LOGIN_Harper's POV "There's stuff about you too, you know," the other one added, arms crossed."Apparently the genius daughter's been helping mommy dearest kill off step dads." Her eyes narrowed.My jaw dropped."That's ridiculous.""Is that why you latched onto Clive the second you got here? Following in Mom's footsteps to steal from him, then get rid of him too?""That's not true," I snapped, my whole body flushing hot with anger."My mom hasn't done anything they're saying online, and neither have I."I turned to walk away.A hand shoved me hard from behind, and I hit the pavement, palms scraping against the concrete."Get a picture," one of them laughed with her phone already raised.Pain shot through my elbow."What the hell?""Let's see what the famous killer's daughter looks like up close.""Stop," I said, covering my face, humiliation and fear tangling together in my chest."Please, stop!"A coat dropped over my head from above, blocking me from the camera entirely."What exactly
_ Harper's POV cont. A knock came on the door at that moment, and I suddenly opened my eyes. “Harper?” Rita called. “Are you done in there?” I wiped my tears quickly and forced myself to stand. My legs felt weak. I unlocked the door and stepped out. Rita looked at me. “You okay?” I nodded. “Yeah. Sorry.” I walked past her and sat at my desk, placing both hands against my forehead. My mind was spinning. I picked up my phone again, and my thumb hovered over Mom's number, but then I wasn't sure what to say to her. What if she hasn't seen any of these yet? I decided not to scare her and first report the posts and comments. Once the police finds out the truth, everything would go back to normal. I told myself as I continued to make the reports and calls. _ Jace's POV I finally rounded off the last drill and stepped away from the ice, breathing heavily. I grabbed a towel and wiped it across my forehead as I caught my breath. Today's training had been brutal, but I fe
_Harper's POV I reached across the table again, assuring her that it's going to be fine.Mom shook her head, pulling her hands away, and stood up."But I'm scared," she muttered, and I stared at her.“What do you mean?”She looked at me with tears gathering in her eyes."I didn't want to believe it until now and thought it was impossible, but then I think it might be him."I stood up slowly, shocked."He used to stalk me back then and..."My eyes widened.“You have a stalker?”She nodded.“He stalked me for a few months when I first got married to your dad, but then he stopped, and I didn't think much about it."I took a long exhale, stunned that she would keep something like that to herself.But then, that was a long time ago. It's not likely he is still stalking her, but Mom wasn't done."I received a text whenever I got married from him and then whenever something happened, but Klaus told me not to make a big deal out of it."“Mom…”She wiped at her eyes."I know it's crazy, and
_ Harper's POV The moment I stepped inside the apartment, I knew something was wrong. My mother was sitting on the edge of the couch, looking completely disheveled. There were clothes scattered across the floor, an open suitcase beside her, and several things had been pulled out of the drawers. “Mom?” She looked up. I rushed toward her. “Are you okay?” Lisa nodded weakly. “Yes. I'm fine.” She pushed herself to her feet, and I immediately noticed how shaken she looked. We sat down together. I glanced around the apartment. “Did Richard's mom come here again?” Mom shook her head. “No.” “Then what happened?” Her eyes dropped to her hands. “It was Klaus.” I frowned. “Klaus? What do you mean?” I'm not sure.” Her voice trembled slightly. “He suddenly came home and told me I needed to leave with him.” “Leave?” “Yes. He wanted us to go to some island, I think.” I stared at her, even more puzzled. “He didn't explain anything properly. He was just acting strangely. He
_ Harper's POV "Where is Jace? Why are you answering his phone?" I asked, frowning hard. "He left his phone with me and just stepped into the shower..." I ended the call immediately, fuming. What the hell! I walked back into the library and sat down, but I was so pissed. How close are they for him to hand over his phone to her? And... stepped into the shower? She is clearly trying to hint something at me. I can't believe him. I tried to focus on my work so I can catch up on the next class topic but kept getting distracted until very late. I stood up eventually to take a break and fill my stomach with some food. I haven't really had anything aside from the sandwich I ate after waking up earlier. I placed an order and settled in a seat to eat. "We meet again." Clive stepped closer, letting go of the girl beside him. I forced a smile, not quite believing this coincidence. Harvard is too big for us to keep running into each other like this. "I will head back then," his
_ Clive's POV My phone buzzed in my pocket as I moved away from Harper. I pulled it out and stared at the text from the guy who just left the room. I had hired him online without knowing much about him or his name. Did I act well? I scoffed and sent back a thumbs up, then shoved the phone back in my pocket. I turned a bit to look at Harper and found her shivering under the cold water in the tub. I grabbed a towel, turned my face away, and held it out to her without looking. "Here." She took it, her voice small. "Thank you." She tried to get up from the bathtub, wrapping the towel around herself, and her foot slipped on the wet tile. My eyes widened and I hurried to catch her. My hands landed on her waist before I could resist, and I lifted her up in my arms. I carried her back into the room and made her sit on the bed. The drug should have worn off by now. I deliberately chose an ordinary one, one that wouldn't harm her too much. That was the point. If I saved
_ Harper's POV "This looks amazing, Mr. Carter," I said quietly. "Thomas," he corrected, smiling. "We are family now." Jace snorted. I gripped my fork. Don't cuss him. Harvard. Harvard. "So," Thomas said, passing me the potatoes. "Maria tells me you are top of your class. Valedictorian track
_Harper’s POVMarla opened the door for me at a quarter past twelve and let me in.“I spoke with Jace after you left, and I assure you that you won’t have anything to worry about,” she said as she led me to the room I will be staying in.My room was next to Jace’s. I knew it the second Marla opene
_ Harper’s POV “Yes,” she answered, then sighed. “You can stay there until graduation.” A loud whistle blew in my head, and I could see nine ladies dancing around the room. “What? Really?” “Yes,” she nodded with a smile and sat next to me. “I have an old college friend who stays around
_Harper’s POVStepdad number three lasted for thirty months. That’s a new record.Usually, all the men my mom has been with barely last twenty-four months except my dad.I stood at the edge of the city cemetery, rain soaking through my black dress as I watched them lower James into the ground.My







