Chapter 1

The door creaked open, and two figures stumbled into the room. Both were visibly drunk.

The moment they stepped inside, they started kissing right in the entryway. Their heavy breaths filled the room, thick with heat and desire.

Kelly Valencia gasped as the man effortlessly lifted her into his arms. She curled up against his chest, her petite frame making the contrast between them all the more striking.

He carried her straight to the bed and tossed her onto it. His eyes were bloodshot, and the usual calm in his expression had been replaced by a fire that burned through his every move. His control started slipping away.

…

"Kelly."

"Kelly!"

Kelly jolted awake, drenched in a light sheen of sweat.

There it was again. That dream. It had been over a month, and she was still dreaming about that night almost every single day.

It happened during summer break—on Jude Yarrow's birthday. She had shown up all smiles, only to discover he'd invited not only her but also other classmates from their major… including Celeste Kessler, who was gorgeous.

The two of them sat close, whispering and laughing together like a couple. The others kept glancing at her, clearly curious to see how she'd react.

Though she and Jude were in the same major, they weren't in the same class. Everyone knew she'd had a crush on him for two years. Even Jude was well aware, but he'd never turned her down.

And judging by the looks on everyone's faces, it was clear she was the only one who didn't know about Celeste. He'd been stringing her along while flirting with someone else behind her back.

The way everyone was looking at her stung. Kelly silently vowed to end this ridiculous one-sided crush right then and there.

That night, she had a few too many drinks because of the anger building up inside her.

While heading to the restroom, she accidentally bumped into someone. When she looked up, her eyes met a pair far deeper and more intense than Jude's. He was far more handsome too—more rugged and masculine.

Before she knew what she was doing, she grabbed him by the collar and whispered, "Do you want to have some fun with me?"

The next thing she knew, things had spiraled out of control. They entered a hotel room and spent an unforgettable night together.

Alcohol might've given her liquid courage, but when she woke up the next morning to find herself naked in bed with a complete stranger, she was shell-shocked. Kelly threw on her clothes and fled without a backward glance.

She knew she'd made a huge mistake—one she couldn't talk to anyone about. She didn't dare to find out who the man was either.

Yet, the memory haunted her. Even a month later, she dreamed about it almost every night—the tangled bodies, the heavy breaths, and those deep, intense eyes…

"Hurry up, Kelly! Stop spacing out! Do you want to be late on the first day of school?" Melissa Murray's voice snapped Kelly back to reality. She shook off the lingering fragments of the dream and scrambled out of bed.

After washing up, she grabbed her books and rushed off to class with Melissa.

"Slow down, will you?" Kelly huffed, struggling to keep up with her.

"We have anatomy class today, remember?" Melissa responded. "You've been so out of it lately that you barely remember anything."

Oh, right. Word around campus was that their school had spent a lot to hire an incredible anatomy professor—a prodigy who had graduated from Johns Research University. The guy was apparently so impressive that they had hired him straight away, making him the youngest professor in the history of the medical school.

Because the professor had some personal issues to deal with and couldn't arrive on time, the school had no choice but to postpone the anatomy course by more than a month. Now that the national holidays were over, today was finally their first class with him.

"Guess what? A few students have already met the professor this morning!" Melissa gushed. "I heard he's unbelievably good-looking, so much so that everyone's talking about it in the group chat. People are actually regretting not signing up for his class."

Melissa tugged on Kelly's arm. "Hurry up, or we won't even be able to squeeze into the lecture hall!"

That had to be an exaggeration. They were already in their third year, and this was just the first class. Most students who couldn't get up on time would have their roommates sign in for them. Empty classrooms with full attendance lists were nothing new.

But the moment they reached the lecture hall and saw the massive crowd, Kelly was shocked. The place was packed like a mob fighting over free eggs at a supermarket.

Melissa didn't look surprised at all. "The professor's handsome and from a prestigious school. This is basically a fan meet."

Dragging Kelly along, she weaved through the crowd. "Excuse us, real students coming through! If you're just here to fangirl, at least leave us some seats!"

It took a while, but they managed to snag two spots. As soon as they sat down, Melissa noticed something and scowled. "Ugh, what a mood killer."

Kelly followed her gaze and spotted Jude and Celeste seated just ahead of them. Some of the major courses were held in large lecture halls with students from several classes, but still, she didn't think she'd run into them that day.

Jude leaned in close to Celeste, whispering something in her ear that made her giggle behind her hand.

Melissa sighed when she noticed Kelly staring at them. "No wonder you've been out of it lately. It sucks when the person you've crushed on for two years starts seeing someone else."

As soon as her words fell, Kelly looked at her in disbelief. "They're seeing each other?"

"Yeah. They made it official on his birthday. Why does it seem like you're only just hearing about this?"

"I did just find out," Kelly muttered.

Melissa tilted her head. "Then, why have you been moping around?" It had been almost a month since school started, and she had noticed Kelly wasn't quite herself.

Kelly fell silent. She couldn't exactly admit it was because she'd slept with a stranger.

Melissa took her silence as denial and patted her shoulder. "It's fine. I believe you."

Kelly was rendered speechless. After all, she did just find out.

"I don't even get what you see in Jude," Melissa added. "Sure, he's good-looking and has decent grades, but he's still a jerk! There are way better guys out there. Like the new professor, for example; he'd easily outshine Jude. Maybe you should go for someone else, Kelly."

Kelly looked at her, baffled. "Go for who?"

"The new professor, of course," Melissa teased.

"Melissa really had no filter," Kelly thought.

Then, she gave Melissa a light smack on the head and said, "You're unbelievable!"

Right then, the classroom buzzed with excitement. "He's here! The professor's here!"

The whole room turned into a sea of craning necks and hushed excitement. Kelly was no exception. She was curious to see what all the fuss was about.

Was he really that good looking? What, did he have a third eye or something?

Then, a tall figure appeared in the doorway. He was tall and lean, and his features were striking—clean-cut, sharp jawline, perfectly straight nose, full lips, and eyes so deep it felt like he could see straight through anyone. His graceful, refined presence felt like a breath of fresh air.

Melissa heard Kelly suck in a breath. "See? I wasn't exaggerating. He's gorgeous!"

However, Kelly had already slumped forward onto the desk like her soul had just left her body.

Chapter 2

What was one supposed to do upon finding out the person they'd had a one-night stand with was their professor?

At that moment, Kelly felt utter despair.

Melissa, still buzzing with excitement, looked down and noticed Kelly slumped over her desk like the world had ended. "What's wrong, Kelly? You look like you just swallowed a pile of crap."

Honestly? Kelly would've taken that over this.

"Melissa," she croaked, almost in tears. "I'm done for. I'm absolutely, completely done for."

"Why?" Melissa asked, confused.

Just then, a calm, clear voice echoed from the stage. "Settle down."

His voice sounded just like that man's from that night.

Kelly's last shred of hope was crushed. It really was him. Even though it had been raspier that night, she'd recognize it anywhere.

The classroom went dead silent in an instant. It was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

The man's pleasant voice came through the microphone, filling every corner of the room. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Leon Butler, and I'll be teaching you anatomy this semester."

"Whoa!"

"Oh my god…"

As soon as his words fell, the room erupted into excited squeals.

At that moment, Kelly realized how her feelings at that time were different from those of others. She thought her eardrums might actually burst when Melissa started screaming like a fangirl beside her.

Leon raised his hand, and the students immediately quieted down. "Alright. Without further ado, let's dive into a brief overview of the fundamentals of human anatomy."

The projector screen flickered to life with a PowerPoint slide. Leon stood tall and poised, like a snow-dusted pine tree in winter—elegant, composed, and effortlessly drawing everyone's attention.

"Anatomy is the scientific study of the structure of the human body. Through observation, microscopy, and imaging, we explore the shape, placement, relationships, and development of human organs and tissues…"

His voice was calm and steady as it filled the classroom, and every student listened as if it were the most important lecture of their lives. This was true for every student except Kelly, who squirmed in her seat, unable to focus on a single thing he said.

Melissa noticed how fidgety Kelly was and whispered in her ear, "What's with you? Do you have hemorrhoids or something? Why are you squirming?"

Why was she so uncouth? Kelly, who had been huddled in her seat, too afraid to look up, finally straightened up, her back aching from the awkward position.

However, as soon as she lifted her head, her eyes locked with Leon's. For a second, her mind went blank. Meanwhile, Leon paused mid-sentence, his eyes trained in her direction.

"What's going on?"

"Why did the professor stop?"

The class murmured in confusion.

Melissa tugged on Kelly's sleeve and whispered, "Is it just me, or is the professor looking straight at you?"

Kelly snapped out of it and pretended to look behind her. "No way! He's probably looking at someone behind me. Maybe they were distracted in class and got caught," she said with a strained smile.

Leon's eyes flickered for a brief moment—almost imperceptibly—but he quickly composed himself and picked up where he left off. No one noticed how tightly he was gripping the laser pointer, his knuckles turning white.

Did he recognize her? Probably not… right? Kelly wasn't sure, but she hoped the professor didn't remember her.

"Please, please, please, God," she prayed inwardly.

Just then, Leon's voice sounded. "Alright, you there, in the third row from the back, fifth seat from the right—the young lady in the gray jacket. Can you answer the question I just asked?"

He was so precise, like he had the accuracy of pi down to the last decimal.

Kelly was caught off guard as everyone's eyes turned to her in unison. When she looked up, she met Leon's deep gaze. Was it too late to take off her gray jacket now?

Bewildered, she stood up.

With a gentle smile, Leon said, "Please answer the question I just asked."

Kelly had no idea what the question was. She'd been completely out of it since the start of the class. Her mind was blank, so she asked, "W-What's the question again?"

Snickers echoed around the room.

Leon seemed to have endless patience as he reiterated, "I asked about the most commonly used staining method for paraffin sections. We covered it just a few minutes ago."

Kelly looked to Melissa for help. Melissa silently mouthed the answer, but she couldn't make out a thing. Hence, she murmured, "I… don't know."

He looked at her calmly. "What's your name?"

Oh no. Kelly had a feeling that the question was just an excuse. What he really wanted to find out was her name. She almost blurted out a fake name, but she chickened out.

"My name is Kelly Valencia," she answered meekly.

A flicker of something unreadable crossed Leon's eyes. "So, Kelly, is that right?"

She couldn't even look him in the eye, and her scalp tingled with nerves.

"Spacing out in my very first class," Leon said lightly. "Drop by my office after class."

Kelly's heart sank. "Yes, Professor Butler."

Then, she sank back into her seat, feeling an overwhelming sense of dread.

"Don't worry, Kelly. He seems super gentle. He definitely won't do anything to you," Melissa whispered, attempting to comfort her.

Kelly remained completely still.

Gentle? Hah, he'd been anything but that in bed.

Melissa added, "Besides, now you've got an excuse to talk to him alone. It's a win-win situation!"

But Kelly didn't want that; anyone who wanted that opportunity could take it instead.

The class finally came to an end. Leon packed up and walked out, leaving behind a room full of giddy students raving about how good looking he was and how dreamy his voice sounded.

In the past, Kelly would have been part of that buzz. But at that moment, she couldn't bring herself to smile.

"Melissa," Kelly called out, grabbing Melissa's hand. "If anything happens to me… burn me a copy of the ending of The King of Pirates."

With that, she turned and walked away with a determined look.

Melissa stared after her, dumbfounded. Kelly was just going to meet their professor. Why did it seem like she was going off to face certain death? The professor would just reprimand her; he wouldn't eat her.

…

Kelly stood nervously outside Leon's office. She raised her hand to knock on the door, only to drop it again. After a few moments of hesitation, she resolved herself.

Whatever. It was better to just get this over with. Besides, as long as she kept denying it, he couldn't prove she was that woman from the other night.

She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Soon, Leon's calm and soothing voice came from inside. "Come in."

As she pushed the door open, her heart was pounding so loud it drowned out everything else.

Chapter 3

Leon sat by the window, the sunlight casting a soft glow across his perfectly sculpted features. His eyes, narrow and thoughtful, held a curious mix of warmth and cool indifference, making him incredibly alluring. The slight bump along the bridge of his nose gave him a unique look. At that moment, it felt as if even the sunlight outside favored him.

Kelly gasped the second she laid eyes on him.

"Holy shit, he's hot," she thought. But then she reminded herself that this was not the time to swoon over him.

"Professor Butler," she called out nervously. Then, she dropped her gaze immediately. It was as if she had done something wrong, but she was just trying to hide her own unease.

Leon, on the other hand, was calm and composed. He simply pointed to the chair across from him and said, "Have a seat."

However, Kelly smiled sheepishly and declined his offer. She said, "N-No, it's okay, Professor Butler. I'll just stand here."

Leon had already risen to his feet. He towered over her, and she had to tilt her head just to look him in the eye.

"So, what was it that had you so distracted during class?" he asked casually, as if he was genuinely curious.

Of course, Kelly couldn't tell him the truth.

After a brief mental scramble, she blurted out, "I just… didn't sleep well last night." Then, she hastily added, "I'm sorry, Professor Butler. It won't happen again!"

Whether he believed her or not, she couldn't tell. He walked over to a little drink station, unwrapped a cup of instant milk powder, and slowly poured in some hot water.

The way he moved—unhurried, elegant, and graceful—was oddly soothing to watch. Even the rising steam looked like it belonged in an aesthetic commercial.

"I've just returned from abroad, and I'm still figuring out how things are done here. If my class is boring, I hope you'll tell me."

All of a sudden, Kelly felt guilty and ashamed for disrespecting someone like Leon, who was both attractive and humble.

"N-Not at all! You're doing great, Professor Butler," she hastily responded. She hadn't exactly paid attention in class, but judging by her classmates' reactions, he had definitely done a good job.

Leon smiled. "That's good to hear."

With that, he handed her the cup of milk he had just prepared.

His fingers were well-defined, and his nails were neatly trimmed, clean, and smooth. "This is from another professor. I figured kids your age like them."

Did he just call her a kid? Kelly felt her cheeks flush as she reached out to take it.

"Thank you, Professor Butler."

The cup was warm but not hot enough to burn her hands. The scent of creamy milk drifted up with the steam.

From the moment she walked in, her whole body had been tense like a coiled spring. However, he hadn't mentioned that night at all. His calm tone, the casual conversation, and the warmth of the drink slowly eased her nerves.

Kelly lowered her head and took a sip. The sweetness spread across her tongue.

Just then, Leon's voice sounded. "It was you that night, wasn't it?"

His words hit her like a thunderclap. Her head snapped up, locking eyes with his. His gaze was intense, and it felt like he could see right through her.

That was when she realized that he had been chatting with her and making her the hot milk in order to lull her into letting her guard down. Kelly almost choked on the drink.

Leon calmly handed her a tissue like he'd been expecting that. Kelly accepted it, dabbed at her lips in a panic, and denied it as soon as she calmed down.

She said, "It wasn't me! I wasn't there."

Leon narrowed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I never said which night I was referring to… or what happened."

Kelly realized she'd outed herself and panicked. The drink in her hand suddenly didn't taste as good anymore. "I have no idea what you're referring to, Professor Butler. But I'm sure it wasn't me, which is why I'm denying it."

Leon's expression didn't change as he abruptly reached for her hand. His fingers wrapped gently around her wrist, and the moment their skin touched, Kelly jolted, as though she had been burned.

What was he trying to do?

Her heart raced.

"I remember you have a mole on your palm."

After saying that, he turned her hand over. Sure enough, there was a mole in the center of her palm.

Busted. Leon lifted his gaze and looked at her. "Well, what do you have to say for yourself?"

Kelly immediately felt like there was nowhere to hide. To be honest, she could have easily played dumb. After all, she wasn't the only woman with a mole on her palm.

However, his presence was too overwhelming, and he was her professor. Plus, the way he looked at her—so calm and so sure—she knew that Leon was sure that the woman was her.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she choked out, "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry, Professor Butler. I shouldn't have had a one-night stand with a stranger. I made a huge mistake.

"Can we just… pretend it never happened? Please? I promise I won't do it again!" Kelly felt like she was about to have a meltdown. Before her tears could fall, she spun around and bolted out the door.

The door slammed shut behind her.

Leon stood frozen, a little stunned. He hadn't even gotten the chance to say anything yet, and she had already run off.

Honestly, all he wanted was to talk. He wanted to figure out how they were going to handle this situation. It wasn't like this had ever happened to him before either.

He was allergic to alcohol and never drank. However, that night, his friends had thrown him a welcome party, and he had accidentally picked up someone else's drink. He had only realized it was alcohol after taking a sip.

Not long after, his body started heating up, so he went to the restroom to splash some cold water on his face to clear his head. But before he knew it, a young woman had crashed into his arms, looking up at him with big, teary eyes.

Perhaps the alcohol was to blame, but he ended up making the biggest mistake of his life. He lost control for the first time and had sex with a stranger. When he woke up the next morning, she was gone.

He had tried to look for her. The stain on the sheets—the fact that she'd clearly been a virgin—weighed on him. He could tell that he was older than her, and he wanted to take responsibility for his actions.

But he hadn't expected her to be his student. The realization made him lose his composure in class. And judging from the way she had run away, she was even more panicked than he was.

Chapter 4

On her way back to class, Kelly ran into Jude and a few of his friends. Jude was taller than them, and his good looks made him stand out from the rest. They hadn't noticed her walking a short distance behind them.

"Jude, I heard your little shadow hasn't talked to you before the semester started."

"She probably heard you got a girlfriend and had her heart broken."

"She even spaced out during Professor Butler's class today. I bet it's because you and Celeste were sitting right in front of her. she must've been so upset." one of them laughed.

That was when Kelly realized they were talking about her.

She and Jude had always been in the top ten of their grade. She'd genuinely enjoyed studying with him, and she'd sought him out often because she liked him. She had no idea that in his friends' eyes, she'd been nothing more than a clingy tagalong.

Kelly couldn't help but feel the sharp sting of irony. If they saw her that way, chances were Jude did too.

But then why hadn't he ever turned her down? He'd always said yes when she invited him to study with her. They got along well when they worked together. It made her believe she had a chance.

Just then, Jude said, "Don't bring her up in front of Celeste again. You know she doesn't like Kelly."

"Yeah, yeah," one of his friends responded. "Celeste's your girlfriend now."

"I have to say, you're a lucky guy. You have a gorgeous girlfriend like Celeste and a smart woman like Kelly crushing on you. Why don't you just date both of them?"

"Shut up." Jude chuckled. "Kelly's just a friend."

"You see her as a friend, but she wants to be your girlfriend."

"Do you think she still likes Jude? Maybe she's just keeping it on the down-low, waiting for Jude to break up with Celeste."

"What if he never does?"

"Then, she'll just wait for him forever!" His friend laughed.

"What is this, a soap opera?"

"How about we make a bet? How many years do you think Kelly will stay single for Jude?"

"A year? Two years? Five Years?"

"Alright, alright, knock it off," Jude cut them off. But he didn't sound all that annoyed. In fact, there was a smirk playing on his lips, like the attention fed his ego—as if a girl staying single for him was a badge of honor.

Their figures gradually faded into the distance, and Kelly unconsciously clenched her fist as she stood frozen in place. Realizing who someone truly was at such a small price wasn't a bad thing.

The day had already been brutal. First, she'd found out the man she'd slept with was actually her professor. Now, she was hearing her crush mock her behind her back with his friends—confirming that the one-sided love she'd carried for two years had meant nothing.

After class, she asked Melissa to take her books back to the dorm while she went to work at The Sippery.

"You've been working part-time every day since you were a freshman, and you skip evening classes… Yet, you still manage to stay in the top ten? Seriously, I admire you," Melissa said as she watched Kelly pack.

"I don't have a choice. I need to earn my own living."

Melissa, having been friends with her for years, knew a bit about her family situation. "Your parents are unbelievable. They completely overlook their incredible daughter but keep trying to help their son, who's hopeless."

After saying that, she realized she was insulting Kelly's family, so she hurriedly added, "I'm sorry, Kelly. I didn't mean it like that."

Kelly smiled at her. "It's fine. I know you meant well. I'm running late, so I have to go!" With that, she slung her backpack over her shoulder and headed out the gate.

The walk to The Sippery was one she'd taken a hundred times over the past year. Every evening, while her classmates were attending evening classes, she was behind a counter taking orders. Her dorm light often stayed on until midnight, long after others had fallen asleep.

Everyone thought she earned her scholarship without breaking a sweat, but only she knew the hardships she had endured to earn it.

When she arrived at The Sippery, she changed into her uniform and took over her coworker's shift. She might've been a part-timer, but after more than a year on the job, she was basically treated like a full-time employee.

It wasn't a particularly busy night, so after chatting with her coworker, she went to the restroom. As she rose from the toilet, a wave of dizziness hit her. The world spun, and she had to press her hand to the wall to steady herself.

Her heart was racing. And then it hit her. She hadn't had her period this month.

No way. That was impossible. Kelly was certain that Leon had used a condom that night. If he hadn't, she never would've gone through with it.

Unless… the condom broke? Her heart lurched.

The moment her shift ended, she rushed to a drugstore to buy a pregnancy test. She couldn't risk anyone seeing her, so she booked a ride to a drugstore that was far from campus.

Kelly held the pregnancy test in her trembling hands, her nerves getting the best of her. As she waited for the result, she crouched in the restroom, her hands clasped tightly as she silently prayed, "Please, don't let this be true. I promise I won't do this again. Please, don't let this happen to me. Dear gods, goddesses, deities, anyone, please help me…"

Kelly silently called upon every higher being she could think of before opening her eyes. When she saw the two red lines on the pregnancy test, she felt like the walls were closing in on her.

This was really happening. She was pregnant. She was absolutely screwed.

Chapter 5

Kelly was paying the price for her momentary lapse in judgment. Over the next few days, she felt like a shell of herself—like someone else had taken over her body.

She hadn't even graduated college yet. There was no way she could keep the baby. But she was too afraid to tell her parents.

However, she would need her parents' consent to get an abortion. Plus, she'd need time to recover afterward. If anyone at school found out, her academic future would be over.

For the first time in her life, she felt a fear so real and raw it left her paralyzed. Even Melissa had started noticing that something was off.

"What's going on, Kelly?" she asked.

Kelly's face had been pale for days, and her mind was scattered, as if she was a lost soul.

Kelly shook her head weakly. "I'm fine."

She was anything but fine.

"If something's going on, tell me. We'll figure it out together." Melissa hesitated for a second before asking, "Is this about Jude?"

Jude wasn't even a blip on Kelly's radar anymore. Melissa was still a student, and Kelly didn't want to worry her.

So, she forced a smile and reassured her, "I'm fine, really. Don't worry."

Melissa didn't push further. So, she tried to change the subject. "We have Professor Butler's class later. Let's head over early to snag the best seats."

To her surprise, Kelly seemed reluctant. "Can I… maybe skip class today?"

"No can do. You know how strict Professor Butler is. He takes the attendance for every single class. Honestly, it's kind of overkill. I can't speak for other classes, but no one dares skip his lectures."

Kelly was about to be the first. But she didn't have the guts to go through with it. She hadn't skipped a single class in two years, and now that Leon knew who she was, having Melissa sign in for her would be like handing herself over on a silver platter.

Before class even started, Melissa dragged her to the lecture hall. As luck would have it, they ended up snagging seats in the front row.

"Why don't we sit in the back instead, Melissa? There are still seats back there," Kelly suggested.

"No way! This spot is perfect." Melissa sat her ass down. "We'll get to enjoy Professor Butler's good looks up close!"

Kelly thought about slipping to the back alone, but when she turned around, she noticed that all the seats were already taken. She had no choice but to sit down in the front.

Soon, the bell rang. Kelly hid behind Melissa, attempting to make herself as invisible as possible.

Leon walked in right on time—tall, sharp, and perfectly composed. His beige trench coat made him look like he'd walked out of a high-fashion editorial. His sharp eyes and brows, along with his striking features, gave him an air of calm and serenity.

The whole room went silent the moment he stepped up to the podium. He briefly scanned the students before announcing, "Let's begin."

This time, Kelly didn't dare let her mind wander, jotting down every important detail Leon taught in her notebook. Without realizing it, her eyes couldn't help but follow his every move.

Leon was easily the most charismatic person she had ever met. There was a quiet strength about him, something refined and effortlessly compelling.

He didn't just teach; he explained things with ease and clarity, making complex ideas simple to grasp. The entire class hung on his every word.

Kelly found herself completely absorbed. Her gaze stayed fixed on him until he looked over and their eyes met. Kelly snapped back to reality and hurriedly lowered her gaze.

All of a sudden, she wondered how Leon would feel if he knew she was pregnant. He was the child's biological father, after all. Should she tell him?

Kelly bit her lip, torn. She didn't want to be tied to him, not any more than she already was.

Finally, the bell rang. Leon closed the presentation and said, "That's all for today. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask me right now."

"I have a question, Professor Butler!"

"Me too!"

In an instant, a few students gathered around Leon, and as he answered their questions, his eyes flicked toward the front row. Kelly was already halfway to the door, her backpack slung over her shoulder like she was fleeing a crime scene.

This wasn't the first time, either. They'd crossed paths on campus twice this week. Each time, as soon as she spotted him from a distance, she took off like a deer caught in headlights. It was obvious that she was avoiding him.

He'd looked into her student file. She was 21 years old, had perfect attendance for two years, was consistently ranked in the top ten of her grade, and received a scholarship every year. She was a model student by every standard.

He lowered his gaze and shifted his attention back to the students in front of him.

…

Kelly didn't usually go home on weekends, but with everything that had happened recently, she felt unsettled and hoped to find some comfort at home. So, she returned home on Friday evening.

As soon as she opened the door, the mouthwatering aroma of stir-fried food hit her, and she heard her mother, Helena Lancaster's, voice from the kitchen. "Is that you, Jackson? Dinner's almost ready. Just give me a few more minutes."

Kelly set her backpack down and walked to the kitchen door. "Mom, it's me."

Helena turned around, spatula in hand, and froze when she saw her. "What are you doing here?"

"It's the weekend," Kelly explained.

Helena frowned. "You should've told me you were coming back. I didn't prepare dinner for you."

"I told you yesterday."

"Did you?" Helena responded dismissively. "Well, I must have forgotten. I don't keep track of this kind of thing. You're hardly ever home anyway."

Kelly fell silent. Melissa's parents would always call before the weekend to see if she was coming home for dinner. In this household, she felt like she barely mattered.

"Don't just stand there! Go set the table. Also, call your dad and ask him to bring home some pasta."

"Oh, okay." Kelly hastily washed her hands, brought the dishes out, and called her father, William Valencia.

As soon as the food was ready, William walked in with a takeout box. He kicked off his shoes and started grumbling,

"You should've told me you were coming home! Pasta is so expensive these days. Even the takeout boxes cost extra. This stupid little box cost four dollars… We could've bought burgers for the whole family with that!"

"Everything's getting more expensive, but your salary isn't going anywhere. We're barely making ends meet here!" Helena snatched the takeout box from him. "Why did you pay for a box? The plastic bags are clean enough. Next time, just use those!"