CHAPTER 187: CHAPTER 187: NO RELATION

Florence Fuller didn’t speak.

Nicole gently set down the latte in her hand: "I remember Brother Harper doesn’t like sweet things."

Florence’s cup was already more than half empty. She said flatly, "Go ahead, what do you want to talk to me about."

Nicole looked at her, her tone graceful and poised: "I hope you leave Brother Harper."

"Oh." Florence nodded, "So you really are his fiancée."

"Yes." Nicole answered very assuredly.

Florence nodded, "From the time he came back till now, I never knew he had a fiancée. He never told me either."

Nicole said, "Our engagement was kept secret by both families. I hope you understand."

"Alright." Florence took out her phone. Seeing this, Nicole’s expression tightened: "What are you doing?"

"I’ll talk it through with him in front of you," Florence said, "Rest assured, now that I know, I will definitely break cleanly with him."

"As long as you leave him." Nicole’s maintained smile wavered a little: "No need for all that."

But Florence shook her head, "I’m not lying to you either. Since Ethan Harper came back, he’s been the one reaching out to me. He told me he’s always been alone, and I believed him. That’s why we’re in this situation. I’ll make things clear in front of you. I’m not someone who clings stubbornly."

Nicole watched her serious expression, her gracefully appropriate smile slowly crumbling.

She thought it would take a lot of effort. Who knew this woman would be so reasonable? But, but...

While she hesitated for these few seconds, Florence had already dialed, and the other side answered quickly, putting it on speaker. Ethan Harper’s gentle, lingering voice came through: "Florence."

Nicole’s attempt to stop was stuck in her throat.

What to do...

"Ethan Harper." Florence’s voice carried a chill.

Ethan Harper picked up on it, concern tinged with urgency: "What’s wrong? What happened?"

"You know my character. I messaged you today asking if there was anything you were hiding from me, and you said no."

"There really isn’t." Ethan Harper said seriously on the other end, "What happened?"

"Your fiancée has come to confront me, and you still say there’s nothing." Florence said coldly, "I really should thank you; it’s the first time I’ve felt so humiliated! From now on, stay as far away from me as possible. I...!"

"I don’t have a fiancée! I don’t! I don’t!!!"

He interrupted Florence, usually gentle and refined Ethan Harper shouted in anger over the phone, sending chills down Nicole’s spine, and a growing unease filled her heart.

Ethan Harper had always maintained an air of gentle distance, but for him to seize control of the Harper Family from a bunch of bloody, murderous illegitimate children in just a few years, he wasn’t someone who appeared harmless just because he seemed gentle.

His ruthlessness was hidden beneath his gentle, handsome exterior.

"Where are you? Don’t move from there! Whoever contacted you, don’t let them leave either. I’ll come over right away, and we’ll clear this up face to face." Ethan Harper didn’t even hang up the call. Over the phone came the sound of hurried footsteps and faint voices: "Sir, where are you going?"

"Arrange the car." Ethan Harper’s tone was dark, seemingly lifting the phone as he calmed his voice and gently inquired, "Florence, the address."

Florence gave the location of the downtown cafe.

Looking at the woman opposite her, who came in so confident and composed, her expression had obviously begun to crumble from the moment she decided to call Ethan Harper, to the point where now her eyes were flickering, and she didn’t dare meet Florence’s gaze anymore.

Florence gritted her teeth, a surge of anger rising.

No matter what, she sensed something was off about this situation.

So what was this woman’s intention?

"I... suddenly have an urgent matter." Nicole stood up, "I might have to..."

"Sit down!" Florence looked at her with a commanding tone.

When Nicole first came in, faced with Florence’s gentle and calm demeanor, she thought Florence would be easy to manipulate, but this cold, commanding voice and those stern eyes reminded her of the family’s dominant elder brother.

"Sit down!" Florence repeated coolly.

Nicole half-fell back into her seat, feeling she’d hit a brick wall.

Normally, after agreeing, wouldn’t someone silently pack up and leave Ethan Harper behind? How did it come to this...

She even assumed Florence was a tough character, prepared a check in her bag, and ran through a list of insults in her mind in advance.

But then... this... what to do...

Ethan Harper arrived faster than expected. The forceful way he pushed open the door seemed to express his mood. His usually elegant and handsome face was terrifyingly gloomy as he approached step by step with an imposing, intimidating presence.

Nicole clutched her bag tightly, anxiously watching Ethan Harper get closer and then glanced at Florence, who was calmly reclining against the chair, gazing out the window.

Nicole stood up, her voice trembling: "E—Ethan."

Ethan Harper coldly swept a glance at her, walked to Florence’s side, and said seriously, "She is not my fiancée."

Florence looked at Ethan and then at the shrinking, worried Nicole: "Her first sentence was that you don’t like sweet things. Her second was wanting me to leave you. Her third was admitting she’s your fiancée. Oh, and your engagement is a secret affair."

"No, it’s not!" Ethan Harper suppressed his anger. He didn’t like Florence’s indifferent, cold attitude, "Even if I did have one, it would only be you."

"Ethan!" Nicole’s voice was full of fear, "Please take pity on me. I don’t want to marry someone else. Please, for the sake of us growing up together, save me."

"Help you? How well do I know you?" Ethan Harper said coldly, "The one you’re engaged to is Jason Harper. What, now that he’s down and out, you’ve set your sights on me?"

"But Uncle Harper said whoever becomes the head of the Harper Family has to marry into our Sayenk family," Nicole looked at him urgently, "I’m really out of options. My brother is forcing me to marry someone else. Please, can you just help me temporarily?"

"Why are you bothering her!" Ethan Harper questioned.

"I... I..." Nicole’s throat tightened, and she was now full of fear. Florence, on the other hand, was gradually sipping her drink.

Furious and frustrated, she yelled, "What’s so good about a married woman like her that you hold such affection for her! Our... our engagement was something Uncle Harper spoke of, and I am your fiancée."

"I recall you were engaged to Jason Harper," Ethan Harper said coldly, "and do you think I’m someone who takes orders from him?"

Florence felt that Ethan Harper was acting impulsively.

He had always been cool and composed.

Sensing Florence’s gaze, Ethan Harper softened his expression and turned to Florence, "There is absolutely nothing between us. We were never engaged. She’s not my fiancée."