Chapter 402

Maurice, do I mean so little to you that you can’t even look at me?” Harriet stared at him longingly and

spoke out her true feelings. “You had your eyes on Eliana before. Now you set your sights on this

harpist. How could these ordinary people possibly compare to me? You’re fully aware of my prominent

family’s background. I adore you so much, but why can’t you see me? At least try to give me a chance.”

Harriet inched closer towards him, with jealousy and stubbornness on her face. She tiptoed and leaned

in for a kiss she had desired for the longest time.

To her utter dismay, Maurice frowned and turned his head away. There was coldness in his eyes. It was

obvious he didn’t care about her.

Eavesdropping from inside the dressing room, Eliana felt deeply unsettled by Harriet’s confession of

love. She couldn’t help but peek outside through the crack of the door and see what they were doing.

From where she stood, Eliana found that Maurice and Harriet stood too close to each other that it didn’t

feel right. The pair seemed to be kissing!

At that moment, Eliana felt a tight knot inside her stomach. But before she was about to break down,

Maurice pushed Harriet away in disgust.

“Enough of this. We have nothing left to talk about. Stay away from me.”

Maurice’s voice was frighteningly cold, and his eyes were devoid of any emotion.

Harriet staggered back in defeat, looking pathetic. She couldn’t believe her ears. No man had ever

rejected her like this. Unable to stomach this severe blow to her self-esteem, she began to force herself

on Maurice.

“Tell me what those other women have that I don’t. If you take me as your wife, the marriage would

benefit both our families. Everyone will be happy!”

“I beg to differ. Let me make one thing very clear. No one can force me to do anything against my will. I

know you want to marry me, but give it up. I will never sacrifice my marriage for family interests.”

Maurice’s cold and merciless words were like sharp knives driven directly into Harriet’s heart. Finally,

she slowly came to terms with reality. She lowered her head and sobbed in a low voice.

Peering outside from the crack of the door, Eliana’s jaw dropped in shock.

Didn’t they just kiss a few seconds ago?

Why was Harriet crying all of a sudden?

Despite all these thoughts, one sentence had captured Eliana’s attention. Did Maurice just say that he

wouldn’t sacrifice his marriage for family interests?

Eliana suddenly felt a sense of hope and joy fill her heart. Distracted by the scene in front of her, she

accidentally nudged a box on a table beside the door. Her eyes widened in panic as the box fell to the

floor with a loud thud.

Oh no!

The noise would surely give her presence away!

“Who is there?”

Outside the dressing room, Harriet turned to the direction of the noise and rushed to open the door.

In dramatic fashion, Harriet discovered the woman who had been spying on them.

Although Eliana had changed into her own clothes, the veil on her head hadn’t been taken off,

concealing her identity.

Harriet didn’t recognize her and thought that the woman was Jennifer, the attractive harpist.

“Wait a minute. I know who you are. You’re the one who played the harp! Have you been

eavesdropping the whole time?”

Harriet couldn’t bear the fact that her new rival had witnessed the embarrassing scene. Gritting her

teeth in anger, she rushed over to take the veil off Eliana’s head.

But Eliana knew better than to let this happen.

She quickly raised her hands, secured the veil on her face, and took a few steps back.

Her defiance outraged Harriet even further.

“How dare you hide that face of yours? Are you so ashamed that you can’t even look me in the eye?

You have been hiding there to see me fail miserably, haven’t you? Well, I hope you’re happy now!”

Eliana quickly shook her head. She didn’t mean to eavesdrop on their conversation.

The poor girl had no other choice but to hide in the dressing room when Maurice and Harriet came

over.

Eliana silently cursed her bad luck. She desperately wanted to explain herself, but she was afraid of

exposing who she really was, so she didn’t dare to make a sound.

“Am I right? Talk to me, you bitch!”

Eliana’s silence was all the confirmation Harriet needed. As far as she was concerned, Eliana was

guilty as charged. She was so furious that she wanted to teach the pesky eavesdropper a lesson.

Harriet approached Eliana and raised her hand high in the air.

Was she going to slap her or pull the veil off her head?

At this moment, a flurry of thoughts rushed into Eliana’s mind.

She could dodge the slap, but Harriet would not stop until she hurt her. What if the veil fell off during the

fight? If it stayed on and her identity was still concealed, then Jennifer would get into trouble.

Harriet was so vicious and cunning that Eliana knew better than to underestimate her rival. There was

no telling what she might do to Jennifer.

Bracing herself for the inevitable impact, Eliana closed her eyes and decided to take the slap head-on.

However, nothing happened to her.

Puzzled, Eliana opened her eyes and saw that a hand had grabbed Harriet’s wrist at the last second.

Like a guardian angel, Maurice had once again protected her from harm.