Chapter 323: He Has a Girlfriend?!
Harper’s cheeks immediately heated under Maya’s knowing smile.
“Shhh!” She suddenly grabbed Maya’s hand and pulled her into the hallway. “Keep your voice down! Close the door. Hurry!”
Maya barely had time to react before reaching back and pulling the door shut behind her.
“Where’s Damien?” Harper whispered frantically, glancing nervously at the closed door. “Is he still inside? Wait, where are you going anyway?”
Maya gave her a suspicious look. “He’s in the shower. I was just going to check Jaime’s room and tidy up a little, just in case he didn’t get a chance to clean up earlier.”
Then she paused, her eyes narrowing.
“Wait a minute. Forget about me.” Maya pointed at the enormous purple teddy bear. “I’m assuming you two finally had a talk?”
Harper’s face turned red all over again.
“Shhh!” she hissed before tugging on Maya’s hand and dragging her down the hallway. “Come with me!”
“Wait! I need to check on-
“You can check Jaime’s room later.” Harper shoved the bag of magnets into Maya’s hands. Here, help me with this. Just come with me!”
Maya followed as Harper pulled her toward her room, one arm struggling with the enormous teddy bear while the other remained firmly around Maya’s wrist.
The more flustered Harper became, the more delighted Maya looked.
The moment they were inside, Harper kicked the door shut behind them and released Maya’s wrist. She carried the enormous teddy bear across the room and settled it on the lounge
chair.
When she turned around, Maya was already holding out the bag of magnets Harper had shoved at her earlier.
Harper took it from her and placed it on the vanity table.
Maya crossed her arms over her chest, amusement written all over her face.
Chapter 323 He Has a Gulfriend?
“Okay,” she said. “Talk.”
Instead of immediately starting her story, Harper suddenly threw herself at Maya and wrapped her arms tightly around her.
Maya stumbled from the unexpected hug before laughing and hugging her back.
“You seem really happy.”
“I am!” Harper pulled back, unable to contain the smile on her face. “He told me he likes me, Maya! He really, truly likes me!”
Maya’s smile widened.
“Maya!” Harper grabbed her arms excitedly. “I have a boyfriend now!”
Maya laughed at her excitement before taking both of Harper’s hands in hers.
“I’m genuinely happy for you,” she said warmly. “For both of you.”
“Thank you!”
Harper hugged her again, and Maya laughed as she returned it.
After a moment, Maya pulled back. “So what happens now?”
Harper blinked. “What do you mean?”
“I mean with Hiro. What happens to your arrangement with him? How are you going to tell him about Nicholas?”
Harper’s excitement settled. She sighed, walked over to the bed, and sat down.
“Oh, that.” She waved a hand dismissively. “Hiro won’t mind.”
Maya frowned and followed, sitting beside her. “What do you mean he won’t mind?”
“Well…” Harper shifted toward her. “You know… Hiro and I have been best friends since we were kids. The idea of actually marrying each other has always felt weird.”
“I guess, it is indeed weird.”
“Very.” Harper grimaced. “He’s practically family. Trying to imagine him as my husband is just …” She shuddered. “No.”
Maya laughed, but Harper suddenly leaned closer, lowering her voice as though someone might overhear them through the walls.
Chapter 323. He Has a Girlfriend?!
“Besides, the truth is… Hiro has a girlfriend.”
Maya’s eyes widened. “What?!”
Harper nodded eagerly. “Uh-huh. That idiot is in love.”
“No way.”
“Way. They’ve been together for almost two years.”
“Two years?!”
“Her name is Emi. She’s local. Her family has nothing to do with ours-no powerful
Chas
connections, no organizations, none of it. They’re just normal middle-class people. She helps run their small ramen restaurant downtown.”
“And nobody knows?”
“Very few people.” Harper sighed. “They’ve kept the relationship secret because… well, you can probably guess why.”
Maya’s expression slowly changed as she understood.
“Hiro’s family.”
“Exactly.”
Maya considered that for a moment. “But now that you’re with Nick, doesn’t that solve the problem? Hiro can be with his girlfriend openly instead.”
Harper shook her head. “I wish it were that simple. His father might never accept her. Uncle Akio is extremely traditional when it comes to family, loyalty, and marriage.”
Maya frowned at the name.
“Uncle Akio…”
Then recognition suddenly crossed her face. “Wait. You mean that older gentleman who’s always with your father?”
Harper nodded. “Yup. Uncle Akio is Hiro’s father.”
“Oh.”
Maya fell quiet for a moment before another thought occurred to her.
Then why don’t you change the rules?” she asked. “You’re taking over now, right? I’m
that gives you the authority to change some things.”
Chapter 32! He Has a Gulfriend?!
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“It does.” Harper leaned back on her hands. “But it’s not that simple. Every decision has consequences, and most of those rules exist because they’ve worked for generations. I can’t change one just because it suddenly inconveniences someone I care about.”
Maya listened quietly.
“If I make an exception for Hiro, then I have to be prepared to make that same exception for everyone else. And once we start allowing complete outsiders in, we risk exposing people who were never supposed to know this world even exists.”
“But Nicholas is technically an outsider too.”
“Not in the same way.” Harper shook her head. “Remember what Aunt Dahlia said? It doesn’t necessarily have to be Hiro, but it still has to be someone within the circle.”
Maya nodded slowly.
“In plain words, someone with equal or greater power. Someone who already understands this world, knows the risks, and has enough power to protect themselves if things go wrong.” Harper shrugged. “Nicholas qualifies.”
A hint of sadness crossed Maya’s face.
“So Hiro’s girlfriend is basically like me before I met Damien.”
“Not quite.” Harper turned toward her. “Maybe in terms of innocence about this side of the world. But not identity.”
Maya frowned.
“You were always a Lockwood, Maya. Even before you knew it yourself. Whether you crossed paths with Damien or not, that blood was still yours. Your world might have looked completely different back then, but underneath it all, you were already connected to this one.”
Harper paused.
“Hiro’s girlfriend isn’t. She really is an outsider. No blood connection, no family history, no protection, no understanding of what she’d be stepping into. Bringing her in doesn’t just create a risk for us. It puts her at risk too.”
Maya slowly nodded as the distinction became clearer.
So what are they supposed to do?”
Harper sighed. “Is the problem.”
e a plan?”
3/5
Chapter 323: He Has a Girlfriend?!
Harper’s lips slowly curved.
“I do.”
Maya immediately perked up. “You do?”
“Kind of.”
Maya narrowed her eyes. “Harper.”
“What?” Harper laughed. “I said kind of! It’s just-”
Clafes
Before she could continue, a sudden knock at the door cut her off, instantly silencing them
both.
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Chapte: 324 The Ugly Reality
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.