Refusing To Divorce (Julia and Harry)
Refusing 22

Chapter 22

"Weren't you the one teasing me first? What, got cold feet now? Harry's voice was playful yet seductive, sending a shiver down julia's spine.

Harry chuckled at Julia's evident discomfort, his smile broadening. "Seems like you like to talk big but can't handle the game."

Finally, he released her wrist, and she nearly stumbled. Instinctively, she reached out, grabbing his arm to steady herself.

"You think I'm afraid you'll really do something?" Julia retorted, her voice laced with defiance. "I'm just playing your game, giving you an easy way out so you don't have to explain yourself to Arya."

"Is that so?" Harry dismissed her explanation with a scoff, brushing off the spot she had touched as if it dirtied him.

Julia turned away, her eyes darting back to him occasionally, her frustration mounting. She thought to herself that anyone who called Harry charming must be crazy. To her, he was all style and no substance. ""What an

are you doing here? If it's nothing important, I need you to leave; I need to rest. Julia demanded.

This is my house. I'll come back whenever I please. Why should I have to leave just because you say so?" Harry retorted coldly, his gaze piercing. "Ever since Arya came back, you've been nothing but sour toward me." Julia burst into laughter. "What's changed with me? It seems like you're the one who's changed. Arya is back-shouldn't you be focusing on her? Or do you secretly want me hanging around her?"

She always tried to be considerate toward Harry, making it a point to stay out of his and Arya's way, believing it was best for all three of them. After all, too much familiarity can lead to disdain, and nobody enjoys that. "Arya doesn't have many friends. I hope you can replace some time to talk with her. Harry said, express?

"What? You want me to spend time with Arya?" Julia pointed at herself, incredulous. "Are you sure she even wants to see me, let alone more communication?" The looks Arya gave Julia were far from friendly.

"I don't have much time to spend with her, and you're the one with the most free time. You're the best person to keep her company, Harry said, his tone too calm for the words he was uttering.

Julia took a deep breath. She couldn't fathom what Harry was thinking. "Let me be clear, Harry. Arya won't enjoy my company. She was supposed to marry you, and now you're married to me."

"We're rivals in love, and logically, she's the outsider while I'm your wife. Do you really think Arya would appreciate my company? By asking this of me, aren't you just stirring up trouble Julia suspected that Harry might not fully grasp the situation. Despite feeling exhausted for him plainly, skipping any subtlety to ensure he understood.

Harry glanced at her casually. "I don't care."

His indifferent expression hit Julia hard.

"But... don't you love Arya more than anything? Why would you ask me to be with her? My presence alone could hinder her recovery. If you loved her, you wouldn't do things to make her unhappy." These words slipped out before Julia could stop them, and Harry's unmove "Don't forget that you are my wife," Harry said flatly.

That was Julia's point exactly. Being fils wife, she shouldn't be the one to care for Arya, the other woman in their lives. Julia was baffled, struggling to understand Harry's motives. She guessed this might have been Arya's idea. But quickly she 11:18 Thu, Nov 14 G

Chapter 22

shook off the thought. Arya had only ever been irritated by her presence, not benefited from it. She wouldn't encourage

more

Confusion swirled within Julia as Harry showed no interest in clarifying his intentions. Glancing at his watch, he casually announced, "I'm not leaving tonight. I'll sleep in the guest room!

"Why?" Julia's voice was tinged with curiosity.

"Make sure you close the window when you sleep tonight. And you've caught a cold; take some medicine." Harry said, his tone flat.

His words lingered in the air long after he left, leaving Julia sitting dazed on the edge of the bed. 'Harry isn't going to visit Arya in the hospital? Does he want me to interact more with Arya? He even reminds me about closing the windows and taking care of myself. Is this his way of showing concern before be left?'

Julia pinched the back of her hand hard, bringing tears to her eyes. She then realized this wasn't a dream; everything that had just happened was real. But his actions were puzzling.

Lost in her thoughts, Julia lay in bed, replaying their conversation and the brief contact they had shared, along with the faint smell of tobacco that clung to Harry like a chilly breeze. It stirred something within her.

In her half-awake state, she thought she could still detect the lingering tobacco scent Harry had left behind.

That night, Julia slept fitfully, her nose congested, waking up parched in the middle of the night. She groggily pulled back the covers, slipped into her shoes, and headed downstairs for water.

Harry had just finished his work in the study and stepped out just in time to see Julia, squinting and wearing mismatched shoes, heading downstairs. Thinking she might be sleepwalking he hesitated but decided not to wake her, quietly following her instead. At the water dispenser, Julia, half-awake, clumsily filled a glass of water, spilling much of it as she tilted the cup back and

forth.

Feeling a wave of dizziness, Julia stumbled forward. As she lost her balance, she dropped the cup, which clattered to the floor. Her body swayed, teetering on the edge of consciousness. Just before everything went black, she had

the sensation of falling into something unexpectedly warm and soft, a stark contrast to the coldness she anticipated.

The loud crash drew the attention of a servant, who quickly turned on the living room lights, revealing Harry, expressionless, was carrying Julia upstairs.

"Call the family doctor," he instructed curtly.

Throughout the night, Julia was plagued by a relentless high fever. She lay in bed, deliriously muttering and occasionally kicking off her blankets.

Following the doctor's advice, Harry attempted to administer her medicine, but Julia stubbornly clamped her mouth shut and even knocked over a glass of water, drenching Harry's clothes.

The servant watched anxiously, wondering whether Julia would regret her actions in the morning.

"Mr. Wright, let me try giving the medicine to Mrs. Wright, the servant offered.

"Get out," Harry replied sharply, his voice cold and firm.

Now alone with Julia, Harry sat by her bedside. Despite the fever reducing injection, her temperature remained dangerously high. He noticed that Julia was more cooperative when he didn't force the medicine on her, responding with surprising gentleness. 11:18 Thu, Nov 14