Ren walked out of the luxury washroom, wiping his damp hair with a towel and fully cleaning his pubic area. The scent of rose and sandalwood lingered in the air, but as he stepped into the hallway, he froze.

There were doors everywhere. Long, polished hallways twisted in every direction, each one looking exactly like the other.

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Great… I'm lost," he muttered under his breath. "Why do all these rich people build houses like mazes?"

Ren started walking, passing one hallway after another. Every few steps, there was a different expensive painting or an oversized vase that probably cost more than his house.

"Do they really need this many rooms? Do they even use half of them?" Ren kept muttering. "Probably all part of some rich-people cult rule: 'Thou shalt waste as much space as possible.'"

He took another turn and spotted a maid carrying a tray. She glanced at him, then quickly looked away, blushing but he noticed she stopped midway and stared at him like he was some kind of an eye candy to witness.

A few steps later, a butler walked past him, giving him a disgusted glare like Ren had just committed a crime against good manners.

Ren blinked, confused. "What the hell…? Why is everyone looking at me like that?"

Maids stared with hungry eyes. Butlers sneered in disapproval.

He frowned. "Did I do something weird? Is there something on my face?"

As he wondered, he noticed someone sitting elegantly at the end of the hallway — a woman, legs crossed, reading through a stack of papers. Her clothes were expensive but professional — a fitted blazer, pencil skirt, and black heels that clicked faintly against the marble floor.

She looked like the epitome of a businesswoman, and a successful one at that.

Even from a distance, Ren could tell she wasn't some random guest. She had the calm, commanding presence of someone used to being obeyed.

"...That must be Anna's mother," Ren guessed quietly. "No way she's her sister. She is not young enough to be a sister."

The woman slowly lifted her gaze from the documents and set them on the table beside her. Her sharp eyes locked onto Ren, scanning him from head to toe.

"So," she spoke with a refined but firm voice, "you must be my daughter's new friend."

Ren hesitated for a second before nodding. "Uh… yes, ma'am."

Her gaze lingered on his chest. A faint twitch formed at the corner of her lips.

"It would be more appropriate," she said coolly, "if you buttoned up your shirt, young man."

Ren blinked, looked down — and realized half his buttons were undone, showing off his toned chest. No wonder everyone had been staring. This was the equivalent of a woman running around a stranger's house with her chest fully exposed, and he finally understood why he had gotten all those weird looks before.

"Ah… right," he muttered quickly, fumbling to fix his shirt. "Sorry. I was just changing earlier — my clothes got wet because of some… water splash thing."

"Of course," the woman said without much interest, setting her cup aside and standing up. She moved with the grace of someone used to authority, her heels clicking rhythmically.

Ren suddenly felt like he was being interrogated. He wasn't sure how to act — polite? casual? friendly? He didn't even know this woman's temperament yet.

Before he could decide, he heard hurried footsteps from behind.

"Ren!"

The familiar voice made him turn instantly. Anna came running down the hallway, her face lit with relief. But the moment she saw the woman standing beside him, she slowed down and straightened her posture.

"Mother…" Anna said cautiously, walking up to them.

Victoria's expression softened only slightly. "You're running again, Anna. Didn't I teach you not to sprint in the halls."

Anna bit her lip and nodded quickly. "Sorry. I was just… looking for Ren. We have more things to study."

Victoria raised a brow. "Study?" She looked at Ren again, clearly unimpressed. "I see. Why didn't you answer my first call? I told you to come and meet me with your friend."

Anna was about to answer, but she was quickly cut off by her mother.

Then she glanced back at her daughter. "Aren't you going to introduce your friend to me?"

Anna hesitated before saying, "Mother, this is Ren. Ren, this is my mother — Victoria Morgenstern."

Ren gave a polite nod. "Nice to meet you, Lady Morgenstern."

Before Anna could lead him away, Victoria's calm voice cut in. "Why don't we have some tea first? It's been too long since we've had proper mother-daughter time."

Anna's shoulders stiffened. "Mother, I—"

"No excuses," Victoria said firmly, motioning toward the sitting area. "Join me."

Ren caught the nervous flicker in Anna's eyes and sighed internally. *So this is the real reason Aria exists inside her…*

A few minutes later, the three of them sat at a polished table as maids served steaming cups of fragrant tea. Victoria elegantly lifted her cup and began talking about the tea's origin — its cultivation in the Morgenstern estates, how their family had a deep tradition with it even before it became fashionable.

"Tea," she explained, "isn't merely a drink. It's an expression of refinement. It's what separates discipline from indulgence."

Ren nodded, sipping his tea. "It's… really good, actually. Smooth."

Victoria smiled faintly. "I'm glad someone appreciates it."

But then her expression shifted. Her eyes sharpened as she looked at Ren directly. "So tell me," she said, setting her cup down, "what is the famous male awakener — and the Lan family's dog — doing in my house?"

The words hit like a slap. Anna froze mid-sip, nearly dropping her cup. Her wide eyes darted toward Ren in panic.

Ren blinked, his smile fading. "...Excuse me?"

Victoria leaned back slightly, watching him with a composed yet dangerous expression. "Don't play innocent. The Lan family is well-known for recruiting talented awakeners. I heard they took a particular liking to you. So tell me — are you here on *their* orders?"

Ren's jaw tightened. He placed his cup on the saucer with a quiet clink.

"With all due respect, Mrs or Miss Morgenstern," he said calmly, "I don't take orders from anyone. Just because the Lan family invited me once doesn't mean I'm anyone's dog."

A brief silence filled the room.

Victoria studied him, her eyes unreadable. Then, in a voice like polished steel, she asked, "Then what are your intentions with my daughter?"

Anna flinched. Ren could feel the tension radiating from her.

This woman wasn't just intimidating — she was suffocating. It was no wonder Anna developed a timid personality whilehiding her bold side with Aria.

Ren exhaled slowly. "My intentions? I'm here because Anna invited me. We're studying together. That's all."

Victoria didn't look convinced. She picked up her cup, took a delicate sip, and said, "Men always say that at first. But I don't see why you would choose my daughter over any of Lan daughters."

Ren stood up, surprising both women. "I don't think I need to explain myself to you. My business is with Anna — not you."

Victoria's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Watch your tone. This is my house."

"And I've respected that," Ren replied evenly. "But respect goes both ways. If you can't offer it, then don't expect it from me."

Anna's eyes darted between them, her heart pounding. No one — no one — ever talked to her mother like that.

Ren extended his hand toward her. "Come on, Anna. Let's go back to your room. We've got a lot more to study."

Victoria's eyebrow twitched. "How dare you speak to me like this in my own house—"

Ren looked back at her with a calm, almost cold gaze. "If you were a bit more respectful, I would've treated you with respect. But I don't owe you my obedience."

Her voice sharpened. "You're overstepping—"

"Then escort me out," Ren interrupted, his tone firm but quiet. "But if you do, that means you've lost, not me. You can't take criticism which is a clear sign of a narcissist."

Victoria froze, momentarily speechless. Her pride as head of the Morgenstern family clashed with the raw defiance in his eyes.

Anna stared in disbelief. She'd never seen anyone talk back to her mother. Not her grandmother. Not even other noblewomen. But this man — this young man simillar to her age — just did it without hesitation.

Ren's outstretched hand waited patiently. "Anna."

For a long second, Anna didn't move. Her hands trembled slightly under the table. Then she took a deep breath, stood up, and placed her hand in his.

Victoria's eyes widened. "Anna—!"

But Anna didn't respond. She simply followed Ren out of the room.

The maids watched silently as the two walked down the hallway, leaving the formidable Victoria Morgenstern sitting alone in her ornate chair, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and fury.

Outside the room, Ren glanced sideways at Anna. "You did good," he said softly. "You chose what's right."

Anna looked at him, her cheeks slightly flushed. "You… really talked back to my mother."

He shrugged with a small grin. "Someone had to. Sorry for saying this...but I don't like that woman."

For a moment, Anna didn't say anything. Then she smiled faintly, her voice quiet but full of emotion.

"I found him," she thought to herself. "The world's strongest… and most handsome man."

Ren chuckled when he noticed her smiling for no reason. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Anna said quickly, shaking her head. "Let's just… go study."

"Right," he replied, smirking. "Though something tells me you're not really thinking about studying right now."

She blushed, looking away. "Ren...I didn't know men were this good at flirting because I heard they are quite dull creatures."

"Not all men are like that darling. I'm special," He laughed softly as they disappeared down the long, maze-like hallway — leaving behind a mansion that, for the first time in years, didn't feel quite as suffocating to Anna.

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