Chapter 9: The Longest Weekend

 

"Wait," Harper paused, her pen hovering over the contract. "Tomorrow is Saturday."

Liam held his breath. "Yes?"

"I don't work weekends," Harper beamed. "I'll start on Monday. Is that okay?"

Liam exhaled, nearly collapsing with relief. "Yes! Of course! Weekends off! Paid holidays! Whatever you want, just sign!"

Harper giggled and signed her name with a flourish. Harper Evans.

The deal was done.

Liam hugged the contract like it was a holy scripture. "Thank you, Evans family! I'll leave you to your dinner!"

Harper walked him to the door. When she turned back, the room was filled with smiles—except for her parents. Frank and Mom looked at her with worried eyes.

[We will miss you,] Mom signed.

Harper walked over and hugged them tight. "I'm not going to Mars, Mom," she whispered. "I'll be back every weekend. And if you miss me, just text. I'll ask for leave."

Frank sighed and patted her head. [That boss of yours... he seems rich but stupid. Don't let him bully you.]

Harper laughed, feeling a warm lump in her throat. Her family was her anchor. Her lighthouse. With them behind her, she felt she could handle any monster. Even a grumpy billionaire.

---

[The Mistake]

Liam rushed out of the apartment building, eager to drive back to the mansion and tell Sebastian the good news.

But as soon as he got into his car, his phone screamed. Caller ID: The Chairman (Dad).

Liam froze. He picked up. "Hello, Father?"

"Are you at your brother's house again?" Shen Yuannian’s voice was like a whip.

"I... I was just keeping him company..."

"He is a grown man! He doesn't need a babysitter!" his father roared. "Get to the headquarters immediately. Your mother and I are waiting. The merger files are a mess."

Click.

Liam paled. He looked at the time. It was going to be a long night. He waved at Ken. "You go home, Ken. I have to go to the office."

"What about Mr. Sebastian?" Ken asked. "Should we call him?"

"I'll tell him later," Liam said, starting the engine. "Let's handle the old man first."

But "later" never came. Liam was buried in paperwork, shouted at by board members, and drowned in coffee until Sunday night. In the chaos, he completely forgot one tiny detail: He never told Sebastian that Harper was coming back.

---

[The Silence]

Saturday morning. The sun rose over the Sterling Estate.

Sebastian woke up early. He lay in bed, listening. Usually, around this time, he would hear clattering in the kitchen. Or humming. Or the sound of a duster hitting a vase.

Today... Silence.

He waited. Maybe she was late? Maybe she was preparing a surprise?

No. He remembered. "You are fired." He had said those words. He had driven her away.

Sebastian dragged his body into his wheelchair. The movement was mechanical, heavy. He rolled out of the room. The hallway was empty. The kitchen was cold. No smell of crepes. No sticky notes on the fridge.

He ordered delivery for lunch. It came in a plastic box. Lukewarm pasta. It tasted like wet cardboard.

Sunday came. It was even quieter. The silence wasn't peaceful; it was heavy, pressing down on his chest like a physical weight.

Sebastian sat in his wheelchair in the middle of the massive living room, facing the front door. He sat there for hours. Watching the dust motes dance in the light. Waiting for the door to open.

But nobody came. Not Liam. Not Julian. Not Elena. And certainly not Harper.

Why would she come back? Sebastian thought bitterly, a self-deprecating smile twisting his lips. I insulted her. I fired her. I am a cripple with a bad temper. Who would want to stay?

The sun set, casting long, lonely shadows across the floor. Darkness swallowed the mansion.

Sebastian finally moved. He rolled toward the elevator, the sound of his wheels echoing loudly in the empty house.

It was back to normal. This was his life before Harper. This was his life after Harper. Just him. Alone in the dark.

---

[Monday Morning]

Sebastian didn't sleep well. He had nightmares of falling, of everyone turning their backs on him.

When he woke up, the room was bright. Monday. Another week of silence.

He stared at the ceiling, lacking the energy to even lift his hand. What's the point? he thought. Why even get up?

Ding-Dong!

The doorbell rang. It cut through the silence like a sharp knife.

Sebastian frowned. Who was it? Delivery? Or Liam coming to lecture him?

He didn't want to answer. He pulled the blanket over his head.

Ding-Dong! Ding-Dong! The person outside was persistent.

Sebastian groaned. He threw the covers off and maneuvered into his chair. He didn't bother to change out of his silk pajamas. His hair was messy, his eyes shadowed with fatigue.

He rolled to the video intercom panel on the wall near his bed. He pressed the button. "Who is it?" his voice was raspy from disuse.

"Good morning, Mr. Sterling!"

A voice chirped through the speaker. Bright. Energetic. Unmistakable.

Sebastian’s heart stopped for a beat. He stared at the screen.

Standing at the front gate, waving at the camera with a backpack slung over one shoulder, was Harper. The morning sun haloed her messy bun. She was grinning, her two dimples popping out like little craters of happiness.

"Delivery!" Harper shouted cheerfully into the camera. "One permanent wife, reporting for duty! Open the door, I forgot the code!"

Sebastian stared at the screen. He stared at her smile.

For a moment, he thought he was hallucinating from hunger. But then she leaned closer to the lens, fogging it up. "Hello? Boss? Are you awake? I brought breakfast!"

Sebastian’s hand trembled as he reached for the 'Unlock' button.

Click. The gate opened.

He wasn't abandoned. The sun had returned.