Chapter 8

The driver held the hundred-dollar bill in his hand, opened his mouth as if to call out, but in just a few seconds, the girl had already darted away. With a sigh and a shake of his head, he muttered, "Young girls these days, way too impatient." He didn't even get the chance to let her know her lips looked a bit swollen. Hopefully, it was nothing serious... Meanwhile, Anna was clueless about her slightly puffy lips, dashing across campus in her flats like she was on a mission. From a distance, she saw a crowd gathering and immediately made her way over without thinking twice. "Excuse me, coming through," she squeezed in like a little fish wriggling through the water. Accidentally bumping into a couple of people didn't faze her—she just flashed a sweet smile. And anyone who was ready to get annoyed couldn't hold onto their temper after seeing that bright, cheerful face. She hadn't even made it to the front when a loud, feisty voice rang out. "Ethan, you coward! Hiding behind your bodyguards like some scaredy-cat. Why don't you grow a spine and face me one-on-one? I swear I'll stomp you flat like a pancake!" That fire, that attitude—yep, definitely Sophia. Sophia, dressed head to toe in bold red, stood in heels just as fiery. Her long golden waves spilled down her back, curves perfectly outlined, giving off a sort of wild beauty. Her striking face was almost too stunning—like one of those mythical enchantresses people talk about. She stood there like a mafia matriarch: left hand on her hip, right hand gripping a knife like she meant business. Anna twitched her lips at the sight, but she finally felt a bit more at ease. She pushed all the way to the front in a few quick steps and rushed to Sophia's side. "You okay? Did he hurt you?" She frowned, grabbing Sophia's arm to check up and down. Her eyes were filled with concern, like she couldn't even see Ethan standing so close. "Anna." Ethan stepped past his bodyguards, stopping right in front of her, calling her name softly. Anna's hand moved slightly in Sophia's grasp, but she kept her head down. "Anna, your roommate said you didn't come back at all last night. Where were you?" Seeing that she was ignoring him completely, Ethan grew a little irritated and his tone took a sharp turn, laced with doubt. Wow. He really had the nerve to question her first. Classic move—playing the victim when he's clearly in the wrong.Anna felt like someone had jabbed a needle right into her chest. It stung, bad enough to make her suck in a breath. "Ethan, how do you even have the nerve—" Sophia snapped, stepping forward as if ready to explode, but Anna reached out quickly and stopped her, shaking her head gently. Her eyes flicked over, finally landing on the man standing there. Tall—probably over six feet—wearing some expensive outfit like he just stepped out of a magazine. Looked decent on the outside, sure, but what he did? Totally another story. Her face turned serious. Those usually bright eyes now looked fogged over, distant, cold. "Ethan, I think we need to sit down and talk." They'd been dating for over a year, and Ethan was used to her bubbly, always-smiling attitude. Seeing her like this—for real grim—kind of threw him off. "Let's find somewhere quiet, unless you're really up for a public breakup scene." Anna barely lifted her eyelids, dropped that line, then turned around straight-backed, pushing through the crowd without a look back. ... Anna hadn't walked far before Ethan caught up to her. She stood there in a white dress, long hair flowing, as pretty as ever, and when she saw him coming, she even gave him a soft smile. Just like that, the anxiety building in him faded. "Anna, how about we grab something to eat? There's a new spot on Hawthorne Road that's supposed to be amazing." He flashed what he assumed was a winning smile before reaching out to pull her in. Anna, however, stepped back. Just a couple inches, but enough to dodge his touch. Still smiling, she locked eyes with Ethan and then, with a teasing glint, scrunched her nose: "You smell weird." Weird? Ethan raised a brow, brought his arm up to sniff, then suddenly got it. "Oh... it's a new Dior fragrance, limited edition. If you're not into it, I can switch it up. You like TOMFORD? Or LV?" Anna's expression was all sweet and innocent as she gently wagged a finger and cut him off, "No, no. I'm not talking about your perfume. I mean the stink of desperation."