Chapter 256


    When Harriet woke up, she was alone in the room.


    If it weren’t for the ss of water on the bedside table, she mig! have thought that Molly’s visit was just a dream.


    She moved slightly, reaching to pull the nket tighter, but somet


    felt off.


    Harriet gently lifted the nket and was momentarily stunned to see that the chains on her hands and feet were gone, reced


    by a sense of bewilderment quickly followed by a misting of tears in her eyes.


    She knew it must have been Molly who saw the chains and argued


    with Delbert to have them removed.


    Just then, steady footsteps approached from outside the room. Before Harriet could pretend to be asleep again, the door was


    pushed open-it was Delbert.


    He didn’t expect Harriet to be awake. Upon opening the door, he saw her staring nkly at him, her eyes filled with unguarded.


    bewilderment that quickly turned to rity and wariness.


    A twinge of pain struck his heart.


    Was Harriet guarding herself against him?


    The room fell into an awkward silence until finally, Delbert opened his mouth, “Harriet, a-are you feeling any better?”


    Harriet looked at him warily, her eyes clouded with confusion.


    “Harriet, | know you don’t want to talk to me right now. | was wrong before. | know my mistake and | know you won’t forgive me


    easily, but don’t be hard on yourself.”


    +25 BONUS


    The words Delbert had practiced countless times didn’t seem so hard


    to say now.


    Molly’s words had made him realize his mistake.


    She was right. If he continued treating Harriet this way, one d would grow cold and leave him without a second thought, whic


    wasn’t the oue he wanted.


    Harriet was taken aback by Delbert’s sincere words but quickly


    regained herposure and said with a firm tone, “Delbert, do you think that just because you give in once, | should be grateful


    and hand over my freedom to you?”


    “That''s not what | mean.”


    Delbert slowly approached her, crouching by the bed to meet her gaze.


    “Harriet, please trust me, | do all this only because I’m afraid of losing you.”


    Harriet sneered, “Afraid? You''re afraid of losing me, so you lock me up? But have you ever thought about how frightened | am,


    being trapped by you with no way to escape?”


    “| know this has hurt you deeply, but | don’t know what else to do. | want to protect you, but | always seem to do it the wrong way.


    Harriet, you don’t know how scared | was that day in the warehouse wwhen | saw you hurt. | thought, what if those people took


    you awayThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    from me? What would | do?”


    DDelbert clenched his jaw in silent agony. Cory had told him that if he jujust lowered his pride and apologized properly, Harriet


    would forgive hihim.


    BBut Harriet remained coldly distant, “I gave you a chance that day. | asisked you to let me go, but you didn’t listen.”


    +25 BONUS


    “Delbert, some hurts can’t be undone. At least for now, | can’t forget!”


    Her angry words were just a form of self-protection.


    She couldn''t forgive Delbert yet.


    Even if she forced herself to forgive him, there would always be a


    knot in her heart, so she needed time to cool down.


    Delbert’s brow furrowed deeply. Why did his apology seem to make things worse instead of better?