Chapter 38

The look in Juan’s eyes made Debra realize there was no point in protesting further. If she continued to challenge him, he could force her to go home that day. Debra took a deep breath. A wise woman knew when to yield, and sometimes patience was the best strategy.

“Alright,” Debra said. “I’ll be home at least twice a week. Is that okay?”

“Three times,” he countered.

Debra was about to get angry but held back, her eyes meeting his. Being a graduate student at Arcane Academy wasn’t overly demanding academically, and going home three times a week wasn’t an insurmountable issue. Juan must have consulted the principal.

Debra adjusted her attitude and forced a smile. “Three times it is. Anything else, Mr. Nichols?”

“You must come home whenever I call. Joe will escort you.”

Taking another deep breath, Debra continued smiling. “No problem. Anything else?”

“Not for now.” The implication was clear: more conditions might arise in the future.

Suddenly, Debra felt that studying at Arcane Academy had given Juan additional leverage over her. After all, she couldn’t let Melody know she was studying there. That old lady was a tough nut to crack.

“I have some work at the office. I’ll have Joe take you back to school later.” Juan stood up, paused as if remembering something, and added, “Stay away from Jordan.”

She didn’t know why he brought up Jordan so unexpectedly. Debra tried to recall what happened before she fainted. Perhaps Jordan and Juan had crossed paths.

In the afternoon, Joe dropped Debra off at school. She had expected to see Jordan in class but found everyone except him.

“Debra, come in,” Randy called from the classroom door.

Debra entered and took a seat in the back. She had planned to get Jordan’s attention and establish a rapport, but Juan’s sudden appearance had thwarted her plans. The conflicts between the Potter and Nichols families were well-known. There were benefits to being Juan’s wife, but the disadvantages were just as significant.

Meanwhile, Shelia deliberately approached the classroom. She had done her research while preparing for the postgraduate entrance exams. These days, all the postgraduates should be having classes here.

Chapter 38 (continued)

“Shelia, let’s go upstairs,” Carrie urged, tugging at Shelia.

Shelia hesitated. “You go ahead and sign me in. I’ll be up in a moment.”

“You’ve been having Wendy sign you in these days. What if the teacher fails you?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t fail.” Shelia was confident in her academic abilities.

“Alright then, I’ll head up.” Carrie went upstairs while Shelia slipped into the hallway. Shelia wanted to see if Debra was really in this classroom. Sure enough, through the window, she quickly spotted Debra sitting in the back row. For a moment, she struggled to keep her jealousy in check.

Chapter 39