Page 78 of My Only

Since meeting Harper at Hassani’s work event, I hadn’t given her much thought. Hassani never brought her up. He mostly talked about Jordan, Levi, and other members of the team.

But for someone he never mentioned, it was strange that she felt comfortable texting him at this hour.

I folded my lips into my mouth, dragging my gaze away from the screen.

It wasn’t my business.

I wasn’t that kind of woman. I never felt the need to check my man’s phone. I always believed if you had to, then you probably shouldn’t be with him in the first place.

But Hassani wasn’t just my man.

He was my husband.

And why was this woman texting my husband after work hours?

Before I could stop myself, I picked up Hassani’s phone, eyes locked onto the screen.

The notification only showed her name and the word “message.”

I hesitated.

Then, before I could talk myself out of it, I quickly typed in his code and unlocked the device.

The phone opened straight to his messages.

There was no need to scroll, because there she was.

Harper Royce.

A string of texts dating back to December 2021—right when the Greene Gardens Project began.

And in every exchange, the same pattern: paragraph after paragraph, most of them sent by her.

Harper: It was great meeting you today, Hassani. I’m looking forward to working with you.

Harper: You are SUCH a visionary. I hope you know that.

I scrolled.

Hassani had responded… but barely.

Hassani: Thanks, Harper.

Hassani: I appreciate that, Harper.

That should have been enough to ease me. He wasn’t entertaining her. He wasn’t encouraging this.

And yet…

She texted a lot.

At first, her messages were strictly about work. But over time—especially in recent weeks—her texts had started to shift.

Harper: Late nights at the office are way more fun when you’re around. I swear. I’d lose my mind dealing with these design delays if I didn’t have you to keep me sane. Hope you got home safe.

That one was from last night.

I inhaled slowly, letting the air fill my lungs. Exhaled through my nose.

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