Chapter 415

Evelyn Langley sensed something was off these days.

Adrian Klein had always maintained his weekly night jogging routine without fail.

That day, hearing noises in the hallway, she opened her door only to catch a glimpse of him swiftly retreating into his apartment.

Stranger still, he usually took one or two days off each month, but lately, she hadn’t seen him step outside at all.

The most bizarre incident happened two days ago. She distinctly noticed his door slightly ajar, only for it to snap shut the moment she opened hers.

Evelyn: "?"

She couldn’t make sense of it.

Had she somehow offended him?

Racking her brain yielded no answers.

If only she could corner him and demand why he was avoiding her like the plague.

Meanwhile, Adrian stood by his window.

He listened to the fading sound of her footsteps, counting the seconds.

Only when he saw her leave the neighborhood did he withdraw his conflicted gaze.

He wasn’t avoiding her on purpose.

He just...

Had no choice.

The first dream could’ve been dismissed as a fluke.

But after running into her outside the cafeteria, it happened again that night.

More explicit. More intense. More shameful.

In the dream, he’d been a ravenous beast, taking her ruthlessly despite her pleas.

Upon waking, every detail remained horrifyingly vivid.

He yanked off the sheets and mechanically stuffed them into the washing machine.

How could he have such dreams?

How could he defile a woman like that?

Yes, defile.

This overwhelming self-disgust made facing Evelyn impossible.

What if it happened again when they met?

How could he face himself?

Elsewhere, Beatrice Merouin delivered several meals to her son.

Returning home, she whispered to her husband, "He’s been in low spirits lately, eating half as much. Might be heartbreak."

Gregory Hill: "..."

......

With their research progressing smoothly, Evelyn and her two colleagues grew closer.

At noon, they decided to eat off-campus for a change.

On their way back, discussing afternoon plans, Hannah Flores suddenly stopped.

Evelyn and Liam Kalmien paused in confusion.

Liam: "What’s wrong?"

"Look over there..." Hannah nudged toward the campus gates, giving Evelyn a sympathetic glance. "Your ex is back."

Evelyn’s eye twitched.

Was it too late to run?

Clearly.

Nathan Evans had already spotted her, striding over with an armful of champagne roses.

Hannah coughed. "Uh... Liam, I’m thirsty. Come buy water with me?"

Liam glanced at Evelyn, then nodded.

They made a swift exit.

Evelyn didn’t bother faking a smile. "Nathan, don’t you have anything better to do?"

He froze. "Evelyn—"

"It’s been a year. Stop coming here."

He shoved the flowers into her arms. "No."

She sighed wearily. "What’s the point? You have endless options."

"But I only want you."

"Ha." Her laugh was icy. "That’s not what you said when you had your arm around Chloe Valentine at Dylan’s birthday."

"Chloe’s a good girl. I wanted to do right by her."

His own words slapped him across the face.

Eyes reddening, he choked out, "I was blind. Mistaken a pebble for a pearl."

"Now it’s too late. You’re the only one I’ve ever loved."

"Evelyn... please forgive me."

"Right here, you agreed to be my girlfriend. Give me another chance?"

She pushed the flowers back. "No. Way."

"If you’re truly sorry, stop showing up at my school."

"You only make me a spectacle."

Nathan’s displays of affection had always been self-centered.

She once mistook it for passionate devotion.

Six years later, she recognized it as pure selfishness.

He loved showering her with expensive bouquets.

Parking his sports car at the most conspicuous spot.

"Accompanying" her to lectures uninvited.

Never realizing how much gossip it invited.

"...I didn’t know," Nathan mumbled.

"Didn’t know, or didn’t care?" Evelyn met his gaze squarely.

He had no rebuttal.

"Six years, and we never truly understood each other. Let’s leave it at that."

Without looking back, she walked away.

Nathan collapsed onto a bench, face ashen.

Nearby, two figures lurked behind a tree, watching intently.