Chapter 3

Elara POV

Their conversation made my heart clench.

Then, I heard Adrian slowly say, "Since she loves me, marrying her is the best way I can repay her."

A dull ache squeezed my chest, as if something was blocking my breath.

Turns out, he, this towering figure, had never truly responded to me.

He was with me only out of obligation.

"What about Chloe?" Dr. Miller's probing voice came again. "You've never taken on students all these years, but you made her your student, showing her the most special attention and care. Do you... do you like her?"

This time, Adrian didn't answer because his phone rang.

"Chloe?" Adrian answered the call. I don't know what Chloe said on the other end, but his tone shifted slightly. "Don't be nervous. Just stay where you are and wait for me. I'll be right there!"

He hurried out of the lab, comforting Chloe on the phone, not even noticing when his shoulder bumped into me by the door.

I stumbled two steps before steadying myself, turning to watch his tall back disappear without a glance.

My chest was filled with an unspeakable mockery and sharp pain.

My fiancé was tense and concerned about his student, completely oblivious to my presence.

All of this was simply because he didn't love me.

The one who could make his heart race was Chloe, bright as the midday sun.

Chloe was the daughter of Adrian's former mentor and now his graduate student, having joined his university three months ago.

She was like the wind through the mountains, vibrant, reckless, and uninhibited.

She would directly snatch the pen from Adrian's hand and scribble all over his papers; she'd offer him a bite of her apple, insisting he try it; she'd even creep up and whack him hard on the back when he was deep in thought, then laugh wildly at his startled reaction.

And Adrian, from the initial stiffness at her touch, grew increasingly lenient with her boundary-crossing closeness.

He tolerated her messing up his neat and tidy desk; he'd accept a sip from her coffee; and when she laughed happily, his eyes would show a glint of indulgent affection.

Just last night, I even saw it with my own eyes.

Chloe suddenly stood on her tiptoes in the lab and kissed Adrian's cheek.

Adrian, who would instinctively recoil if I got within three feet of him; Adrian, who, after six months of dating, had only held my hand or hugged me a handful of times, only froze for a moment.

Then, his ears flushed, and he didn't pull away from Chloe.

I used to think his discomfort with closeness was just his naturally aloof and introverted personality.

It was only then that I realized Adrian, when his heart was truly stirred, would also act clumsy like any other man, he'd blush, his heart would race, and all his principles would vanish.

If that's the case, why should I continue to hold the title of his fiancée?

I had intended to tell Adrian about my plan to go to Africa, but I waited in the lab all day, and he never returned that evening.

Finally, I couldn't help but call him.

"Elara?"

The phone rang for a long time before he picked up, Adrian's deep voice greeting me.

I held my phone. "When are you coming back to the lab? I have something to tell you."

"If it's not super important, let's talk tomorrow."

I felt what I had to say was important.

After all, I was canceling our wedding and setting him free.

But before I could speak, he continued in a soft, gentle voice, "Chloe had an accident. Her car collided with another, she was shaken up, and the other party wanted to press charges. I'm still talking to the cops with her."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chloe's curious voice came from nearby, "Adrian, who is it?"

Adrian seemed to muffle the receiver, his voice softer.

But I still heard him say, "It's nothing, just a colleague calling about work."