Harris's formidable mother, Marian Thompson stood at a towering height, her steel-gray hair pulled back into a tight chignon. Her ice-blue eyes pierced through the room as she clenched her jaw, a subtle tremor betraying her anger. Beside her, Nicole Hudson, Harris's fiancee, appeared the polar opposite: petite and delicate, with blonde waves framing her porcelain face.
Despite her seemingly fragile demeanor, her emerald-green eyes had a calculating glint. "Can you believe this?" Marion spat, her commonly cultured voice brimming with venom. "Our flesh and blood have been hidden from us for years!"
Nicole's full lips pursed together as she crossed her arms, her silk blouse rustling softly. "It's unbelievable, Marian," she agreed, her tone icy but measured. "I had no idea Harris could keep such a secret."
The women had received a phone call from a mutual friend, revealing the existence of Harris's daughter with Mallory Phillips. The initial shock and disbelief quickly turned to anger and frustration, their brows furrowed in unison.
"How could he do this to us? To me?" Marian fumed, pacing the room like a caged lioness. "She is our family, our legacy!"
"Marian, it's not just about you," Nicole interjected sharply. "I'm the one who's supposed to marry him. How am I supposed to trust him now? Everything adds up. He lies from the very start of this relationship. He never wanted to be engaged with me. And now, Harris has a child with Mallory, the woman he truly loves," Nicole said the last two words with a bitter taste.
Marian stopped pacing, her gaze fixed on her future daughter-in-law. "You're right, Nicole. I apologize. We must find a way to handle this situation together to restore our family's reputation. And most of all, get rid of that ambitious woman."
As they plotted their next move, the revelation that would turn their world upside-down consumed both women's thoughts. Harris's secret daughter with Mallory threatened everything they had worked so hard to achieve, casting a dark shadow over their plans for the future.
"Stay strong, Nicole," Marian said, her voice a mix of determination and vulnerability. "We will find a way to make this right. I promise."
"Thank you, Marion," Nicole replied, her eyes hardening with resolve. "Together, we'll ensure that Harris takes responsibility for his actions. And our family's legacy will remain intact, no matter what it takes."
"We have to talk to Harris as soon as possible," Marian said, facing Nicole. "Will you go with me?"
"Of course I will."
Marian and Nicole didn't waste any minute and headed to Harris's penthouse, where he lived alone.
The evening sun cast long, golden rays across Harris's penthouse living room, painting the walls with a warm glow. The sleek black marble floor reflected the light, creating a sense of luxury that contrasted sharply with the tense atmosphere. In this opulent setting, Marian Thompson and Nicole Hudson stood, their faces etched with anger and disbelief.
"Explain!" Marian demanded, her voice echoing through the vast space as she pointed an accusing finger at Harris, who had just entered the room. "Explain how you could have kept this from us!"
"What are you talking about? You two came here, angry and disturbed my peace. How about you explain to me what this is all about," Harris retorted.
"This is all about your daughter," Marian said firmly.
Harris clenched his jaw, his handsome face tight with frustration. His gaze flickered between his mother and his fiancée, both women dressed to the nines, their expressions seething with rage. He couldn't help but feel cornered, like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Who told you?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. "Which one of our so-called friends betrayed my trust?"
Nicole crossed her arms over her chest, her designer dress hugging her slender frame. "It doesn't matter who told us, Harris. What matters is that it's true. You have a daughter with another woman."
"Her name is Harriet," Harris whispered, unable to deny the truth any longer. He could see the gleeful satisfaction in the eyes of the mutual friend who had brought the news to Nicole and his mother. But right now, that friend's identity seemed insignificant compared to the storm brewing before him.
Marian paced back and forth next to the floor-to-ceiling windows, her high heels clicking on the marble with each step. "What were you thinking, Harris? Did you think we would never find out? That your little dalliance wouldn't catch up with you?"
"Enough, Mother," Harris snapped, his patience wearing thin. "I didn't plan for this to happen. But I won't have you berating me as if I'm still a child."
"Then act like an adult and take responsibility for your actions," Nicole said, her voice ice-cold. "Your mother and I have been blindsided by this news, and all you can think about is who told us?"
Harris's chest tightened as he realized the total weight of what had been revealed. The truth was out, and there was no going back. He looked at the two powerful women in his life, their expressions unyielding, and knew that he had to face the consequences head-on.
"Fine," Harris relented, gritting his teeth. "I'll deal with it. But don't expect me to grovel at your feet. I may have made a mistake, but I won't be controlled by either of you."
"Is that how you see us?" Marian asked, her voice tinged with hurt. "As controlling? We're trying to protect our family's reputation, Harris. Our legacy!"
"Legacy be damned!" Harris erupted, his anger boiling over. "I won't sacrifice my happiness—or Harriet's—for anyone else's approval. Not even yours, Mother."
Nicole's eyes flashed with indignation, but she remained silent, watching Harris storm past her and his mother. His heart raced as he confronted the new reality, a complex mix of guilt, defiance, and determination swirling within him.
"From now on," he declared, his voice resolute, "I make my own decisions. And I don't care who it upsets."
"Is that what you've learned from that woman? Are you hiding that whore in this penthouse too? Is that why you insist on living here alone, so you can continue your rendezvous with that whore."
"She's not a whore mother," Harris snapped. "Mallory is nothing like who you think she is." He cannot take his mother's insult to Mallory. He will do everything to defend her name.
But her mother didn't believe him for a second. "You must leave that woman and take Harriet with you. We cannot afford to have that woman taint our name after all the years your Dad and I work to have our prominent status. Harris, it is your duty to preserve our reputation and our legacy. "
Harris clenched his jaw, anger boiling beneath the surface as he listened to his mother's incessant demands. He crossed his arms defensively over his chest, his muscles tensing as he struggled to maintain his composure.
"You see," Marian pointed her fingers at Harris. "That woman changed you into a weak and stupid man. Where is Harris Thompson that I know? Royal Vista Hotel's CEO and Thompson Group of Companies Chairman."
"Enough, Mother," he thundered. "I know what I'm doing. You two may leave; I must finish signing the documents in my office," he demanded.
Harris pointed to the door to let them two leave his penthouse. He didn't show remorse after raising his voice to her mother. Right after they left, he headed to his office in his penthouse, where he slammed into his chair, releasing all the tension from the recent argument.
How would I tell Mallory that my mother already knows about our daughter, Harriet? I need to keep them both safe from my mother. Mallory was right; my mother has influence that she can use in getting Harriet's custody. But I won't let that happen.