Blocked, Juniper slowly lifted her head, her bright, sparkling eyes visible beneath the brim of her hat.


    The moment he saw her face clearly, Harold felt his heart pound even harder. A strange, unfamiliar emotion surged from deep within him, threatening to break free.


    Seeing the man blocking the exit and staring at her, Juniper''s lips tightened, a flicker of annoyance in her eyes. "Is there a problem?"


    Her sharp tone snapped Harold out of his daze. “My apologies,” he said, politely stepping aside.


    Juniper gave him a cool, dismissive look and walked past without another word.


    "Ready to go?"


    Shanley, who had been waiting by the door, saw the interaction and instinctively pulled Juniper into his arms, his gaze drifting to the man down the hall. For a split second, their eyes met, and an almost audible crackle of static filled the air between them. The tension was thick.


    Was that her boyfriend? Harold frowned, an inexplicable difort settling in his chest. Why did he feel this way? He had never met her before, yet she felt incredibly familiar. And seeing her so close to another man filled him with a strange, irritating frustration.


    "Yeah," Juniper said, grabbing Shanley''s hand and yawning. "Let''s go."


    "Okay."


    The feeling of her warm fingers in his instantly dispelled Shanley''s cold, sharp demeanor. This was the second time Juniper had proactively taken his hand. She must be doing it to show that other guy, that toad, that she was taken. His girl was too beautiful; it was only natural that she attracted attention. It didn''t matter, as long as she was his.


    ...


    "Dr. Houston, what are you looking at?" Harold''s assistant found him standing outside the restroom, clutching a withered nt and staring down the empty corridor. He grinned. "A pretty girl?"


    It was the first time he had ever seen the self-proimed workaholic Dr. Houston staring after a young woman.


    Harold''s thoughts snapped back to the present. He calmly lowered his gaze as his racing heart began to slow with her departure.


    "By the way," his assistant added thoughtfully, stroking his chin, "that pretty girl seemed to have a boyfriend."


    "Is that any of your business?" Harold had lost all interest in using the restroom. He clutched the precious herb and said in a hoarse voice, "Schedule my annual physical exam for earlier this year."


    “Huh?” The assistant was confused for a second before replying, "Of course."


    "The Viper''s Tail won''t survive long. Postpone my work with the Australis Medical Research Institute for now." Harold started walking, cradling the nt be staying in Era City for the time being."


    "Yes, Dr. Houston." As the assistant spoke, he caught sight of the girl through a car window. "Dr. Houston, look over there!"


    Harold instinctively turned, his eyes locking onto Juniper''s face. One second, and his heart pounded. Two seconds, and it was hammering against his ribs After three seconds, he quickly tore his gaze away forcing himself to breathe evenly. Cóntent


    What the hell was wrong with him? How could he have such a strong reaction to a girl he''d just met? And strangely, this fluttering in his chest wasnt possessive at all. So what was causing it? Was there actually something wrong with his health?


    In the car, Juniper was leaning back in her seat, ying a game on her phone.


    Shanley sat beside her, his handsome face turned toward the window. Since getting in the car, she had been ying for exactly twenty-five minutes and eleven seconds.