Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 1

By the time I made it to the alumni gathering, everyone was already having a blast.

Among the crowd, Hogan Zade sat solemnly at a round table, bathed in the halo of light refracted from the chandelier above. His prominent nose and sharp features looked as if chiseled from fine jade – cool, aloof, and impeccable.

Next to him was a girl with a pretty face.

His hand rested casually behind her, every move he made was filled with tenderness.

The bottle for truth or dare just happened to point at the girl.

A busybody, eager to stir the pot, said in a pleasing tone, “Pick someone of the opposite sex here and kiss for two minutes.”

After hearing this, the girl shyly bowed her head and gave Hogan a look that practically screamed ‘rescue me‘, and no one’s heart would not go out to her.

Hogan shot the crowd a look, and in a soft voice said, “Cut it out, she’s shy.”

When he said ‘cut it out‘, nobody dared to push her further. But out of respect for the game rules, Hogan still downed his drink.

It was pretty clear he was looking out for her.

The teasing and jeering continued, but nobody noticed me standing in the corner.

I touched the scar on my wrist, turning away quietly.

“Xaviera, did you just get here?” Darren Yearwood, the class rep, asked, drawing everyone’s

attention.

“It’s Hogan’s wife.”

I once wore with pride now

instant, all eyes were on me. I forced a smile and said calmly.

No response.

room fell into an

hear a

now. Who would bother with

was

side broke the ice. “I know you, Xaviera March, the famous top student belle

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11:35

Chapter 1

spoke so softly,

I’m Cecilia Irwin, also from the computer science department,” she introduced. herself. Then, turning to Hogan, she whispered, “Hogan,

said with a nonchalant tone,

Insignificant.

that was how Hogan

I thought about it,

I never had the chance to sit by his

acknowledged me, let alone

thought Hogan, being

we

were surrounded by people at

voice, “I told you to drink less, you see, you’re uncomfortable now, right?” Hogan’s response was on point. “You

walk me out, it hurts

her laugh through her tears