Yulia woke up to find it was already noon. She’d barely slept a wink the previous night. Having someone suddenly move into her house kept her nerves on edge, her mind tangled with countless scenarios.

Would he barge into her room in the middle of the night? Or maybe he’d open the front door and vanish altogether...

Her thoughts had kept her up until dawn, and she’d only fallen asleep as the sky began to lighten. Now, startled by how late it was, she hurried out of her room.

The living room was empty.

Yulia hesitantly approached the guest room. She knocked twice but received no answer. Opening the door, she found it vacant as well.

Relief coursed through her, though it was accompanied by an inexplicable tightness in her chest.

What exactly was this man trying to do?

Leaning against the doorframe, Yulia stood lost in thought when the bathroom door suddenly opened.

The man emerged wearing nothing but a towel wrapped loosely around his waist.

They stood barely a meter apart, locking eyes. Yulia froze, utterly dumbfounded.

Her gaze trailed from the water droplets trickling off his damp, short-cropped hair to his broad shoulders and finally to the rivulets sliding down his chest. Unintentionally, she swallowed hard.

Harrison frowned at her.

"Did your ex-husband have... performance issues?" he asked bluntly.

The hunger in her eyes baffled him. Three years of marriage, yet still a virgin?

Yulia was momentarily stunned, her cheeks flushing crimson before her expression cracked.

"Who’s disgusting you first thing in the morning?" she snapped, her voice laced with indignation.

Harrison ignored her flustered reaction, walking into the guest room. With a swift motion, he yanked at the towel around his waist, prompting a startled scream from Yulia as she covered her eyes with both hands.

As it turned out, he was wearing boxers underneath.

Pulling on a pair of shorts and a tank top, Harrison caught her reflection in the mirror, her face resembling a bright red apple.

"Clumsy yet provocative," he muttered under his breath, amused.

Yulia’s frustration bubbled over.

"Can’t you show me some respect?" she demanded, her voice trembling slightly.

Harrison’s eyes narrowed as he walked toward her.

Yulia’s instincts screamed at her to back away, but her pride kept her rooted in place, standing defiantly.

He leaned in, arms braced on either side of her, trapping her between him and the table behind her.

"This is my room now. If anyone’s playing with fire, it’s you," he said casually, grabbing a fitness tracker from the table.

With that, he stepped back, strapped the watch onto his wrist, and walked out of the room.

Yulia stood there, dazed, before her senses returned. Flushed with embarrassment and annoyance, she stomped out after him, only to find him grabbing his helmet and preparing to leave.

"Where are you going?"

Wasn’t he supposed to be unemployed now?

Harrison’s sharp gaze silenced her for a moment.

"Don’t try to control me," he said flatly, shutting the door behind him.

"Unbelievable," Yulia muttered, rolling her eyes as she stomped back to her bedroom.

Not even two minutes later, a piercing scream echoed through the house.

Standing in front of her vanity, Yulia realized her bathrobe had come loose at some point, leaving one smooth, round curve of her chest exposed.

Later, when Hannah arrived to pick her up, she found Yulia looking radiant—nothing like her previously lifeless self.

Hannah’s eyes lit up.

"Did you find him?" she asked as Yulia buckled her seatbelt.

Yulia nodded.

"Thank heavens, Yulia. If this had dragged on any longer, all of Horizia would’ve stayed under the shadow of your stormy mood." Hannah shuddered, recalling the past month’s version of her friend.

"Am I that bad?" Yulia raised an eyebrow.

Hannah cupped her face dramatically and nodded.

"I’d actually like to meet this mechanic. But not today—there’s no time. The gala’s about to start. Tonight’s event is crucial, Yulia. This is your chance to secure the tour. You must get close to Flora Chambers."

Flora, a renowned director of a prestigious music ensemble group, was responsible for organizing performances across the country. Having recently arrived in Horizia from Hudale Bay, she was the guest of honor at tonight’s gala.