Chapter 2 Holding Sister's Underwear

"I've never slept with Harper. I've kept myself clean."

A simple sentence, like a cold blade slicing through the air, nearly cut Harper in two.

Her blood seemed to flow backward, her body frozen in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Rupert hadn't touched her, so he was clean. Was he planning to remain chaste for Irene?

Even his friends around the table looked surprised at his declaration.

"If my grandfather hadn't forced me, I would never have married her."

Speaking of which, Rupert downed a glass of wine with some annoyance.

His friends exchanged awkward glances before one teased, "That's our Rupert, such a devoted lover. Not even tempted by a knockout like Harper."

"If I were Irene, I'd be moved to tears knowing this."

Harper stood there, her gaze hollow and pale.

Over these years, she had tried to get closer to Rupert, only to be rejected with various excuses.

So this was the real reason all along.

Rupert truly hadn't forgotten Irene, even though she already had a child with someone else.

What a devoted lover indeed!

Harper thought with bitter sarcasm as someone in the room spotted her.

"Mrs. Getty is here. Why don't you come in?" Someone called out, clearing his throat.

The previously jovial atmosphere shattered with her presence.

Harper dug her sharp nails into her palm, the pain helping her force a dignified smile.

"I just arrived," she managed.

Rupert's lips tightened, his eyes betraying his irritation.

Someone suggested tentatively, "Well, since Mrs. Getty is here, we should probably head out. Rupert, take it easy on the drinks."

Before Harper could speak, another voice rang out from the doorway.

"You're all leaving just as I arrive?"

Irene appeared, perfectly made up, and Rupert's eyes instantly brightened.

He stood up almost eagerly. "Irene, what are you doing here? Where's Jared?"

Irene smiled warmly. "Jared's at home, demanding we come back to read him a story. I didn't want to disrupt your gathering, so I made an excuse for him to go to sleep first."

"I don't care about the drinks. Let's go home now."

With that, Rupert naturally took Irene's hand and left.

He hadn't spared Harper a single glance.

Harper stood frozen, watching their retreating figures, then noting the varied expressions on Rupert's friends' faces. It felt like an invisible slap across her face.

To an outsider, it would seem that Irene and Rupert were the family.

She, Rupert's wife, might as well have been invisible.

Harper couldn't remember how she got home.

She sat alone on the couch, staring blankly at the clock.

Two hours later, the door finally opened.

Harper instinctively looked up, only to see the marks on Rupert's neck.

A cluster of red marks, enough to tell her what had happened during those hours.

Harper's breath caught in her throat.

Irene followed behind him, her steps unsteady, deliberately whining, "Rupert, I can barely walk. Will you carry me upstairs?"

She shot Harper a challenging look as she finished speaking.

Rupert bent down without hesitation and lifted Irene. "Take a hot bath upstairs and get some rest."

They acted as if Harper weren't sitting right there on the couch.

"You two..." Harper began, her voice numb and dry.

"I'm exhausted. Whatever it is, we'll talk tomorrow," Rupert interrupted impatiently as he headed upstairs.

The rest of Harper's sentence died in her throat as she watched Rupert's back disappear.

Three years of marriage.

He couldn't even spare the patience to hear her complete a sentence, yet he would comfort Irene until she fell asleep after a nightmare!

Harper's heart ached with bitterness as she squeezed her eyes shut.

That night, Rupert didn't return to their bedroom.

Harper barely slept with the help of melatonin, then numbly got up for work the next morning.

She didn't dare to let herself stop moving, or Rupert favored Irene would keep popping up inside her head.

Dragging her exhausted body home after work, it was already ten at night.

Inside, she found Rupert slumped on the couch, his face flushed, his eyes unfocused.

His breathing was heavy, as if he were fighting against something.

Harper startled, approaching him. "What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"

She couldn't help but think he looked like someone who'd been drugged with an aphrodisiac.

The next moment, Rupert grabbed her wrist and flipped her beneath him.

His gaze was hazy, his voice hoarse, "I feel so bad... I'm burning up..."

Harper instantly realized someone had set him up.

Over the years, women had tried to seduce Rupert during business events, but he'd always firmly rejected them.

"I should take you to the hospital or—" She began cautiously.

Without responding, Rupert suddenly scooped Harper up and carried her to the bedroom.

When he tossed her onto the bed, Harper was still dazed.

She watched as he frantically began tearing at their clothes and bit her lip before speaking.

"Rupert."

Rupert suddenly paused, shaking his head slightly. "Harper?"

Harper nodded. "It's me."

He immediately got up and headed for the room next door without hesitation.

Harper's mind went completely blank.

She had been ready for him...

She followed him barefoot, only for her pupils to contract in shock at what she saw next.

Rupert was holding a red piece of lingerie, eyes closed, pleasuring himself while murmuring:

"Irene..."