Morning came quickly. Too quickly.
The morning rays pierced through my window curtains, casting a warm glow in my room.
My eyes fluttered open. I stared at the white ceiling, yawning softly as last night's events flooded my thoughts.
From puking in the garbage bin because of my stubborn ways to Stacy deliberately flirting with Harley… and the way he didn't stop her.
Ugh… she's even more annoying than back in high school. And somehow… still just as confident.
I sat up in my bed and glanced at the plane tickets beside my phone on the nightstand. Warmth spread throughout my chest.
It didn't make sense—how I could feel like this after everything that happened.
The last time we went to Paris was during our year-end grad trip, and Stacy clung to Harley like a leech. What pissed me off the most was Harley's indifferent attitude toward her.
He didn't brush her off; instead, he spoke to her casually, just like last night. Like it didn't bother him at all. Then he had the audacity to tell me I was jealous.
If anything, he's the jealous one. Back in high school, it was known from one end of the hallway to the next that I was off-limits.
Those who dared to cross that line had to deal with Harley's wrath, and naive me didn't know a thing until Amy told me long after we graduated.
I climbed out of bed and headed toward the bathroom.
One hour later, I walked back into my bedroom wearing a white sundress, my hair tied into a high ponytail—light makeup enhancing my natural features.
My stomach grumbled loudly.
I opened my bedroom door and walked out at the same time as Harley. We both froze, our eyes locking onto each other.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Harley cleared his throat and looked away, breaking the silence. "Morning."
"Morning," I greeted, a little too cheerfully.
As I walked past him, I caught a whiff of his signature cologne. He smelled warm and expensive—woody with a hint of sweetness—the kind of scent that didn't demand attention, but held it anyway.
"Are you okay?"
My eyes widened slightly, and I realized I had stopped right in front of him. His scent wrapped around me, pulling me in before I could stop myself.
Heat rushed to my face as I looked up at him.
"Um… uh…"
He took a step closer, leaning in slightly, that familiar smug smile tugging at his lips.
I took a step back. "W-What?"
"Say it."
"Say what?" I asked, taking another step back. My slippers slid against the polished floor—and then everything tilted.
A sharp gasp escaped my mouth as my balance gave out.
Before I could hit the ground, strong arms caught me around the waist.
When I opened my eyes, Harley's face was much closer than before.
My heart pounded against my chest as my fingers instinctively curled into his shirt.
For a second, neither of us moved.
Our eyes locked, and something dangerous flickered in his gaze—too quick to understand, but impossible to ignore.
"Um, Harley… can you let me go, please?"
In a low voice, he murmured, "What if I don't want to?"
My breath caught.
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out.
The doorbell rang.
A soft exhale slipped past my lips. Save by the bell.
Harley muttered a curse under his breath before helping me stand upright.
I didn't wait. I hurried past him and rushed down the stairs toward the front door.
With my hand pressed against my chest, I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
As my heartbeat steadied, I forced a smile and opened the door. Which immediately turned into a frown.
"What do you want?"
"You know what—or rather who—I want."
Before I could respond, Harley stepped up beside me.
"You're late, Stacy."
My brows furrowed slightly.
Am I missing something?
Stacy fluttered her lashes at him. "Sorry, I woke up late and—"
"Come on in," Harley cut in, stepping aside.
She shot me a cheeky grin as she walked past me, following him toward his study.
Right before disappearing inside, she glanced over her shoulder and stuck her tongue out.
My hands curled into fists at my sides.
Harley leaned out from the doorway, raising an eyebrow when he saw me eyeing Stacy's shoes like I was about to kick them across the room.
"I'll be discussing business with Stacy for the rest of the morning, so—"
"I'm going out," I cut in, turning my back to him and crossing my arms. "Do whatever you want."
"You're so cute when you're jealous."
I spun around, my face burning. "For the last time, I am not jealous!"
Then I stormed out of the mansion, Harley's quiet laughter following behind me.
I leaned back against the door once I was outside, staring up at the clear sky.
Not a single cloud in sight.
The complete opposite of the storm brewing inside me.
I pulled my phone out of my purse and dialed Sasha's number.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Sasha," I said. "You're off today, right? I'm coming over."
"Okay."
The call ended just as quickly.
I called Mr. Lu, and within ten minutes, he arrived—immaculately dressed as always. He opened the backseat door, and I slid in.
"Where to, Miss Huo?"
"Skyline Court."
He nodded and pulled away.
The ride was quiet.
Even as I watched the city pass by outside the window, my thoughts drifted back to the mansion.
To Harley.
To Stacy.
To the way he didn't push her away.
My grip tightened slightly around my purse.
He knows how I feel about her… and yet he still invited her over without telling me.
Sure, it's his house.
But… it's my home too.
I let out a quiet breath, my chest tightening.
Why does it bother me this much?
I turned my head, staring out the window again.
…Why do I even care?