When the Flame of Love Fades
Chapter 18: Losing It
Jonathan dropped Sierra off at the university, and they went their separate ways. She had class; he had business at his office. By the time she arrived, her first lecture—Cell Biology—was just about to begin. The professor? Evan. Great.
He looked a little off today, less composed than usual. Maybe tired. Maybe something else. Sierra didn’t care. She took out her phone, glanced at her schedule, and her face immediately darkened. That lunatic. Evan had actually switched most of her courses to his class. Her name was on almost all of them. So this was what he meant by looking out for her? Deciding, without asking, that she wanted to be near him? Assuming she wanted his help?
She exhaled sharply, flipping open her textbook. She was retaking her degree, but honestly, this material was too basic for her. And Evan’s lectures? Boring as hell.
She was just about to walk out when someone slid into the seat beside her. Yaron. Her expression soured. Perfect. Just what she needed.
Oblivious, Yaron pushed a book toward her. It was filled with notes—his notes. Lowering his voice, he said, “This stuff must be tough for you. I used this textbook back in undergrad—marked the key points. You can use it to study.” “I highlighted the important parts. Just memorize them, and you’ll pass the finals, no problem.”
Sierra stared at him. Then, she almost laughed. These people. They were all the same. Making decisions for her. Not once bothering to ask what she actually wanted.
She glanced at Evan, still droning on up front, then at the idiot sitting next to her. Sierra slowly raised her hand. Evan had been watching her since she walked in. Bradley had already told him she had been hospitalized. He hadn’t expected her to show up today. Seeing her there made him feel…reassured. She could act rebellious all she wanted, but deep down, she still wanted their approval. She wanted to be close to them. That’s why she had come to his class. It was obvious. And now, she was raising her hand.
Evan’s patience softened. “Hey, got a question?” he asked encouragingly.
Sierra stood. Under his expectant gaze, she calmly said, “The senior sitting next to me says your lectures are useless.” “He told me to just study his notes instead—since that alone is enough to pass the exams.”
Silence. The entire classroom froze. Yaron’s face went white. What the hell! He had never expected Sierra to say that out loud, and in front of everyone.
Yaron was well-known on campus: good grades, decent family background, currently a PhD student. And Evan? Even more famous. Apart from Jonathan, Evan was the youngest lecturer at the university. His academic achievements were already impressive, and, of course, his cold, untouchable aura made him a heartthrob among female students. No one dared to question him. Until now.
The murmurs started almost immediately. “Wait—did Yaron really say that?” “Wouldn’t surprise me. He and Evan are both top students—bound to be some rivalry.” “But isn’t he in love with Evan’s sister? Why would he do this?” “Probably jealous. You know, ‘if I can’t have Denise, then screw her family’ type of thing.” “Okay, but—who’s the girl who just exposed him?” “She’s gorgeous. Is Yaron into her now?”
The whispers grew louder. Yaron wanted to die. He desperately glanced at Evan, only to find Evan staring at him like he was roadkill. Crap.
Meanwhile, Sierra casually walked out. She had zero interest in staying. If she had known Evan was the lecturer, she wouldn’t have come in the first place. Flipping through her schedule, she saw she had a general course later, taught by someone else. That would do.
She found a quiet spot, sat down, and pulled out a notebook. She wasn’t feeling great today, so she wouldn’t go to the lab, but she could at least prepare. Soon, her page was covered in chemical formulas. Her handwriting was messy—some symbols only she could decipher. She wrote fast, completely lost in thought. She didn’t notice when someone sat beside her. Jonathan.