Chapter 31

Harper stepped out of the car, inhaling deeply as the crisp morning air filled her lungs. The lingering heaviness from her recent illness seemed to dissolve with each breath, replaced by a refreshing sense of normalcy. A wide grin spread across her face. "It feels so good to be back," she said, her voice light with relief.

Beside her, Oliver chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. "You were only out for three days," he teased, nudging her playfully. "It's not like you've been gone for months." He pointed toward the passenger seat. "Oh, and don't forget your purse."

Harper laughed, shaking her head. "Right, thanks." She snatched the purse and tucked it into her bag, then gave Oliver a quick, warm hug before turning toward the campus entrance.

Her excitement bubbled over as she hurried across the courtyard, eager to make it to her first class. But in her rush, she didn't see the figure approaching from the opposite direction. Their shoulders collided, sending papers fluttering to the ground like startled birds.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" Harper gasped, dropping to her knees without hesitation. She scrambled to help the girl gather her scattered belongings, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"It's okay," the girl said, her voice gentle and accompanied by a soft, friendly smile. Harper immediately noticed her accent—it had a melodic lilt, foreign but difficult to place. The girl was petite, with long, silky black hair cascading over her shoulders, and Harper guessed she might be East Asian.

"Do you know where the English building is?" the girl asked, her words careful and deliberate. Though her English was slightly halting, it was clear and easy to understand.

"Ah, sorry, I'm not sure. I'm in nursing school," Harper replied, frowning slightly in thought. Then her face lit up. "But wait—I have a map!" She quickly dug through her bag, rustling papers until she triumphantly pulled out the crumpled campus map.

Kneeling side by side on the walkway, they traced the lines and labels with their fingers. "Maybe it's in the Languages Building?" Harper suggested, pointing to a spot near the center of campus.

The girl's eyes brightened, and she nodded eagerly. "Yes, that makes sense. Thank you!"

Harper handed her the map with an encouraging smile. "Here, you can keep it. I know how overwhelming it is when you're new."

The girl's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you so much. I just moved to England, and I don't know anyone here yet. You are very kind," she said, her smile bright and genuine. "What is your name?"

"I'm Harper," she replied, returning the warm smile. "And you?"

"Kiyomi," the girl answered, her eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and relief.

"It's lovely to meet you, Kiyomi," Harper said, feeling an instant connection, like they'd stumbled into each other for a reason. "If you ever need help finding your way around, just let me know."

Kiyomi gave a small, appreciative nod. "Thank you, Harper. I will see you again, yes?"

"Why don't you meet us in the canteen for lunch?" Harper offered, the words coming easily. "I usually eat with my husband—I'm sure he won't mind!"

Kiyomi's eyes widened in surprise, her jaw dropping slightly. "Wow, you are married? So young!" She laughed softly, shaking her head in disbelief. "I would love to join you."

When lunchtime rolled around, Harper spotted Kiyomi across the cafeteria and waved her over. Kiyomi smiled and weaved through the crowd toward their table, where Oliver sat with one of his coursemates, along with Harper's entire nursing group. As soon as Kiyomi reached them, Harper beamed and introduced her to everyone.

"Are you from Japan?" Oliver asked, taking a guess based on her name.

"I am!" Kiyomi replied, her face lighting up with both surprise and appreciation that he had recognized her heritage.

Oliver's expression brightened. "We actually spent our honeymoon in Okinawa," he said before seamlessly switching to the Japanese he'd picked up during their trip.

Kiyomi's eyes widened with delight. "That's amazing! You've learned some Japanese?" she responded in her native tongue, clearly impressed.

Oliver chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Just a little," he admitted humbly. "Enough to get by while we were traveling."

The conversation flowed effortlessly, and soon the entire group was chatting and laughing. Before they knew it, lunchtime had flown by. With their food finished, they all decided to head out to the campus green, where they relaxed on benches, soaking in the fresh air.

As they sat together, Oliver's friend glanced at his watch. "We should head back soon," he said, standing up and stretching. He paused for a moment before adding, "By the way, do your friends want to join us tonight at the bar?"

Oliver visibly winced, knowing his friend had just opened Pandora's box.

"Wait, what? You're going to a bar? Where?" Marina practically screamed, her eyes wide with excitement.

Oliver's friend laughed nervously, clearly regretting his words. "Uh, Oliver will fill you in later," he said quickly before making a hasty exit, leaving Oliver to deal with the aftermath.

Before anyone could ask further questions, Oliver said a quick goodbye to Harper, and rushed off after his friend, disappearing into the distance.

Harper turned to find Marina and Desiree both staring at her eagerly. "Harper, you have to find out where they're going tonight!" Marina demanded, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"I mean, I can ask..." Harper replied, stepping back slightly, unsure of how much she wanted to be involved in this latest scheme.

"Just imagine," Desiree chimed in dreamily, "an evening flirting with a bunch of future doctors... it sounds perfect!"

Harper bit her lip, trying to think of a compromise. "Why don't we meet at my dad's restaurant around 7? We can grab some food and drinks there, and then maybe we'll run into the guys at some point later."

Marina and Desiree exchanged a glance and then nodded enthusiastically. "That sounds like a plan!" Marina said, her excitement bubbling over as they started to discuss the evening's details.

Turning to Kiyomi, Harper smiled. "You should come too, Kiyomi! What's your number? I'll text you the address."

Kiyomi beamed, grateful for the invitation, and quickly entered her number into Harper's phone. "Thank you," she said shyly. "I'd love to come. It's so nice to make new friends."

On the way home, Harper couldn't resist trying to pry some information out of Oliver about their mysterious evening plans. As they cruised down the familiar streets, the golden hues of the setting sun casting long shadows across the dashboard, she decided to strike.

"So…" she began casually, her tone light and innocent, "you and your friend seemed to be in quite the hurry earlier." She shot Oliver a quick sideways glance, watching for any tells. "What's the rush? Big plans tonight?"

Oliver didn't even flinch. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he kept his eyes firmly on the road. "Uh-huh," he replied vaguely, his tone deliberately noncommittal.

Harper twirled a strand of hair around her finger, feigning disinterest. "Are you guys going to that bar in town or something? You know, just wondering…"

Oliver chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Harper," he said, cutting through her act like a knife through butter, "I know what you're doing."

"Oh, come on," Harper pleaded, flashing him her most innocent look, her eyes wide and lips curling into a playful pout. "I'm just a little curious!"

Oliver rolled his eyes, clearly amused by her antics. "Alright, fine," he relented with a sigh. "Yeah, we're going to a bar in town… but that's all the information you're getting."

Harper raised an eyebrow, intrigued but not satisfied. "That's it?"

"Yep." Oliver shot her a knowing glance. "Your friends are relentless, and I feel like it's my duty to protect the other guys from them." He laughed, the sound filling the car, knowing full well how persistent her group could be once they latched onto something.

Harper burst out laughing, because honestly, relentless was the perfect word to describe her friends. "Fair enough," she conceded, still grinning.

Oliver's voice softened as he continued, his eyes briefly flicking to hers before returning to the road. "Plus, I kind of want a chance to just hang out and socialise. You know, I didn't really get a chance to do that much in college."

Harper's smile softened too, understanding the sentiment behind his words. "Alright," she said gently, "I won't drag my friends out to find you guys. I promise."

Oliver grinned, clearly appreciative of her understanding. "Thanks, I'll hold you to that."

Harper leaned back in her seat, feeling satisfied with their little compromise. She knew her friends would probably still try to scheme their way into finding the guys, but she respected Oliver's wish for a night to unwind. After all, everyone needed their space sometimes—even if she was very curious about what the guys were up to.

Harper greeted Kiyomi outside the restaurant to make sure she found the right place, waving enthusiastically as she approached. "Glad you made it!" Harper said with a smile as she led Kiyomi over to the group, who were already seated in a cosy booth in the corner.

"This place is so nice," Kiyomi commented, taking in the warm ambiance.

Harper's dad, Ian, was busy behind the bar, but he caught Kiyomi's compliment and waved. "Thank you! Dinner's on me tonight, so enjoy!"

The group eagerly placed their orders, and the rounds of drinks soon began to flow. The atmosphere was lively and filled with chatter and laughter. After a little while, Kunal appeared at their table, carefully setting down plates of food.

As Kunal laid the last dish in front of Kiyomi, Harper noticed something odd—Kiyomi was staring at him, almost mesmerised. Kunal, sensing her gaze, looked a bit uncomfortable.

"Can I help you?" he asked, eyebrows raised.

Kiyomi blushed but didn't falter. "Sorry... it's just... you are so pretty!" she exclaimed.

Kunal blinked, clearly caught off guard, but he chuckled softly. "Uh, thank you, I guess?" He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

Without missing a beat, Kiyomi pressed further, her curiosity piqued. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

Kunal's blush deepened. "Ah, no. My heart was spoken for once," he admitted with a small, sheepish grin. "But Harper here had other ideas." He shot a quick glance at Harper, who froze, utterly unprepared for where this conversation was going.

Kiyomi turned to Harper, eyes wide with disbelief. "You rejected him?" she asked, her voice incredulous. "For that man?" She gestured toward Oliver, who wasn't even present to defend himself.

Harper stammered, caught between laughing and complete shock. "Uh, well… it wasn't quite like that..."

Kiyomi shook her head, looking back at Kunal. "You must be crazy, Harper. He's the most beautiful man I've ever seen!"

By this point, Kunal was blushing so hard his face matched the red decor of the restaurant. "Okay, uh, enjoy your meals!" he mumbled before making a hasty retreat to the kitchen, clearly overwhelmed by the unexpected attention.

Harper turned back to Kiyomi, still trying to process the whirlwind of the last few moments. "Wait, so you like Kunal?" she asked, almost bewildered at how quickly Kiyomi had come to this conclusion.

Kiyomi smiled and nodded earnestly. "Of course! He is beautiful," she said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Much more beautiful than Oliver."

Harper blinked, taken aback by the comment. "You... don't think Oliver's good-looking?"

Kiyomi shrugged. "He's nice, yes. But Kunal? Kunal is beautiful. Much, much more beautiful."

Harper couldn't help but laugh, the absurdity of the situation finally hitting her. "Well, to each their own, I guess." But part of her still couldn't quite wrap her head around Kiyomi's infatuation with Kunal, especially since she had never thought of him that way.

The rest of the group watched the whole exchange in bemused silence, clearly enjoying the unexpected drama. Marina, with a sly grin, whispered, "Looks like the night just got a lot more interesting."

The group made their way out of the restaurant and began heading towards the bars in town, the cool evening air buzzing with excitement, Kiyomi bid everyone farewell as she was still tired from travelling. As they walked, Marina and Desiree wasted no time in cornering Harper with questions, their curiosity palpable.

"Come on, where's Oliver's group heading?" Marina asked eagerly, nudging Harper's arm. Desiree chimed in right after, "Yeah, we need to know so we can accidentally run into them. It's perfect!"

Harper shook her head, laughing at how relentless they were. "I don't know where they are," she insisted.

Both girls groaned in unison, their hopes for a chance encounter thoroughly dashed. "Really? Not even a hint?" Desiree pleaded, her face showing exaggerated disappointment.

"Nope," Harper replied with a firm smile.

Marina sighed heavily, dramatically throwing her head back. "Ugh, fine," she huffed. "But this was our golden opportunity!"

As the night wore on, Harper and her group found themselves hopping from one lively bar to another, enjoying their evening despite the initial disappointment over not seeking out Oliver and his friends. The music was loud, the drinks were flowing, and the laughter between them filled the air.

But as they turned the corner onto a crowded street lined with pubs, Harper suddenly spotted a familiar figure just outside one of the bars. She squinted through the dim lights and noise, and sure enough, there was Oliver, standing with his group of friends, laughing and chatting with a drink in his hand.

"Oh no..." Harper muttered under her breath, stopping in her tracks.

"What?" Marina asked, glancing over. When she saw Oliver and his friends, her face lit up. "Oh my God, it's them! What are the odds?"

Desiree quickly caught on as well. "Well, well, well! Looks like fate's giving us another chance after all."

Harper sighed, tugging her jacket a little tighter. "Look, I promised him a guys' night," she said, feeling conflicted. "I don't want to crash their party."

But before she could turn back, Oliver spotted her. His eyes widened in recognition, and with a grin, he waved her over. His friends noticed too, some of them throwing exaggerated waves in their direction. Harper, now unable to avoid the situation, exchanged a look with her friends.

"I guess we've been spotted," she murmured, walking up to Oliver.

"Hey!" Oliver greeted her, wrapping an arm around her waist as she reached him. "What are the chances? You guys out here, too?"

"Yeah," Harper replied sheepishly, "I swear we didn't plan this. I was going to take the girls somewhere else. I know I promised you a boys' night…"

Oliver smiled warmly and shook his head. "Don't worry about it. It's fine, really. I don't mind if you stay." He looked over at his friends, some of whom were already chatting up Marina and Desiree. "Seems like everyone's getting along, anyway."

"You sure?" Harper asked, still wanting to respect his space.

Oliver leaned in closer to Harper, and she couldn't help but giggle as his stubble tickled her cheek. They all headed back inside the bar, and Oliver quickly grabbed her a drink before returning to his group of friends. Seated at their table were three other guys and two girls.

Desiree noticed right away. "Oh, so he's here with some girls," she pointed out, her voice laced with curiosity. "I thought this was supposed to be a guys' night?"

Harper shrugged it off casually, though she glanced at Oliver's group again. "Well, obviously there are girls on his course too. But it doesn't matter—I trust him."

However, Keith, who had been oddly quiet for most of the evening, was glaring at Oliver from across the bar, his face twisted with drunken displeasure. "What is he doing?" Keith slurred. "His wife is right here, and he's over there flirting with those girls. What kind of husband is that?"

Harper sighed, knowing Keith had some very traditional—and outdated—ideas about how married couples should behave. "It's not like that," she replied, trying to brush him off, but she could tell Keith wasn't convinced. Feeling the tension rise, Harper excused herself and quickly headed to the bathroom to get some space.

As she left the restroom and walked down the narrow corridor, she noticed one of Oliver's friends from the table standing there, waiting.

"Hi," she greeted him sheepishly, trying to make her way past.

The man stepped toward her, blocking her path. "You. You're Oliver Rivers' wife?" he asked, his tone oddly intense.

Harper felt a knot of unease twist in her stomach. "Yes," she answered, glancing toward the door, desperate to get out of the situation.

"I had to see which woman managed to capture Oliver's attention," he continued, a strange mix of resentment and admiration in his voice. He took another step closer. "Very interesting."

"Please, let me go," Harper begged, her back pressing against the wall. She could smell the alcohol on his breath, and it made her skin crawl.

His face twisted with bitterness as he leaned in closer, his voice growing angry. "I used to be the top of our class, you know. Always number one. But then your husband came along and took that from me. Every single time, he beats me. He's taken everything." His voice cracked, a tear slipping down his cheek. "So now, I think I'll take something from him."

Before she could react, he grabbed her hand, holding it tightly. Panic surged through Harper, and she began to scream, trying to pull free. Within moments, Oliver burst through the door, fury etched on his face. He didn't hesitate, shoving the man hard against the wall, forming a protective barrier between him and Harper.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Oliver growled, his voice cold with anger.

The man stumbled, his back hitting the wall hard. He slumped down to the floor, barely able to hold himself up, and then suddenly turned to the side and vomited onto the carpet.

Oliver looked down at him, disgust clear in his eyes. "Look at you. You're a drunken mess," he muttered, tossing a £10 note at him. "Get yourself a taxi and go home before you embarrass yourself further."

Stepping over the man and his mess, Oliver gently took Harper's hand and guided her back into the bar area. "You okay?" he asked softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face, his concern evident.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Harper reassured him, though her heart was still racing. "I'm going to head back to my friends."

Oliver hesitated for a second, clearly not wanting to leave her side. "You can come join us if you want."

But Harper shook her head. "No, it's alright. I'll stay with them for now. I'll let you know when I'm ready to go home."

Oliver nodded, watching her as she made her way back to her friends, though he kept a careful eye on her for the rest of the evening, ready to step in if needed again.

As the night wore on, Harper continued to drink more than she probably should have. She was laughing with her friends, feeling the buzz of the alcohol more and more with each passing minute. By the time the group moved back into the bar for another round, her steps were unsteady, and her words slurred.

"Harper, you alright?" Marina asked, noticing Harper swaying a little on her barstool. But Harper just giggled, waving off the concern.

"I'm fiiiine!" she slurred, leaning heavily on the counter. "One more drink, that's all."

Keith, however, was watching her closely, his jaw tight. As the night went on, his mood had grown darker, fueled by both his own drinks and his increasing frustration at how the evening was going. He couldn't believe Oliver had left her with them like this, seemingly uninterested in looking after his wife while he was off chatting with his friends.

When Harper began to practically slump over the bar, barely able to keep her eyes open, Keith's patience snapped. Her head lolled forward, almost falling into her half-empty glass, and Marina had to catch her just in time.

"Okay, that's enough. You're done," Marina said, trying to gently pull the drink away, but Harper waved her hand lazily, clearly out of it.

Keith, however, was far from calm. He stood up abruptly, glaring in the direction of where Oliver was sitting. "What kind of husband just lets his wife get like this while he's off having a grand time with other people?" he muttered angrily.

Marina shot him a look. "Keith, relax. Oliver's just with his friends. He doesn't even know—"

"No, I've seen enough!" Keith interrupted, his voice rising. "He doesn't care. Harper's practically passed out, and he's over there pretending like nothing's wrong." He turned to the group, eyes blazing with frustration. "I'm taking her home."

At that moment, Oliver approached, having noticed Harper's slumped posture at the bar and the uneasy atmosphere surrounding their group. He quickened his pace, concern etched on his face. "Is she okay?" he asked, his voice tense as he looked at Harper.

"Like you care," Keith muttered under his breath, his voice laced with venom. Oliver's brows furrowed in confusion as he glanced at Keith, trying to make sense of his attitude. "What are you talking about?" Oliver asked, his patience thinning.

Without waiting for an answer, Oliver knelt beside Harper, gently pulling her arm over his shoulder to help her stand. "Come on, let's get you home," he murmured to her, but as he began to lift her, Keith grabbed her other arm, yanking her toward him.

"Leave her," Keith said forcefully, his grip tight. "I'm gonna take her home." His voice was sharp, filled with a self-righteous fury that made Oliver's blood boil.

Oliver stood tall, staring Keith down as he pulled Harper closer to him, shielding her. "What the hell are you doing?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing. The tension in the air grew thick as Marina and Desiree pleaded with Keith to stop making a scene, but he ignored them, his focus entirely on Oliver. "Who even are you?" he asked, malice lacing his voice.

Keith, still holding onto Harper's other arm, clenched his jaw. "My name's Keith. And I don't particularly appreciate how you've been sitting over there, chatting with other girls, while your wife has been getting into a state like this," he spat, his fist balling tightly as his frustration boiled over.

Oliver's gaze flickered back to his friends at the table for a split second, then back to Keith. Realisation hit him like a cold wave. "You accusing me of something?" Oliver said, his voice low and dangerous. "If that's the case, you'd better stop now."

He lifted Harper up into his arms effortlessly, cradling her securely as he moved to leave. "The taxi's outside," he muttered, focusing on getting her out of the situation.

But before stepping out of the bar, Oliver turned around one last time, meeting Keith's furious eyes with a gaze filled with controlled anger. "You might want to remember something," he said, his voice steady and cold. "This is my wife. Don't talk about her as if she's yours"

With that, Oliver carried Harper outside into the cool night air, the tension from the confrontation still coursing through his veins. As the taxi pulled up, he settled her gently into the back seat, his mind racing from the events of the evening. He cast one final glance back toward the bar, shaking his head before climbing in beside her.