hapter 136 Sorry, Not Sorry-2
Chapter 136: Sorry, Not Sorry-2
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She drew another breath, steadier this time. “After graduation, I begged my mother. And she… she understood. She agreed to take me away, to give me a chance at something real. That’s why we left-months before my twenty-fifth birthday. My father still stands as the Oyabun in public. But the truth is, he’s only holding the space meant for me, keeping the world together while I tried to figure out who I am.”
Her voice softened, but its edge of resolve remained. “I didn’t leave out of fear. I left to choose. To be me.” She glanced at Damien, her gaze steady. “And that’s why I did what I did- it was the only way I could stay hidden.”
Harper’s eyes flicked to Maya, a bare tremor threading her voice. “And then I met you. Just… normal. Living. Surviving. And I felt this pull-not out of pity, but because, in you, I saw pieces of myself. Keeping your head down, fighting through each day. You’re admirable, Maya. I envy that strength. You gave me something I never had-friendship that was real. Not for my name, not for my family. Just… me.”
Her gaze softened, the smallest smile ghosting across her lips. “And the more I got to know you, the more I felt… ready. Ready to stop running. Ready to accept what I was born to be.”
Maya’s chest tightened, a lump forming in her throat. She reached out, her hand brushing lightly against Harper’s, eyes glistening. “Harper… I… I had no idea. I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
Then she shook her head, forcing a small, uncertain smile. “You know what? Just… just forget it. You don’t have to do anything against your will. I’m sure we’ll be fine.” She glanced at Damien, her voice catching slightly. “Right? We… we can still win even if-”
Harper’s hand lifted, halting Maya mid-sentence with a touch that was firm but not unkind. Maya…” Her voice dropped-soft, but threaded with urgency-drawing the entire room into stillness. She stepped closer until there was barely space between them, her eyes locking onto Maya’s with a steady, unblinking intensity.
She exhaled slowly, as if shedding the last of her hesitation, and when she spoke again, her voice was sure, almost commanding. “No. You don’t get to leave this to chance. I can’t-l won’t let you face this without me. I’ve already made my choice. I’m in this, all the way.”
A faint, genuine smile broke across her face, but it didn’t dull the weight of her words. “You don’t even have to ask, Maya. Because I already decided. I was just waiting for the right moment. In fact…” her voice dipped, a flicker of guilt crossing her expression, “…I may have-”
Her gaze flicked away, hesitation and guilt shadowing her features.
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Chapter 136 Sorry, Not Sorry-2
Maya stepped closer, her voice soft but insistent. “What is it, Harper?”
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Harper’s eyes darted across the room, catching everyone’s glances, then she let out a rush of words. “I may have already done something.”
Maya’s brows shot up, a mixture of curiosity and alarm. “What do you mean? What did you do?”
Harper swallowed, her fingers tightening slightly at her sides, before she met Maya’s eyes again-part guilt, part pride, and wholly unapologetic for the choices she had made.
She released Maya’s hand, took a step back, and exhaled heavily, as if letting the weight of the secret press down on her fully. Her shoulders slumped slightly, and a small pout tugged at her lips. “Okay… okay, fine! I’ll say it!”
Everyone’s eyes snapped to Harper, the room leaning in as if breath itself wanted to hear the confession.
She swallowed, fingers worrying at the hem of her sleeve, then forced herself upright. Her cheeks still carried the last glow of embarrassment, but there was steel now under the pink. She bit her lip once, gathered the words, and let them loose.
“Well… you know…” She hesitated, that guilty, sheepish smirk flickering back into place. “I made that asshole Ethan’s life miserable.”
Silence cracked like ice. Maya’s jaw dropped, a hand flying to her mouth. “How? Harper, what did you do?”
Harper drew a slow breath, eyes bright with a strange mixture of mischief and conviction. “I ended his career.” Her voice dropped, small but fierce. “I stripped him of everything that mattered-the gigs, the sponsors, the reputation. He’s not on any red carpet anymore.” She let that hang, then added, half ashamed, half triumphant, “And currently… he’s somewhere dark and dirty and stinky, exactly where he deserves to be- waiting for me to come back so I can… um… I can use him as my target, again.”
Maya’s hand flew to her mouth, eyes wide. “Harper… you didn’t!”
She looked at Maya, half-defensive, half-embarrassed. “Well… you know… he’s an asshole to you, and my hands are… itchy. I mean, I just wanted to throw some knives, so…”
Damien’s expression hardened, a dangerous amusement creeping into the corner of his mouth. Ashcroft’s smirk wavered, then reappeared, this time edged with impressed disbelief. Dahlia’s face softened into a small, calculating smile-part approval, part motherly appraisal. Harper’s shoulders sagged a fraction as the confession left her. There was no swagger now
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Chapter 136: Sarry Not Sorry-2
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-only the exhausted relief of someone who’d crossed a line and, for once, didn’t regret it. “He deserved it,” she said quietly. “He hurt you. He needed to be taken off the board. And… I’m not gonna lie-it was kind of satisfying.”
A quiet voice piped up from the side. Lee, usually reserved, cleared his throat. “Aha! No wonder you were gone for almost three hours yesterday!”
All eyes snapped to him. Lee scratched the back of his neck, letting out a nervous laugh. “Oh hehe… well, yesterday I went looking for Ms. Lin, to see if she wanted to join us for dinner. I knocked on her door, no answer. Went back downstairs, and the receptionist told me Ms. Lin had requested a jet ski. Didn’t think much of it-figured she just wanted to enjoy herself. It wasn’t until almost eight in the evening that she appeared and joined us around the campfire
and, uh…”
Lee shifted uncomfortably, scratching the back of his neck, eyes flicking around the room as if replaying the scene in his head. A small, almost sheepish smile tugged at his lips. “She… she looked different last night,” he admitted. “Overly… energetic, I guess? Like she’d gotten some kind of… release. Really happy, actually. It was… noticeable.”
He let out a nervous chuckle, shrugging as if trying to downplay it, but the admiration-and a hint of awe-lingered in his tone.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.