Chapter 4 He Is Your Own Nephew

Harper froze, knowing the outcome yet still clinging to a sliver of hope.

What if he took her side?

While she hesitated, Irene's tears flowed freely as she hurriedly led Jared to Rupert's side, her eyes red and puffy.

"Rupert, I don't think Harper wants us here. Maybe Jared and I should just move out?" She suggested.

She crouched down to wipe away Jared's non-existent tears, forcing a smile. "Be good, Jared. Don't blame Harper, she... she didn't mean to frighten you."

Hearing Irene's words, Rupert could no longer contain his fury, his gaze cold as ice. "Harper, you're absolutely heartless. Now you've stooped so low as to hurt a child!"

"Jared is your nephew!"

The knife in Harper's heart twisted deeper.

She stood calmly in the corner, her slender frame looking as if a breeze could knock her over.

"Rupert, do you have even an ounce of trust in me?"

Hearing her words, Rupert finally raised his cold, contemptuous eyes.

Looking at her as if she were garbage, he sneered, "You don't deserve it."

His words stabbed Harper's heart like a knife, making her bleed inside.

"Now, apologize to Jared immediately."

Her innocence and reputation had never mattered to him.

How could she expect him to believe her over Irene?

Harper suddenly smiled with resignation.

Her hasty smile drew everyone's attention.

Rupert frowned and continued his scolding, "Are you deaf? I told you to—"

"No, you're blind, Rupert."

Rupert tensed, looking at her in disbelief.

From the moment he met Harper, she had been nothing but devoted to him.

Rupert had initially been attracted to her, but after hearing about her "true nature" from Irene, he grew increasingly disgusted with her.

After Irene was "forced" to marry an abusive man, his contempt for Harper reached its peak.

"Everything on the floor represents my hard work. The child doesn't know better, but are you two blind as well? Since he's a minor, you two as his guardians should pay for the damages."

Harper's gaze fell on Rupert, and she suddenly smirked, "Aren't you always concerned about her? Five million dollars, transferred to my account now, and we'll consider this matter settled."

Rupert's expression changed from disbelief to rage in just a second.

He couldn't believe Harper dared to demand money from him!

"Harper, you've really become obsessed with money."

"What does a child understand? If you hadn't carelessly left these paintings lying around, how could he have bumped into them?"

"And you have the nerve to ask me for money? Have you started using drugs or something?"

His suspicious gaze fell on Harper.

She laughed without anger, "Rupert, I'm not joking."

"You know the value of these paintings. I'm giving you just one hour. If the money isn't in my account, you'll receive a lawyer's letter this afternoon."

Harper stepped forward, her presence making Rupert's frown deepen.

Rupert grabbed her hand as she prepared to leave, grinding his teeth, "Are you threatening me?"

Harper paused briefly, methodically peeling his fingers off her wrist one by one, her face expressionless, "If the child doesn't know better, then the adults should pay."

She headed toward the bedroom upstairs.

There was no point forcing something that wasn't meant to be.

Now that she saw through his heart, there was nothing in this house worth staying for.

Harper didn't have many belongings. As she finished packing, the bedroom door was violently kicked open.

"Harper, what the hell has gotten into you?"

Rupert stood at the doorway, furious.

When he realized she was packing, he sneered again, "Stop these theatrics. Go downstairs and apologize to Jared right now."

All three had been intimidated by Harper's demeanor.

After she left, Jared wouldn't stop crying.

His tantrum had brought Rupert back to his senses.

He couldn't believe he'd let Harper intimidate him.

Harper continued packing without hesitation, zipping her bag and looking up at him, "Theatrics?"

"I'm not Irene. I don't have time for your games."

Rupert's face alternated between blue and red.

The next moment, Harper threw some documents in his face, "Sign these."

Rupert's neck veins bulged with anger as he took the papers and examined them carefully.

The large words "Divorce Agreement" caught his eye.

His tone was incredulous, "You want a divorce because they're moving in?"

Harper laughed coldly, "You know what disgusting things you've done. I don't need to spell them out."

Looking at her small bag, she continued, "Sign it, and we'll divorce amicably. As for assets, I'll take sixty percent."

Rupert felt his blood pounding in his head.

Harper had always been easily manipulated; normally, one harsh word from him would make her apologize immediately.

Today, she not only threatened to call a lawyer but even proposed divorce.

But divorce wouldn't be that simple.

And how could she possibly be willing to leave him?

Rupert sneered, "Stop playing hard to get. You're just making me sick."

Hearing this, Harper found it amusing.

She threw his words right back at him.

"Hard to get? You don't deserve it."

"Sign it, and you get forty percent. Don't sign, and I'll make your affair public. Rupert, you won't get a penny then."

This was her final compromise.

She didn't care about the money, but she also didn't want to give everything to them.

Of course, she didn't want her grandfather, Wesley Getty, to know about this.

Their marriage had been arranged by their families, but Wesley had always treated her well.

His health was already poor, and news like this would only make matters worse.

Rupert looked at Harper with fury.

He pointed at her, almost exploding, "Have you lost your mind?"

Harper saw his incredulous expression and smirked coldly.

She knew he couldn't believe it.

After all, her attitude had changed drastically.

A wife who had been completely obedient just yesterday was now cold and demanding a divorce.

How could he believe it?

Harper looked toward the staircase, her voice cold, "You graduated from an elite university. You understand what I said. Do I need to explain everything twice?"

Rupert's chest tightened with anger.

"If we divorce, you can marry Irene, can't you?"

"Would you let the woman you cherish stay with you without any official status?"

As if she had already known what he was thinking, Harper covered her mouth in mock surprise.

"But then again, you probably can never marry her."