《More Than a Campus Fling》全部章節：第 21 章 - 第 30 章

An Hour Later— TONY’S POV.Tony’s fingers locked around the steering wheel of the black McLaren W1 as he drove home, tendons straining as the car sliced through the quiet, tree-lined roads of Blackwood Institute’s staff quarters, sunlight flickering across his face in sharp, broken patterns. His jaw clenched, a muscle ticking as his eyes stayed fixed ahead, cold and calculating.“Who does Noah think he is?” he muttered, breath tight, thumb tapping restlessly against the leather. “Challenging me so publicly?”His grip tightened, knuckles paling. “It’s time I teach him a lesson.”Then the sudden chime of an incoming call cut through the hum of the engine. Marcus’ name flashed across the central display. Tony tapped it without hesitation. “Yo, bro. What’s up?”“I’m good. Have you seen what Noah said about you at the Northgate Bulls press conference? It’s trending.”“I’ve seen it.”A pause. “You have?”Tony’s lips curled faintly as he turned the wheel smoothly into another road. “Yes.”“S

Fifteen Minutes Later.Vixen Élan— A Luxury High-Fashion Boutique.I remained in the passenger seat, fingers pressed together in my lap as the car rolled smoothly into the parking lot of the store. The building stood tall and polished, glass reflecting the late afternoon sun like it had something to prove. My chest tightened slightly.Not everyone walked in here.Only the ones who mattered.The car came to a slow stop.I barely had time to steady my breath before Tony turned to me, a faint smile resting on his lips, calm but warning.“Play your part, and I’ll play mine,” he said quietly. “Don’t embarrass me.”“Okay,” I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper.He winked— like this was all a game— his gaze shifting away as he shut off the engine.He opened the door on his side and stepped out first.I watched him through the windshield as he walked around the car, composed, effortless. Then my door opened.He stood there, hand stretched out toward me, that same faint smile on his face.

Half An Hour Later.The professor stood at the front, hands loosely clasped, her gaze sweeping across the room. “As you all know, this is your last class this semester. I urge all of you to spend the remaining time you have wisely. I wish you all the best in your exams.”A scattered chorus rose in response, “Thank you, ma’am,” some voices clear and respectful, others distracted, a few students barely glancing up from their notes as their pens continued to move and bags began to zip shut. She gave a small wave, a polite smile lingering on her lips before turning and walking out, the door clicking shut behind her.Almost instantly, the room came alive— chairs scraping against the floor, conversations breaking out, bodies shifting in every direction— yet Lily remained still, her fingers resting on her desk, her posture stiff as her eyes slowly drifted toward the back row where Tony sat exactly as before, relaxed, composed, exuding that effortless confidence that seemed to follow him ever

Tony’s smile widened just a fraction, but he didn’t respond.Jerry leaned forward then, raising an eyebrow, his gaze shifting between both of them. “So I’m the only one not in on this?”“It was never a secret,” Tony replied, his tone easy, dismissive. “The discussion never came up.”Jerry let out a soft scoff and leaned back into his chair, the conversation drifting into something else as time slipped by.The classroom thinned out gradually— voices fading, chairs scraping less and less until silence began to settle in. By the time the last group stepped out, the room was nearly empty, leaving just the three of them still seated, their conversation stretching lazily between them.Marcus stretched his arms slightly before glancing over. “Shouldn’t we be heading to training now?”Tony raised an eyebrow, pulling his phone from his pocket. His thumb tapped the screen, eyes flicking over the time before he let out a small breath. “Training?” he repeated, almost amused. “It’s barely past one

TWO WEEKS LATER. AVA'S FAMILY HOUSE. My eyes parted slowly, settling on the ceiling of my childhood room as I lay on my back, my chest rising and falling in a quiet rhythm. For a moment, I didn’t move. I just stared. Then— I turned slowly onto my side, the sheets shifting softly beneath me as my gaze drifted toward the window. Pale morning light filtered in, calm. It had no idea what kind of weight sat in my chest. A yawn tore through my throat as I stretched, my muscles stiff. From outside my door, I could already hear movement— footsteps passing in the hallway, muffled voices overlapping. Of course… it’s Christmas. Everyone’s awake. Everyone’s happy. I pushed myself up slowly, my feet meeting the cold floor, and walked toward the small mirror hanging beside my window. I stopped in front of it, staring at my reflection. My black hair was scattered messily across my face, my eyes dull, my expression drained. I let out a slow breath, my gaze lingering on my reflection, and then m