Chapter 1631:
Feeling utterly dismissed by Harlee, Nolaâs emotions spiraled out of control.
âIâll call you back,â Harlee said calmly to Rhys and then hung up the phone.
Harlee then tapped her finger lightly on the table, her lips curling into a smile. Her demeanor was strikingly composed, as if the threat at gunpoint didnât concern her.
Nola felt a chill run down her spine, yet her hand holding the gun remained steady.
âHarlee, I didnât betray you! You abandoned me first, and thatâs why I left back then! And by the time I got the news of Tonyaâs incident, she had already met her end. Otherwise, I would have extended a helping hand for the sake of our old friendship. I still consider you a friend,â Nola explained, locking eyes with Harlee, her face settling into a mask of calm.
Harlee leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs in a relaxed manner. As she looked up, there was an amused twinkle in her eyes, her beautiful eyebrows shadowed with a hint of menace. Yet, her deep eyes remained as inscrutable as a deep, freezing lake.
âYouâre quite the actress.â
The lightness disappeared from her tone, replaced by a cold, cutting sharpness.
Nola frowned, her resentment clear, as she lowered her gaze to meet Harleeâs. At that moment, they began to challenge each other.
After a tense pause, Nola was the first to look away, her resolve wavering slightly. She realized she couldnât fool Harlee. She had never truly cared about Tonyaâs fate and even laughed out loud upon hearing of Tonyaâs death. In Nolaâs mind, if it werenât for Tonya always snatching Harleeâs attention, she and Harlee might have been the closest and only friends.
Nola slammed the gun down on the table and sat back, her eyes slightly reddened.
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âHarlee, youâre as annoying as ever! I know you helped Davenport solve his issues. My purpose here today is twofold: to see if you can stay out of the Happer familyâ¦â
âAffairs and to warn you that even if it means our mutual destruction, I wonât let you off easy.â
In the end, Nola was still fearful of Harlee. Otherwise, she wouldnât have shown up personally or resorted to such naive tactics.
Moreover, Nola still harbored lingering affection for Harlee, continuously testing her, hoping to glimpse remnants of their past friendship in her reactions. Nola watched Harlee closely, searching for any emotional response.
Yet, Harleeâs eyes remained as emotionless as ever, unmoved by Nolaâs probing and untouched by her honesty. It felt as though Nola was nothing more than an irrelevant stranger to her.
âNola, my helping Davenport is just the beginning. If you confront me openly, we can spar a few times. But if you persist in undermining me from the shadows, it doesnât matter what drove you to join the Happer family or to oppose us. I will not hesitate to take you down.â
Harleeâs voice was distinct, unusually distant, and threatening.
Nolaâs expression chilled. She understood that Harlee was serious. If she continued her covert attacks as planned, Harlee would undoubtedly eliminate her without a second thought.
A dangerous, venomous intensity radiated from Nola as she pressed her lips tightly together. Her voice, colder and more strained than usual, sliced through the air like a blade.
âHarlee, do you truly not care about why I left without a word? Or why Iâm desperately seeking revenge against you?â
Harlee snorted and turned her head to look at Nola, raising one of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows. With a sly expression, she asked, âWhat makes you think youâre important to me?â
At this, Nola froze, her eyes reflecting a tumult of past memories or deep thoughts. She simply stared at Harlee, a hint of disappointment flickering in her gaze.
Nola couldnât comprehend why Harlee held her in such low regard. Was it because she hadnât risen high enough? Or had she never really mattered to Harlee? If only Harlee had shown her a fraction of the concern she had for Tonya, things might not have come to this. Even a slight increase in Harleeâs care would have satisfied Nola.
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