Chapter 22 " You don't have to cook yourself . I can make do with anything . " James's eyes were filled with tender care , very evident and hard to conceal . " Your hands are not meant for these tasks . You should be painting and playing the piano . " Her talent and abilities were always top - notch wherever she went , and shouldn't be wasted . Harper shook her head slightly , " After all these years , I've long lost my touch . " Her hands had calluses , having been soaked in cheap dishwashing liquid , no longer suitable for touching expensive instruments and brushes . She had also been punished by her biological father for dropping a restaurant plate because she couldn't withstand the heat . After being kicked to the ground and whipped with an electrical cord , she learned her lesson , remembering the pain . The next time , no matter how hot the soup or plate was , she could grit her teeth and carry it . Now , just cooking a meal was considered a blessing .. James's hand rested on hers . He didn't mind Harper's fingers with sores . and comforted her softly , " How could that be ? These past few days , you've been helping me with the accounts , and you've done a great job . " Someone actually thought she was good Tears welled up in Harper's eyes . Her biological father called her a money pit , wanting her to sell herself . Her adoptive parents abandoned her , warning her not to make mistakes again . Only James praised her . She wanted to thank James , but his gaze focused on her wrist . Chapter 22 " What's this ? " ER Her sleeve slid up in the friction , revealing several scars on her forearm . Harper quickly tried to cover them , but James had already seen them . He adjusted his glasses , his expression becoming more serious . " I accidentally cut myself . " Harper made up an excuse . James wasn't foolish . " Then how come it left a scar , and such a deep one ? " " Really , it's nothing . " Harper tried to evade by standing up , " It's getting late . I should head back . " " Wait , I'll drive you . " " No " " Mr. Walker asked me to come over . It's on the way . In the car , Harper occasionally showed expressions of pain and struggle , sometimes looking peaceful , but all fleeting . The scars on her forearm and wrist were indeed self - inflicted . It was an experience not worth remembering . Debt collectors came to the door , and her father fled , locking her in the car to draw attention . Unexpectedly , the group didn't fall for it , and she was left trapped in the van . The van had nothing inside , and the door was locked from the outside . For nearly two days , without a drop of water , the only thing in the car was a craft knife . The blade was too thin to break the window or open the door . On the verge of dehydration , Harper cut her wrist . Blood flowed out , and she tentatively sucked on the wound , wetting her lips with the Chapter 22 blood . That metallic , sweet taste , accompanied by the pain and the lack of oxygen in the car , became her nightmare . After seeing Harper upstairs , James turned and entered Liam's study . Liam quickly glanced at him and continued with his work , speaking in a light - hearted tone , as if chatting casually , without noticing the gravity on James's face . " Harper's back ? " " I saw her go into her room . Nodding with satisfaction , Liam trusted James , which was why he arranged for him to marry Harper instead of Noah . " Harper doesn't have the Zhou surname anymore , but she's still half a daughter of the Walker family . Marrying you , you're not at a disadvantage . " " Mr. Walker . " James hesitated , " Recently , I've noticed something odd about Miss Sullivan . Her life these years probably hasn't been as good as you think . " Liam's pen paused mid - stroke . " What do you mean by that ? " " Miss Sullivan has scars , not just one . When she falls asleep in the car , she talks in her sleep and sometimes cries . After a conflict with someone , her first reaction is to apologize , even if it's not her fault . " James was meticulous and suspicious . "And once I accompanied Miss Sullivan to a meal , and we encountered a man in the restaurant . " Liam closed the file in front of him and leaned back in his chair , " If it's not a big deal , there's no need to bring it up . "