Indeed, she couldn’t reach him.

It wasn’t until a month later that Yulia saw Harrison again.

Passing by the Auto Service Center out of habit, she merely glanced over, only to spot that familiar figure. Her previously numb heart seemed to skip a beat.

Yulia stopped across the street, staring at the broad back. Today, Harrison wasn’t wearing a tank top but a clean, fitted tracksuit.

He wasn’t here to work.

It had been years since Yulia felt nervous. In her youth, Zinnia often forced her into competitions, exposing her to all sorts of challenging situations. She thought she’d built an unshakable composure. Yet now...

A flicker of intensity lit up her gaze as her hands slowly clenched into fists.

Over the past month, she had called him numerous times, never once getting through.

Countless sleepless nights had her imagining him struggling after losing his job because of her.

But observing him now...

Things weren’t as dire as she’d feared. The lively banter between him and others at the Auto Service Center made her earlier worries seem laughable.

“Harrison,” Yulia called out as she entered.

The man paused briefly, taking several seconds before turning around. He frowned when his gaze landed on her.

Nathan noticed and immediately directed the staff to get back to work. Dakota, clearly unwilling, shot Yulia a glare.

“Shameless,” she muttered bitterly before stomping off.

Now, it was just the two of them.

Yulia observed the man, now looking refreshed and full of life. The weight on her heart lifted completely.

“Sorry for causing you trouble. I tried contacting you before, but you didn’t respond. If there’s any way I can make it up to you, I’ll do my best.”

Harrison narrowed his eyes, his displeasure evident. His distant demeanor stung, but Yulia pressed on. She pulled a check from her bag and held it out.

“Anything within eight figures—I’m willing to offer.”

Harrison glanced at the check, then looked away, the corner of his mouth curling in a scornful smile.

Yulia felt a twinge of annoyance. Was this man impossible to satisfy? Did he think millions weren’t enough to smooth things over?

“Harrison,” she said firmly.

He lazily lifted his gaze to meet hers, his expression indifferent.

“Take your money and disappear from my sight.”

His tone was icy, as if their fiery night together had never happened.

Yulia swallowed her pride, forcing herself to accept his hostility. After all, he had every right to be angry. She had tarnished his reputation and cost him his job.

If he had accepted her offer so easily, it might have diminished the rebellious streak she’d initially found intriguing about him.

Taking a deep breath, Yulia retrieved a business card from her bag and handed it to him.

“This is my contact information. I truly apologize for everything. If you decide what you need, feel free to reach out.”

Harrison stared at the card but didn’t take it. Left with no choice, Yulia slipped it into his hand.

“I’ll wait for your call.”

Without another word, she turned and left, her departure tinged with awkwardness.

Back in her car, Yulia tried to calm herself. Was it just because they had slept together?

She laughed at herself. Could she really have some lingering attachment to her “first time”?

Ridiculous.

Inside the Auto Service Center, Nathan watched the BMW drive off before walking over to Harrison.

“Not interested at all?” Nathan teased with a grin.

Harrison shot him a cold look, taking a drag from his cigarette.

“What about the place I asked you to find?”

Nathan forced a smile.

“Harry, you’re asking for the impossible. Horizia’s not that big. If you want, I can look in the neighboring city. But there’s no hiding you here anymore.”

Annoyance flickered across Harrison’s face.

Nathan noticed and glanced at the card in Harrison’s hand.

“If you really want peace and quiet here, maybe reach out to her. She keeps insisting on making it up to you, after all.”

Harrison’s eyes narrowed as he hesitated briefly.

Nathan grabbed the card from his hand, examining it with a smirk.

“Poppy Studio. Ever heard of it?”

“Speak plainly,” Harrison snapped.

Nathan gestured toward the towering LED screen outside, displaying an advertisement for Sanders Corporation.

“She’s the crown jewel of the Sanders family—Horizia’s famous heiress. A child prodigy, winner of countless international piano competitions. Her family’s business reigns supreme here in Horizia. Do you really think the earlier incident wouldn’t draw attention? They know about you because of her.”

Harrison’s mind was filled with the image of Yulia’s stubborn expression.

“They’d investigate her regardless if she was connected to me, wouldn’t they?” he asked, his tone flat.

Nathan chuckled.

“Harry, are you showing sympathy or genuinely clueless? With her status, who wouldn’t give her some leeway? This is Horizia, after all—not the North.”