Gazing around and finding no one there, Sean continued to walk, heading to his office.

A few female and male staff members greeted him politely as Sean entered the building; however, he said nothing and only nodded slightly at them. His mind was still busy thinking about why Harper rejected him just like that.

’Did she start to think about giving up pursuing me?’ he wondered while entering the empty elevator. His mind reeled back to the last encounter with Harper. At that time, he didn’t say much to her.

’Man! You are really not polite to a woman, huh!’ he scolded himself inwardly.

After a few more seconds, the elevator finally arrived at his office floor. A few staff greeted him again, but he said nothing back and walked straight to his office.

When he settled in his seat, his cell phone vibrated again. He casually checked it, and his phone almost slipped from his hand upon reading the name written there: Harper.

[Harper] I can’t stay because I must return home. My mother’s birthday is the day after tomorrow.

A relieved smile slowly appeared on his lips as he read her text message.

[Harper] But I will return in November for Dax’s birthday. Hope to meet you at that time, Sean. (Smile emoji)

Just before Sean wanted to type something, his cell phone vibrated again.

[Harper] I’m boarding now. See you! (Smile emoji)

Without thinking, Sean typed quickly, hoping she would read it before she turned off her cell phone, “Inform me when you’ve safely landed p>

After he sent that, Sean immediately turned his phone on silent mode and placed it on his table. He was too worried he would send her another stupid text message.

At the villa on the city’s outskirts,

Marco sat in his office with two men opposite him. His impatient gaze was fixed on one of his men, who was speaking to someone over the phone.

After a while, the man finally finished talking, and with delighted eyes, he looked at Marco.

“How did it go, Billy?” Marco asked impatiently, eager to hear the good news.

Today was the first time they had successfully followed Arabella Donovan. It seemed like a stroke of luck that they managed to do so without being caught by her bodyguards.

His curiosity about Arabella Donovan grew stronger daily because those who guarded her always ruined his plans. They all looked professional and powerful enough to spot his people.

“Master, we finally know where she lives!” Billy said as he put his cell phone in his pocket. “She lives in Little Heaven p>

“Little Heaven?” Marco was shocked. The area was restricted and high-security; only residents and their guests could enter. What he had heard about that place was that only certain people in the country could buy property there, so even if he wanted to buy, he couldn’t.

“Yes, Master. That’s why our people could only follow her until her car and some of her escort cars entered the area,” Billy explained. “Arabella Donovan…seriously, Master, who is she? Why are there people guarding her like she’s the First Lady p>

Marco said nothing, but his curiosity about that woman grew even more.