Chapter 330: Something Is Wrong
Harper’s head whipped toward him.
The glare she sent her brother could have killed him on the spot.
Kenji only smiled wider.
Alice looked between them curiously. “What is it?”
Harper turned back to her mother, suddenly looking nervous. “Um… Mom, I-
Before she could get the words out, Nicholas stepped forward.
Harper looked at him in surprise as he stopped in front of Alice and gave her a respectful bow.
“Ma’am,” he began, his usual teasing demeanor replaced by unexpected seriousness. “Harper and I finally had a proper talk. We worked things out, and…” He paused and looked at Harper.
Their eyes met.
“We’re together now,” he finished, still holding her gaze.
For a moment, Harper simply stared at him.
Then she slowly looked toward her mother, almost as though bracing herself for whatever reaction would
come next.
Alice blinked in surprise before her gaze moved between the two of them.
“Harper? Is that true?”
Harper swallowed, suddenly looking far less like the fearless woman everyone knew.
“Yeah,” she admitted quietly. “We are.”
time.””
A smile slowly spread across Alice’s face. “Well… it’s about time.”
Harper’s eyes widened. “Mom!”
The room immediately broke into laughter.
Dahlia covered her mouth, clearly delighted, while Cecilia’s face softened into a warm smile.
Young people certainly have a different way of doing things these days, she thought with amusement, her gaze discreetly drifting toward her granddaughter, who sat beside Damien.
“What?” Alice laughed. “Did you think I hadn’t noticed?”
Harper’s cheeks immediately flushed. “There was nothing to notice before!”
“Apparently, there was plenty,” Kenji muttered.
Harper shot him another murderous glare.
Chapter 330 omething.Wrong
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Maya laughed beside Damien, genuinely happy for her best friend. After everything Harper had put herself Through trying to deny what she felt, seeing her finally stand there and openly admit that Nicholas was
hers filled Maya with quiet happiness.
Damien glanced at Maya and caught the Took on her face. The corner of his mouth lifted before he turned his attention back to the new couple.
Alice rose from her seat and approached them. Her gaze settled first on her daughter, and whatever teasing had been in her expression softened
“If you’re happy, sweetheart, then I’m happy for you.”
The embarrassment on Harper’s face disappeared.
“Mom…”
Alice reached out and squeezed her hand before looking at Nicholas.
“And you…”
Nicholas straightened almost instinctively.
Alice smiled.
“Take care of my daughter.”
Nicholas’s expression immediately grew serious. “You have my word, ma’am.”
“And find some time to speak with Ken about this yourself,” Alice added before turning toward her daughter. “Your father will appreciate hearing it from you personally.”
Nicholas nodded without hesitation. “Of course, ma’am. I will.”
“Talk to me about what?”
The unexpected voice immediately drew everyone’s attention. Harper visibly swallowed, while Nicholas stiffened beside her.
He hadn’t been lying when he said he would speak with Ken. In fact, he had already planned on asking Harper later for advice on how best to approach her father.
He just hadn’t expected to do it right now.
Ken walked over and stopped beside Alice, his gaze immediately settling on Harper and Nicholas. Earlier, the two had been bickering like children. Now, they were standing noticeably close to each other.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“What is it you want to talk to me about, Ashcroft?”
Nicholas’s usual confidence suddenly wavered under Ken’s direct gaze.
“Um… sir, I-” He cleared his throat, then quickly bowed. When he straightened again, he forced himself to
meet Ken’s gaze.
Chapter 830 mething Wrong
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“Mr. Takahashi, Harper and I had a chance to talk things through, and we both feel the same way about each other.” He paused briefly before continuing, his voice steadier now. “We’ve decided to be together, and I’d like to ask for your blessing to be with your daughter, sir.”
Ken raised a brow but said nothing, his unreadable gaze remaining fixed on Nicholas for several seconds.
Then he turned to his daughter.
“Hontō ka? Kono otoko to tsukiau koto ni dõi shita no ka?”
Is this true? Did you agree to be with this man?
Harper met her father’s eyes before glancing at Nicholas. Despite the blush still warming her cheeks, a small smile tugged at her lips.
Then she looked back at her father.
“Hai. Watashi wa sō shitai, otōsan.”
Yes. I do, Father.
Ken simply studied his daughter’s face for a long moment before giving a gentle nod of acknowledgment and a quiet hum.
Then he turned back to Nicholas.
“You have my blessing.”
Relief immediately crossed Nicholas’s face. He bowed respectfully. “Thank you, sir.”
“But I’m warning you,” Ken added, his voice becoming noticeably colder. “If you break my daughter’s heart,
I can’t guarantee the Ashcrofts will be spared from the consequences.”
Nicholas swallowed, but he didn’t look away.
“Understood, sir.”
Alice smiled gently and placed a hand on her husband’s arm. Alright, that was unnecessary. Let them figure things out for themselves, and trust your daughter to handle her own heart.”
He glanced at his wife but said nothing.
She gave his arm a reassuring pat before turning back to the young couple and bringing her hands together in a cheerful clap.
“Well, I think congratulations are in order.”
A warm chorus of agreement followed, with Dahlia among the first to voice her delight.
“Absolutely.”
Kenji, meanwhile, flashed his sister a wide grin. “Congratulations, sis!”
Harper rolled her eyes, though there was no hiding her smile. “You’re all making this way more dramatic
then it needs to be”
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Nicholas slipped an arrn around her waist and pulled her closer with a grin. “I disagree. This is a historic Troment.”
“Don’t ruini it,” Harper warned, giving him a light elbow to the side.
His grin only widened. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Eventually, everyone settled into their own comfortable spots around the sitting area. The earlier excitement gradually faded into casual conversation as they continued to wait.
Cecilia found an opportunity to speak with Maya and Damien, asking them simple questions about their relationship and occasionally turning the conversation toward Damien’s business. Nothing too serious- just the kind of easy conversation that helped pass the time and allowed her to get to know the man beside her granddaughter a little better.
At one point, Dahlia received a call from Dominic, who wanted an update on Jaime. Unfortunately, there was still nothing new to tell him.
Another hour gradually slipped by, the occasional conversation making the long wait feel a little more bearable.
The atmosphere remained calm, though beneath it lingered the quiet tension of people waiting for news
that mattered far too much.
Until an unfamiliar sound suddenly shattered the stillness.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Every conversation stopped.
The rapid electronic alarm was coming from somewhere beyond the operating room doors.
Before anyone could make sense of it, the doors suddenly swung open.
Nurse Daniel and Nurse Sophia rushed out.
There was no reassuring smile. No update. Neither of them even acknowledged the people waiting as they hurried toward an adjoining room with an urgency that sent an immediate chill through Maya.
She slowly leaned forward in her seat, her eyes following them.
Her heartbeat quickened.
Something is wrong.
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