That manicured nails might scratch his delicate face.
That perfume and makeup might be too harsh for him to breathe in.
But none of that mattered to him now.
I ignored him and went straight upstairs.
My phone rang—it was my professor, checking in about my previous plans.
And then, hesitating, he asked, "Nadine… Are you really sure about this? After all, you raised that child for ten years."
"And David Gunn, your chilldhood friens. You two grew up together. Ten years past will only deepen with time."
But so what?
The moment Yvonne appeared, there was no place left for me here.
I answered firmly, "Professor Zane, I’ve made up my mind. I don’t belong here."
After I hung up, I sat in silence for a long time.
And when I turned around—I saw him.
David Gunn.
I didn’t know how long he had been standing there.
He must have seen my startled expression because he let out a derisive laugh.
"Enough. Drop the act already."
"You think I wouldn’t notice how loudly you came upstairs? And then sitting there, pretending to be deep in some dramatic phone call?"
"You saw Yvonne was back and decided to throw a tantrum, huh? Playing the I’m-running-away-from-home game?"
His eyes were full of the same disdain as always.