Being with Harry and devoting herself to him in order to become Mrs. Stewart had become a habit for Fiona.
She was willing to do whatever it took to achieve her goal, and no one would stand in her way.
…
Hattie followed them inside and glanced at the dishes on the table, all prepared according to Harry’s taste, showing a lot of thought had gone into them.
Hattie and Fiona had completely different personalities. While Fiona sought to climb the social ladder by attaching herself to a man, Hattie preferred to rely on herself. Perhaps it was their different life experiences that shaped their strong characters, as Hattie was known for her straightforward and direct manner of speaking.
The headmistress had once mentioned that she was too straightforward, like a double-edged sword that hurt not only others but also herself.
Hattie never compromised when it came to her food, but luckily Harry preferred milder flavors, so she could tolerate the dishes on the table.
“I remember Hattie used to prefer heavier flavors, right? I’ll make you a spicy hot pot another day,” Harry remarked.
Hattie scooped a bowl of soup and took a sip. To be honest, it didn’t taste as good as Micah’s.
She leisurely raised her head, still holding the bowl, and looked at Fiona with a feigned obedience, “I can’t eat spicy food with my current stomach condition. I’ll eat lighter flavors like Harry from now on. In the future, you can just make a double portion for three people.”
Just as she entered the house, she had already arranged her future plans. Fiona was already feeling stifled and could only force a stiff smile. It seemed like Hattie was treating her as a servant.
It was a waste to have a maid at her service for free. If Fiona liked to pretend to be virtuous, then she might as well go all out.
Gritting her teeth, Fiona looked at Hattie holding the bowl and took another sip of soup. “It’s good, but the spare ribs should be cooked a little longer. I couldn’t even debone one of them. Also, the type of yam isn’t right. Next time, use Chinese yam instead. I prefer a smoother texture.”
She then turned her head and asked Harry, “What do you think, Harry?”
“Well, as long as you like it,” he replied.
If it weren’t for maintaining his image in Harry’s eyes, Fiona would have slammed the bowl down and left. She was his fiancée, yet she was no match for this “sister” who had no blood ties with him.
Fiona glanced at Hattie, sitting across from her, and saw her conspicuously gazing at her stump of a right hand, where her little finger should have been. It was missing, as if it hadn’t existed at all.
“It’s gone,” Hattie said casually, as if it wasn’t her finger that had been amputated.
On the other hand, Harry’s heart inexplicably constricted. He tried to control his thoughts, but whenever Hattie’s severed finger was mentioned, he couldn’t help recalling her desperate cries in the car and the cruel image it conjured in his mind.
Hattie had been dragged into the bathroom and pummeled relentlessly by a group of people, with bricks, until her intact finger was reduced to a pile of mud, washed away by water.
Just the thought of this scene made his fingers involuntarily contract, as though he could feel the pain.
Harry had intended to punish Hattie, but he hadn’t expected her to pay such a steep price. He also hadn’t anticipated feeling some sorrow upon seeing her again.
Had he made a mistake?
Harry asked himself, but received no answer.
Women are more sensitive than men, both physically and emotionally. Their sense of pain is heightened, and Hattie, who used to fear injections, now bore scars all over her body and had lost a finger.
“Why did you lose it?” Fiona pressed, looking concerned, like a mistress asking after her concubine.
“I lost it in prison. You don’t need to worry, Fiona. Losing a finger is nothing compared to your amputated leg below the knee. I may not be able to be a doctor anymore, but it doesn’t affect my normal life. Unlike you, you have difficulties everywhere you go now, wearing long skirts all year round. I remember you used to love wearing bikinis to show off your legs, but now you can’t even do something intimate with anyone,” Hattie said.
“Fiona!” Fiona finally couldn’t keep her composure and screamed. Her voice was like a screeching duck, harsh and unpleasant.
Fiona’s face had the delicate features of a lotus flower, but since she had her leg amputated, her body had become thin. Her originally oval face had become gaunt and sharp, resembling an angry red-bellied monkey when she was upset.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t you concerned about my hand? I could be concerned about your leg in return. Why are you so upset, Fiona?” Hattie remarked.
Hattie had dealt with too many hypocrites, and looking back at Lila, Fiona’s status was considerably inferior.
Fiona couldn’t stand it any longer. If she continued to endure, she would surely develop more wrinkles. It was only the first day. If she had to live with Hattie from now on, how many more crow’s feet would she develop?
Fiona had always known that Hattie wasn’t easy to deal with, but she hadn’t expected her to be even more difficult to handle after leaving prison. Had she learned it from other inmates in prison?
The most infuriating thing was that Harry didn’t stand by her side. He allowed Hattie to humiliate her, but right at that moment, he still had the leisure to sit there and drink soup, even picking out food from Hattie’s bowl to make sure she ate more.
Didn’t he see that Hattie was a schemer?
Harry finally spoke, “Be quieter during dinner.”
This was aimed at Fiona. She gripped her fork tightly and eventually set it down. “Hattie, I have something to say to you. My brother and I are getting married soon. You and my brother have no blood relation, but being too close will just make us a laughing stock. And… I’ve noticed that you’ve changed a lot since you were released from prison. Did you learn bad things from other inmates? You should take care of yourself physically and mentally. I happen to know a psychologist. Maybe you should go to the hospital for a while to recuperate?”
That’s it?
Hattie looked at Fiona with some disappointment. Perhaps if Harry hadn’t been there today, matching this statement with a $5 million check would have been perfect.
Harry was also annoyed at Fiona’s suggestion. “Hattie just came back from the hospital, and the doctor said she’s fine. She’ll rest at home from now on. If you can’t get used to it, you can go to the villa in the south.”
Fiona’s eyes welled up and her voice choked, “Harry… I know about your relationship with Hattie. Just because I’m not saying anything doesn’t mean I don’t care. It was you who said you wanted to marry me. We’ve known each other for so many years. I’ve been waiting for you for ten years. How many ten years does one have in life?”
With tearful eyes, her eyes pleading, she seemed pitiful. But let’s not forget, she is also quite cunning.
Harry was visibly taken aback. He should, indeed, marry Fiona; he should have done so long ago if Hattie hadn’t delayed again and again.
With a bang, Hattie put down her bowl and chopsticks and rose from her seat in one swift motion, her face expressing a hint of resentment, a hint of grievance, and a healthy dose of sarcasm. “Harry is so outstanding that it’s normal for him to have multiple relationships. If you don’t want this position anymore, move aside. There’s no shortage of candidates for that. Fiona, you’re really clueless. threatening someone with me. Unlike me, I can only dote on my brother.”