Chapter 324: The Ugly Reality
Harper and Maya exchanged a quick glance as another knock sounded at the door.
“Coming!” Harper called before getting up from the bed and heading over to answer it.
The moment Harper pulled the door open, she paused, surprised to find Damien standing outside with Nicholas beside him.
Claim
Both men looked considerably better than they had earlier, the shower and fresh clothes restoring some semblance of their usual polished appearance. Still, neither could completely hide the exhaustion lingering beneath the surface.
Harper blinked. “Uh… hi? Come in!”
She stepped aside to let them in before turning toward Maya. “Your boyfriend is here.”
Maya stood from the bed, but before she could respond, Nicholas immediately moved to Harper’s side and casually slipped an arm around her shoulders.
“And your boyfriend too,” he added.
Harper’s cheeks immediately heated again.
Maya burst out laughing while Damien simply shook his head, clearly amused by the two of
them.
“So, you two finally figured it out, huh? Congratulations!”
Nicholas answered before Harper could, looking far too pleased with himself. “Thank you! What can I say? She couldn’t resist my charm.”
Harper immediately smacked his arm and pulled away. “What?! Maybe you couldn’t resist mine!”
Maya laughed while Damien watched them fall effortlessly back into their usual bickering. Except this time, there was something different beneath it. Neither was trying to hide the affection anymore.
Nicholas wandered farther into the room, glancing around before helping himself to a seat on Harper’s bed. He bounced slightly against the mattress, pressing both palms against it as though testing its firmness.
“Hmm. Nice and firm.” A wicked grin appeared on his face. “I can think of a few ways we could put this thing to good use.”
Chapter 324 The Ugly Reality
He arched a brow at Harper and winked.
Her face instantly turned scarlet.
She marched over and slapped a hand over his mouth. “Do you seriously have no filter?!”
Clain
Nicholas laughed against her palm before grabbing her wrist. With one quick tug, he pulled her off balance, and Harper landed sideways on his lap.
“What?” he said innocently. “We’re all adults here. Sex is perfectly normal between couples.” He glanced toward Damien. “Right, D?”
Damien’s attention shifted to Maya, and a knowing smirk slowly appeared on his face.
“Of course.”
Maya’s cheeks immediately flushed.
Nicholas turned triumphantly back to Harper. “See?”
Harper rolled her eyes and tried to get off his lap, but Nicholas kept an arm securely around
her waist.
“Anyway, what were you two doing up here?” He glanced between Maya and Harper. “I thought we were supposed to have lunch.”
Then he leaned closer to Harper, lowering his voice just enough to make the implication
obvious.
“Unless you had something else in mind. I’m open to options.”
Harper’s face heated all over again. “Jeez! Is sex the only thing you think about? What’s next, you’re going to suggest an orgy?”
She pushed herself off his lap, but Nicholas still held her wrist. The moment she stood, his playful expression softened.
“No. I only want you.”
Harper paused, caught off guard by how easily he said it.
Damien leaned closer to Maya. “Please tell me we’re not this cringe.”
and shook her head. “No. I don’t think so.”
at chose to ignore the comment. “So?” He looked between the two lovely ladies up to?”
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Chapter 324. The Ugly Reality
“Nothing. We were just talking about Hiro.”
The change in Nicholas was immediate.
“What about him?”
Harper and Maya exchanged a look.
Harper sighed. “Maya was asking about Hiro. Specifically, how this-” She gestured between herself and Nicholas. “-affects our arrangement and how I’m supposed to tell him.”
Nicholas barely hesitated. “Easy. Tell him you have a boyfriend now and he can fuck off.”
Harper opened her mouth, but Maya beat her to it.
“That’s not the problem.”
Damien frowned. “What problem?”
Harper and Maya exchanged another glance before Maya shrugged.
“Maybe they’ll have an opinion that could help.”
Harper hesitated for a moment before nodding, then briefly explained the situation.
“Hiro’s been secretly dating someone for almost two years. Her name is Emi, and she’s completely unaware of what he really does. No family connections, no ties to any organization, nothing. Just an ordinary person living a simple life.”
Nicholas’s brows lifted, but he didn’t interrupt, waiting for Harper to continue.
“Uncle Akio would almost certainly oppose the relationship. And of course, I can’t just make an exception for Hiro either. If I change the rules for him, I have to be prepared to change
them for everyone.” She sighed. “I want to help him, but I’m torn between friendship and duty.
“That’s simple,” Nicholas said confidently.
Harper stared at him. “Of course you think it’s simple.”
“It is.” Nicholas leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “Hiro needs to tell her the truth.”
Harper’s expression immediately turned serious. “You know that’s not possible.”
“I didn’t say he should tell her everything. Just enough for her to understand what she’s actually choosing.” He straightened and casually shrugged.
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Chapter 324 The Ugly Reality
“Right now, everyone is deciding for her. Hiro assumes she needs protecting. His father assumes she doesn’t belong. You’re worried about whether she can handle this world. But has anyone actually bothered asking the woman herself?”
Harper fell silent, considering his words before finally giving a small nod. “You have a point.”
Nick continued. “Tell her the truth, give her a choice, and then find out whether she can actually be trusted. Not some ridiculous test designed for her to fail. Give her time. Let her understand the risks. See whether she can keep what she learns to herself.”
“And if she can?” Harper asked.
“Then maybe being born ‘normal’ shouldn’t automatically make her unworthy.”
Harper considered his answer for a moment before throwing out another question. “And what if she can’t?”
Nicholas’s expression hardened.
“Then you have a different problem. Because once someone knows too much, you can’t exactly pretend they never learned it.”
He stood from the bed and walked toward Harper, stopping in front of her.
“And you already know what happens if it comes to that. It’s one of the ugly realities of this world.”
He placed his hands gently on Harper’s arms.
“But remember, this is Hiro’s decision to make, not yours. He knows the risks, and he knows what could happen if he brings her into this world.”
Nicholas paused briefly before continuing.
“If she accepts the truth and proves she can be trusted, then give her a chance. But if she becomes a threat to everyone you’re responsible for protecting, then you already know what has to be done.”
Harper held his gaze, the weight of his words settling over her.
Nicholas leaned closer and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before giving her arms a
assuring squeeze.
ing in charge means you won’t always get to make the choice that makes you happy, arper. Sometimes you’ll have to make the one that keeps everyone else safe.”
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.