Chapter 230: The Ninth Young Master of the Harrises

Perched in a lofty spot, bathed in the light streaming from the doorway, Maggie glanced down and saw a man holding an umbrella in the rain. He stood in the shadows, his attire seeming to blend with the darkness, radiating an air of coldness and hostility.

Nathael folded his umbrella, inclining his head slightly to meet Maggie's gaze. Suddenly, Maggie realized Timothy's hand was still on her arm. She was taken aback. What an unexpected—and unfortunate—turn of events!

Nathael briefly looked at Maggie before turning to the man beside her. From Maggie's perspective, the umbrella partially obscured Timothy's face as he lowered his gaze to meet Nathael's, a faint grin playing on his lips, hinting at defiance and madness against the dark night.

After a brief pause, Timothy shifted his focus to Maggie's ankle. "Are you injured, Maggie?"

Looking down, Maggie felt a sharp twinge in her right ankle, as if pricked by a needle.

Extending the umbrella, Timothy bent to check her. Instinctively, Maggie flinched and took a few steps back. Timothy's outstretched hand found nothing to grasp, but he remained unfazed, squatting as he looked up at Maggie. "Looks like you've twisted it. It's quite swollen." As she handed him the umbrella and he squatted, raindrops trickled onto his flawless face. His eyes shone with clarity, his clothes and hair soaked.

Feeling remorseful, Maggie sheltered him under the umbrella and whispered gently, "I'll manage to get home. My boyfriend is coming for me."

Timothy stood, looking down at Maggie. "Do you genuinely love him?"

"Yes, I do," Maggie admitted wholeheartedly.

After a moment, Maggie remembered something and warned him, "Please, keep my poisoning a secret from him."

Timothy regarded her silently, then offered a faint smile. "So, this stays between us?"

Maggie paused. "And Mr. Hudson, maybe a few other doctors."

Chapter 230: The Ninth Young Master of the Harrises

She didn't want to hide anything from Nathael, but she hesitated to reveal her impending demise. Shortly afterward, Nathael arrived.

The terrace door creaked open, and Nathael approached Maggie, his gaze unwavering as he softly inquired, "Are you okay?"

Maggie paused before confessing, "I've sprained my ankle."

Frowning, Nathael knelt, gently grasping her ankle. This time, Maggie didn't recoil, keeping the umbrella over his head. His touch was cool, with a subtle chill, causing Maggie to instinctively pull away slightly.

Timothy remained nearby, his attention fixed on Nathael's neck, a distinct, playful gleam in his eyes.

After a brief pause, Nathael stood and carried Maggie in his arms. Timothy remained in the rain, watching them leave before silently following.

Shortly after, Maggie found herself in the ground-floor living room, a slight worry tugging at her. "Will this affect the upcoming competition?" While the piano primarily relied on hand gestures, some compositions required the use of pedals, causing Maggie to worry.

"After the swelling goes down, it shouldn't be an issue. It should heal in about a week," Nathael reassured her softly.

Maggie's tension eased, and she looked up at him. "What brought you here?"

"I was concerned you didn't have an umbrella in the rain," Nathael responded gravely. His expression betrayed genuine concern despite his cold demeanor. Maggie chuckled softly, sensing a hint of coldness in his words.

At that moment, Timothy descended the stairs and said in a hushed tone, "Mr. Hudson, could you please prepare a glass of hot water for Maggie?"

Spotting him, Maggie rose beside Nathael and said warmly, "Allow me to introduce you. This is my boyfriend, Nathael Harris, and this is"

"No need for introductions, we're acquainted," Nathael interjected quietly. His eyes locked on Timothy, his hostility evident.

Timothy coughed lightly and forced a smile. "It's been a while, cousin."

Maggie was momentarily taken aback. Cousin?

Chapter 230: The Ninth Young Master of the Harrises

Timothy glanced at her and gently clarified, "Maggie, I forgot to mention, my surname is Harris."

Maggie was speechless. Timothy Harris! The grim and deranged member of the Harris family! She only knew him as Timothy. He was actually Nathael's greatest enemy!

A flood of chaotic memories surged through her thoughts. In her previous life, she knew the Harris family was primarily split into two factions—one following Nathael, the other the ninth young master. Before marrying Nathael, she'd never met the ninth young master. Only after becoming part of the family did she hear rumors about him—a frail, ailing, and unhinged man. She had never heard Nathael mention his name, nor had she ever encountered him. However, she knew Nathael had suffered severe injuries in clashes with this ninth young master. She never expected the rumored man to have such an unassuming appearance.

"Come with me, I'll take you home," Nathael said, taking Maggie's hand and helping her up.

Maggie snapped back to reality, overwhelmed by the day's events. Only when Nathael settled her into the car did she voice her curiosity. "Is his surname really Harris?"

"Yes."

Maggie lapsed into silence, then whispered, "What is he like?"

It wasn't intense curiosity, but she struggled to reconcile the rumors with Timothy's demeanor.

A contemplative silence fell between them as Nathael avoided a direct reply. Instead, he offered a solemn warning, "Keep your distance from him, and never meet him alone."

Maggie reclined in her seat, lost in thought. Memories of a rumor Mia had whispered in her previous life flooded her mind: Whispers abounded that, on his mother's birthday when Timothy was sixteen, he'd given his brother a severed finger. On the eve of his eighteenth birthday, he allegedly incapacitated his mother and brother with drugs before confining them to a room.

Chapter 230: The Ninth Young Master of the Harrises

Maggie recalled dismissing Mia's tale as gossip.

"This might be related to the Harris family secrets. Why not bring it up with Nathael later?" Mia had suggested, casting a knowing glance at Maggie. Maggie had dismissed it. "No, that's absurd! It sounds utterly fabricated. Can any rumors these days be taken seriously?"

Mia's expression turned serious. "But Nathael's behavior has been increasingly erratic. My dad mentioned that considering his actions, it doesn't appear to be a fabrication." Maggie's interest was piqued. "What happened next? Did the rumors mention anything about what occurred afterwards?"