Chapter 210

Audrey

“Audrey! Wait!”

Edwin’s voice echoed down the bond, but I didn’t-couldn’t-stop. I needed air, needed to breathe.

My feet carried me forward, tears blurring my vision as I pushed past startled students and faculty. Finally, I came to a door leading outside, and the cool morning air hit me like a brick wall. It was all I could do to stagger off to the side and breathe deeply, my lungs struggling to take it all in.

Mr. Black had sabotaged me yet again… But why? Was he still trying to get back at me for what had happened last year, or was this something else?

Suddenly, Edwin burst out into the courtyard after me and grabbed my wrist before I could slip away again.

“Audrey-”

“I don’t want to talk,” I choked out around the lump in my throat. “Just leave me.”

Edwin frowned, his grip tightening on my wrist. “No. Tell me what happened.”

I turned to face him, my chest heaving with sobs I could no longer contain. Despite the warm, sunny spring morning, my body felt chilled to the bone.

“There will be no celebratory date tonight,” I managed bitterly. “I… I failed my presentation. I have to repeat my last semester.”

Edwin’s gray eyes widened in disbelief. “What? How is that possible? Your work is always incredible.”

Through my tears, I recounted what had happened with Mr. Black, the doctored photos, and the other judges’ reactions. Edwin’s expression darkened with each word, his jaw clenching in anger. I could feel his fury through our bond, his need for

Justice

“This is ridiculous,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “I’m going to go talk to them right now. They’ll change their minds once I explain what’s really going on. That bastard is clearly up to something, and I won’t let him get away with it.”

But as Edwin turned on his heel to storm back to the presentation room, I grabbed his arm, feeling the muscles tense under my touch.

passing students turned to look, and I lowered my voice, feeling fresh heat rise to my cheeks. “No. You promised you would stop

isn’t fair. I can’t just stand by and watch you suffer for something that

I interrupted, wiping away my tears with the back of my hand. “What sort of reputation will that give me? People know enough about

jaw clenched, a muscle twitching beneath his skin. Finally, after a moment, he nodded, although I could see the reluctance in his eyes. “If that’s what you want, very well,” he said, his voice tight. “But if they don’t listen to you, I’m stepping in.

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Chapter 210

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the next day, or… I don’t know. But I can’t go back there right now.” I shivered at the memory of Judge

moment he thought I was grabbing his wrist for some

that date,

my knees trembling slightly. “I hope you understand if I’m not

you in the mood

a blanket and hiding from

can do that if you want, but can we at

who had been silent for so long, suddenly

felt my resolve crumble. I missed him, too. “Okay,”

away from the building. The

Everything was exactly as I remembered it, from the soft throw pillows on the couch to the faint scent of

I felt a bit of tension bleed

don’t have any of my stuff here anymore, I realized out loud,

his bedroom, returning a moment later with one of his shirts. “Here,” he said, handing it to me.

began to undress right there in the living room. It wasn’t until I had. my blouse hat

realized what I was doing. I looked up to see Edwin’s eyes

of passion that I sorely missed, sorely needed. It would be so easy to run to him right now, to fall into bed with his arms around me and let him take me into a world of

had for desire was quickly extinguished by the weight of my sadness. I was too drained, too heartbroken to feel aroused, even as Edwin’s gray eyes lazily traced the curves of my body for

him. I then curled up on the couch beneath a soft

hand gently stroking my hair. “I’ll be back soon, okay?

even speak. As the door closed behind him, I let out a shaky breath, trying to hold back a fresh wave

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