I Once Married You (Harper and Benjamin)
Chapter 76

Chapter 76 The Pool

Benjamin's frown deepened. "Harper, can't you just let things go? Why do you always have to make such a big deal out of everything?"

"A big deal? Benjamin, why didn't you say anything when Ms. Davis was lying and making my life difficult?" Harper's voice was soft, but she firmly questioned.

Although she knew that Benjamin would always take Lauren's side, she still couldn't accept it. Her heart still felt hurt.

Harper pressed her lips together, reminding herself not to expect what she couldn't have.

The guests whispered, speculating that Benjamin protected Lauren because of their long history.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Paul stood up with the help of his cane, his eyes cold. "Benjamin, you keep defending that woman. You'll regret it someday," he warned.

With that, he took Harper's arm and stormed off to their room.

Then, Paul spoke softly to Harper, trying to calm her down. "Harper, that young punk is the one who wronged you. Grandpa knows you've been wronged." "Grandpa, I'm fine. I shouldn't have ruined your birthday."

"Nonsense! Today's the happiest I've ever been, and it's because of you," Paul chuckled and pulled an antique jewelry box from a drawer. "Harper, here. Take this," he said.

"What is this?" Harper asked curiously.

"Don't ask what it is. Just take it."

Paul insisted, and Harper couldn't refuse either.

It was just that the box had a lock, and Paul didn't give her the key, so she couldn't open it either. But she did whatever Paul asked her to do.

Harper chatted with Paul for a bit before he finally said, "Don't just hang around with me. Go have some fun with your friends."

Harper nodded. She wasn't really into the whole party scene, but she didn't want to make Paul worry.

After coming out of the room, Harper didn't go back to the banquet hall. She put the box Paul had given her in the car and walked along the path until she came to the small garden by the pool. Then, she sat down, feeling the breeze and gazing at the stars.

Images from the ballroom earlier flashed through her mind.

The way Benjamin had defended Lauren was so fiercely, without a second thought, even in front of all those guests...

He was probably with Lauren right now.

As for her, Harper thought she was probably long gone from his mind.

Harper laughed mockingly at herself and decided to tell Scott and Lily she was heading back to Pineview Villa.

But as soon as she stood up, ready to leave, she saw Lauren storming toward her.

That woman was relentless.

Lauren walked up to her and questioned angrily, "Harper, what's your game here? Are you enjoying seeing me humiliated like this? Do you think you've won? You're dreaming! You hear me? Benjamin's heart is mine and mine alone. You're nothing. So what if the rest of the Martins like you? Benjamin will never fall in love with you. You better divorce him now, or I'll make your life hell."

"Lauren, are you seriously blaming me for your own mess?" Harper asked coldly. "What makes you think you can tell me to divorce Benjamin? It's our marriage, not yours!" Lauren could play the innocent victim for Benjamin, but in front of Harper, she was a monster.

Harper wasn't going to play her game.

Lauren was furious, and she said, "So, you want to play the hard ball, huh? Harper, I have plenty of ways to make you listen to me."

"Heh, who do you think you are? Why should I listen to you?"

Saying that, Harper got up to leave. She didn't want to say another word to Lauren.

She walked past Lauren and then prepared to head back to the house along the edge of the pool, but suddenly, a force pushed her from behind, and she fell straight into the pool. The weather in October was already late autumn, and the water was very cold.

Harper shivered, the chill cutting through her.

She struggled to get up, but the water was too deep, and she couldn't swim. She just kept sinking.

She tried to cry out for help, but as she opened her mouth, the water rushed in, filling her lungs.

Her mind went blank, her vision a blur. Through the haze, she saw a tall figure rushing toward her...

It was half an hour before Harper opened her eyes again.

She stared at the stark white ceiling, a gentle voice drifting into her awareness. "Harper, it's Mom. Are you hurting anywhere?"

Only then did she notice Lily by her side. She shook her head slightly and frowned, suddenly remembering something. In a slightly agitated voice, she asked, "Mom, what happened to me?" She sat up abruptly.

Lily quickly pressed her back down onto the bed and said, "You fell into the pool. Luckily, Benjamin got there in time and pulled you out. Yinson also came to check on you. You're fine, don't worry." Harper let out a sigh of relief. Lily might not know about her body, but since she hadn't mentioned anything bad, it was good news.

Glancing at the clock, which read past nine, Harper turned to Lily and said, "Mom, you go ahead for your things. I'll be fine on my own." "I'm not busy. Don't you want me to stay with you?"

"Of course not," Harper replied with a faint smile and suddenly asked, "Mom, you said Benjamin was the one who pulled me out of the pool?"

"Yes, he was so worried. Only when Yinson checked you over and said you were fine did he go to meet the guests with his dad." Harper knew Lily was probably exaggerating a little about Benjamin's worry, but she didn't point it out. Instead, she just nodded. Just then, the bedroom door was pushed open from the outside, and Benjamin strode in.

Seeing Harper awake, he asked softly, "How are you feeling? Anything hurt?"

"I'm fine."

"That's good," Benjamin said. "I'm glad you're okay, but please don't be so stubborn next time. Even though you and Lauren may have some misunderstandings, she was worried you'd fall in the pool and was trying to help. You shouldn't have pushed her away. Is your pride really worth risking your safety?"

His tone wasn't angry, just earnest, like he was trying to make her understand.

But Harper's face went pale. Tears welled up in her eyes, and a heavy silence fell over them.

Lily quickly said, "Benjamin, don't say that. It was just an accident. No one wants it to happen.

"Harper, don't take his words to heart, he's just talking nonsense."

"Mom," Benjamin sighed.

Harper quickly lowered her head as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She scoffed, "Lauren told you that?"

Finally, she managed to control herself and looked back up at him. "She didn't tell you how I ended up in the pool?"

Benjamin frowned. "Didn't you argue with Lauren and lose your balance and fall? She tried to pull you up and you pushed her away."

"Benjamin, you actually believe what she said?"

Benjamin was silent.

"Why isn't he speaking?" Harper cried out in her heart. "Benjamin, can you please answer me?"