Chapter 508
"Are you alright, Oliver? Have they been feeding you properly? Is anyone giving you trouble?" Harrison's voice trembled with concern as she gripped the phone.
Nathaniel observed the genuine worry etched across Harrison's face. The way her fingers tightened around the receiver, the slight tremble in her lower lip - every detail screamed authentic distress.
He turned his back abruptly, unable to bear the sight any longer.
"I'm perfectly fine. Stop fretting." Oliver's cheerful tone carried through the line, laced with his usual playful humor. "Mr. Falcon has been surprisingly hospitable since my arrival. I might need to start watching my waistline."
Harrison knew he was putting on a brave front. A small, bittersweet smile curved her lips. "Just hold on a little longer. I've consented to perform Isabella's surgery. Once it's over, you'll be released."
Silence stretched between them. Oliver never questioned her decisions - his loyalty was absolute. "Understood. Don't waste your energy worrying about me. I'm managing splendidly."
Harrison stared at the glittering skyline beyond the window, her reflection ghostly against the city lights. "After the operation... let's leave Willowbrook. I don't want to stay here anymore."
Nathaniel's broad shoulders tensed at her words, his entire body going rigid. She wanted to escape.
Why this sudden reversal? You rejected my offer to leave before—
Oliver's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Harrison studied her pale reflection, her whisper barely audible. "Because I'll have settled all unfinished business. It's time for me to move on."
"Very well," Oliver agreed instantly. "I'll personally escort you wherever you wish to go."
The call ended. Harrison returned the phone to Nathaniel with a quiet "Thank you."
His fingers brushed against hers as he took it back.
Harrison straightened her spine, her tone turning businesslike. "I'll operate on Isabella, but first, you must release Oliver. I need to see him safe before I proceed."
Nathaniel gave a single nod. "Agreed."
She rose from her seat, her dismissal clear. "You may leave now. We've nothing further to discuss."
But Nathaniel remained rooted in place, his stormy gaze fixed on her. "Are you truly leaving?"
Harrison didn't look up. "Yes."
His voice dropped to a husky whisper. "Where will you go?"
When she finally met his eyes, her gaze was glacial. "That's no concern of yours."
Nathaniel's hand clenched around the phone until his knuckles turned white.
Harrison arched a brow. "Was there something else?"
He opened his mouth, then hesitated. Seeing the defensive wall in her posture, remembering their current circumstances and Isabella's looming presence, the words died unspoken.
Nathaniel turned on his heel and strode away.
The moment the door closed, Rosalind slipped inside. "Did you tell Mr. Falcon the truth? About being his savior all those years ago? Do you think he'd believe you now?"
Harrison's lips curved in a humorless smile. "No."
Rosalind's eyes widened. "Why not, Harrison? This is your chance!"
"It's not the right moment," Harrison explained calmly. "Isabella still possesses the crystal pendant. Premature revelation might alert her. I've already agreed to the surgery."
Understanding dawned in Rosalind's sharp gaze. "You have a plan."
Harrison's eyes turned to ice, her voice razor-sharp. "When I saved Nathaniel years ago, there was a witness. I've dispatched someone to locate him. On the day of Isabella's operation, that witness will appear. Her deception will be exposed."
Rosalind's grin turned predatory. "Perfect! She's stolen your identity, your rightful place all these years. It's time she paid for everything she's taken."
Harrison's expression darkened, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Do you know how to truly destroy someone? Lift them to the highest peak, let them believe they've won everything... then rip it all away. Watch them shatter when they hit the ground. That's the price Isabella will pay for impersonating me."