Chapter 125

"Harrison, why must you always be so difficult?"

Nathaniel's deep voice rumbled through the room, sending an unexpected shiver down Harrison's spine.

He genuinely wanted her compliance.

During their three-year marriage, while she'd cared for him in his coma, he'd repaid her with extravagant material comforts. Sending her to Willowridge University was meant to be their final transaction.

Yet she remained defiant. Last night's "Goddess of Slumber" incident at The Velvet Lounge had irritated him. Now today's classroom brawl forced him to attend this disciplinary meeting as her guardian.

Nathaniel never dealt with such trivial matters.

The young woman straddling him suddenly spoke. "You don't actually want obedience."

What?

Harrison pushed against his sculpted chest, sitting upright. Her sparkling eyes locked onto his chiseled features as a knowing smirk played on her lips. "Don't pretend, Nathaniel. You prefer...troublemakers."

His aristocratic features darkened instantly. That innocent face shouldn't be saying such provocative things.

Harrison held his gaze, her eyes deliberately trailing downward to linger on his sensual mouth. "I saw everything last night outside the private room. How Isabella fed you wine. How much you enjoyed it."

Her bold stare burned with challenge.

Nathaniel had sensed her presence. Though he hadn't spotted her when glancing back, she'd clearly witnessed everything.

"You demand obedience while chasing after wild women? Hypocrite." Harrison moved to dismount.

Her slipper slipped off, forcing her to remain seated on the bed.

Now Nathaniel lay sprawled across her peach-colored sheets, his bespoke black suit clashing provocatively with the childish heart patterns.

Harrison stretched her bare foot, nudging his thigh. "Get off my bed!"

Nathaniel's glare could freeze fire. "Do that again, Harrison."

As you wish.

She delivered another sharp kick without hesitation.

Her delicate foot, with its soft pink toes, brushed against his tailored trousers. Nathaniel's gaze ignited with something dangerous.

In one swift motion, he captured her ankle. "Isabella may be wild, but you're downright wicked."

Isabella's flirtations were obvious. Harrison's? Subtle and devastating - impossible to resist.

Last night involved simple wine feeding. Today? Bedroom assaults.

Isabella couldn't compare.

This was precisely why Nathaniel wanted to sever ties. He needed to reject Harrison's advances.

His dark eyes studied her. Fresh from her shower, she wore only a thin camisole with a beige shawl slipping off one shoulder, revealing delicate straps.

Her flawless skin glowed with post-shower radiance. No makeup enhanced her natural beauty - just dewy skin and naturally rosy lips radiating youthful innocence.

Isabella with her heavy makeup and smudged lipstick paled in comparison. Last night's smeared cosmetics had actually killed his mood.

Harrison remained silent.

She was clever. Everything came naturally to her - including manipulating men.

Yet nothing she did appealed to him.

His heart belonged only to Isabella.