Chapter 124

Harrison had been staying here since moving out of the Falcon family estate.

Nathaniel's gaze swept across Harrison's small bed. The linens were perfectly arranged, but her silk camisole lay discarded carelessly after her shower.

His eyes flickered over it before shifting to the young woman behind him.

Harrison attempted to explain. "I hit Julian today because—"

"Harrison," Nathaniel interrupted sharply. "I enrolled you at Willowridge University to study medicine, not to sleep through lectures and pick fights. You might never match Isabella's excellence, but must you constantly cause trouble? The Ashfords are demanding your expulsion! I don't have time to keep fixing your mistakes."

His bottled-up frustration finally exploded in a torrent of harsh words.

Harrison stood motionless, absorbing each cutting remark while watching his barely contained rage.

He clearly had no interest in her side of the story.

To him, she remained nothing but a perpetual disappointment—unworthy of his time or attention, unlike perfect Isabella.

The same man who'd let Isabella feed him grapes and sip wine from her fingers in The Velvet Lounge's private room last night now stood before Harrison, cold and impatient.

Isabella was his beloved.

Harrison was his burden.

Her clear eyes met his. "Mr. Falcon, I apologize for wasting your time."

Nathaniel froze momentarily, caught off guard.

A faint smile touched Harrison's lips. "I don't know why Mr. Thornton contacted you, but I'll handle it. You're not my guardian. Please don't concern yourself with me anymore."

She moved toward the door. "You may leave now."

Nathaniel's fury erupted. In one swift motion, he seized her slender wrist. "Harrison, what kind of attitude is this?"

She struggled against his grip but couldn't break free. Nathaniel stepped back, his knee hitting the bed. Suddenly, he pulled her down with him, and they tumbled onto the mattress.

Harrison's bed enveloped them in her soft, floral scent—a fragrance Nathaniel knew intimately from their two previous encounters.

Since Harrison left Rosewood Manor, he'd been sleeping in his office lounge. Now, unexpectedly surrounded by her familiar aroma again, his body tensed.

As she fell, Harrison's delicate frame pressed against his muscular form. Her freshly washed hair cascaded around them, the floral shampoo sending an electric jolt through Nathaniel.

His muscles locked instantly. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

Harrison gasped, realizing their compromising position—her straddling him, just like their previous encounters.

Who would've guessed she kept ending up on top?

Her small hands scrambled to push off his chest.

But Nathaniel gripped her wrist, holding her in place. His voice dropped to a dangerous rasp. "Harrison, watch where you put your hands."

Her pale fingers, stiff from the sudden fall, had landed squarely on his sculpted abs.

"I—" Words failed her.

Nathaniel pulled her closer, his exhausted gaze fixed on the ceiling as he murmured, "Harrison, why can't you just behave?"