No Wife, No Life Chapter 203

Harper's smile was faint, barely touching her eyes.

"Did you know I have a fiancé?" she said, looking straight at Mason.

She needed to hit him with the truth, to snap him out of whatever fantasy he was entertaining.

"I have my beloved," she continued. "He will peel crabs for me, so I won't be eating the crabs you peel. Got it?"

She was being as clear as possible: she had someone who loved her, and she wasn't going to accept his love. He hadn't had the chance to say he liked her before Harper decisively turned him down.

"Ms. Orsini, you've got it all wrong," he stammered, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. "I didn't mean anything by it."

He was genuinely worried. If he confessed his feelings for Harper, she might draw a line between them, forcing him to suppress his emotions.

Harper didn't call out his lie. She simply looked at him and said, "If it's a misunderstanding, then that's good. I guess I was overthinking."

Mason hung his head, unable to find the words to respond.

Harper could feel Mason's emotions. She understood them completely. She had been in his shoes once.

"Alright, let's eat. After we finish, I'll take you and the kitten home."

Mason ate without tasting a thing. Finally, the meal was over, and Harper drove him back.

"How much is the rent here?" Harper asked casually.

"Two thousand dollars a month," Mason replied, reluctant to get out of the car, clutching the kitten tightly.

Harper asked again, "Is your salary enough to cover it?"

"I don't smoke or drink, just play some games. It's enough."

In truth, he wasn't short on money. His father had cut off his credit card because he thought Mason was irresponsible.

"You're easy to take care of," Harper said, looking at Mason in front of her with a hint of concern. "Save your money; don't spend it recklessly."

To her, Mason was more like a younger brother. She was advising him as an older sister would.

Mason, unaware of Harper's thoughts, suddenly spoke quickly, "Ms. Orsini, why don't you keep my salary card for me? I'll ask you for money when I need it, and you can decide if the expenses are reasonable. If they are, you give me the money; if not, you keep it. I've always been a big spender and can't control myself."

He was telling the truth. As the son of the richest man in Majestic City, he had always lived a lavish lifestyle, spending money recklessly.

He looked at Harper with pleading eyes. "Ms. Orsini, please help me, won't you?"

Standing nearly 6'3" with a robust physique, Mason's words were as gentle as the kitten cradled in his arms.

Harper understood his meaning. She smiled faintly and gently refused, "Mason, if it were my fiancé's card, I would take it. But this is your card, and we don't have that kind of relationship."

She rejected him once again.

Mason's eyes, which had been bright, dimmed as he reluctantly took back his card.

"Ms. Orsini, can I take a day off tomorrow?" he asked.

Harper understood his feelings and smiled, "Sure, take as many days as you need."

The more understanding she was, the more it hurt Mason.

He opened the car door and got out. Before leaving, he suddenly said, "Ms. Orsini, watch out for Neal."

Although Mason was not qualified to attend today's meeting, he still overheard a few words from the R&D department, realizing that Neal clearly harbored ill intentions.

"Why are you so sure it's Neal's issue and not mine?" she asked, intrigued.

"Impossible. You would never betray the company."

He trusted her unconditionally.

"What if I stole company secrets and went to jail?" she teased.

"Absolutely not. I would never believe it."

"I'm saying, what if?"

"There won't be a 'what if.' I swear on my honor."

"If everyone said I was a corporate spy, would you still believe I was innocent?"

"I believe you!" Mason nodded firmly, without a hint of doubt.

Harper was silent for a moment, her emotions mixed.

Why did he trust her so much? He barely knew her.

After a while, Harper sighed, "Go home."

She had been joking about the accusations Quinn and Neal might pin on her, but she had not anticipated Mason's staunch defense.

"Ms. Orsini, I might not be home for a few days. Can you take care of Grey for me?" he asked, holding out the kitten.

"Sure," Harper agreed readily.

"Go on inside," she said, holding the kitten.

Mason, dazed, entered the elevator.

The night wind was colder, and the streetlights seemed harshly bright.

Harper stood under the light, gently stroking the kitten's head. "Your owner gave you such a lazy name."

As she was about to get back in the car, she noticed a man in a suit standing under another streetlight.

He was as handsome and aloof as he had been years ago. It was Alex.

She didn't know why Alex was here, and she didn't want to know.

Their relationship had ended long ago.

"Harper," Alex's voice was cold and raspy. "Who is he?"

She knew he was talking about Mason, but she didn't answer.

"Are you spying on me?" Harper's voice was icy. "You should know I have security detail. Are you really going to keep this up?"

She looked up and smiled. "Alex, I'm not your chief secretary anymore. My status has changed. Spying on me is illegal and could be considered espionage."

Harper was stating a fact. She now controlled HoloSphere Technologies and FusionX Company and collaborated with Manuel. Anyone dealing with her was thoroughly vetted, and suspicious individuals couldn't get close to her.

She didn't answer his question because she didn't need to.

"Harper, do you have to talk to me like this?" Alex asked, stepping closer.

Harper's security detail moved forward, blocking his path with cold stares.

Alex stopped and said coldly, "You wouldn't accept me and chose Caden. Now that Caden is crippled, are you choosing that man? What can he give you?"

His gaze fell on the kitten.

"His gifts are merely items he chanced upon."

Indeed, he had been monitoring her all along, which was why he knew about Mason's presence in her life.

Harper's voice was cold. "What does it matter to you?"