Vivian Quinn’s face flushed red. She lifted her chin defiantly. "We’re married. Isn’t it perfectly normal for us to sleep together?"
Ian Sterling: "..."
Jett Sterling’s low, husky laugh ca through the phone. "Vivian, are you always this direct?"
Vivian Quinn then rembered she was still on the phone and hastily asked, "You heard all that?"
"What just happened? Were you in danger?"
"Your nephew lost control of the car for a second, but it’s fine now."
Jett Sterling sounded displeased. "Why are you in Ian’s car?"
"He just happened to be passing by."
"Passing by?" Jett Sterling chuckled faintly. "None of his properties are anywhere near Sycamore Bay."
Vivian Quinn turned to Ian Sterling and raised an eyebrow at him.
Ian Sterling forced himself to speak up. "Uncle, what’s wrong with giving my aunt a ride to school? We’re classmates. We should be looking out for each other."
"Then you’d better make sure not a single hair on her head is hard. And from now on, you don’t need to trouble yourself. I’ll have soone pick her up after class today."
Ian Sterling: "..." ’What did I do to deserve this?!’
Vivian Quinn felt a sweet warmth spread through her, and her voice softened. "You should get so more sleep. I’m hanging up now."
"Okay."
Vivian Quinn hung up, unable to stop smiling.
Ian Sterling almost rolled his eyes. "Vivian Quinn, really? Is all this necessary?"
"It’s none of your business."
"I was kind enough to give you a ride, and this is how you treat ."
"Well, you’re the one who had to ask."
Ian Sterling glanced at her. "Vivian Quinn, there’s sothing different about you. You’re completely basking in the glow of sweet love, looking so cheerful."
"Is that a bad thing?" Vivian Quinn arched an eyebrow. "Would you rather I be gloomy and miserable? Would that be more normal?"
"Of course not. I actually like you like this. You’re much brighter than you used to be."
"I’ll count that as the first sensible thing you’ve said."
"What’s that supposed to an? When have I not spoken sense?"
"Most of it is nonsense."
Ian Sterling: "..."
The two bickered all the way to school, making it just in ti for class. Ian Sterling shalessly insisted on sitting next to Vivian Quinn.
Vivian Quinn shot him a look of disgust. Just as she was about to speak, a familiar figure appeared in the doorway.
Vivian Quinn’s brow furrowed.
Ian Sterling noticed her reaction and followed her gaze. The flas of gossip instantly ignited in his eyes.
"Vivian Quinn, who’s that?"
"Nobody."
"Tch, yeah right. He’s pretty handso..."
Mason Landon was wearing a pair of rimless glasses today, adding a scholarly air about him that sent the girls in the classroom into a delighted frenzy.
"Whoa, who is that?!"
"He’s so handso!"
"I don’t care who he is, I’m officially declaring him my husband!"
Mason Landon paid no mind to their chatter. He took out his laptop, opened it, and introduced himself. "Good morning, class. I’m your substitute teacher for today, Mason Landon."
Another wave of whispers rippled through the classroom.
"He’s so young and already qualified to be a substitute teacher? He must be brilliant!"
"He looks like he walked straight out of a novel! So hot!"
Vivian Quinn watched Mason Landon. He acted as if he hadn’t noticed her, his gaze never once eting hers, which only made her more anxious.
"Vivian Quinn, what’s wrong?" Ian Sterling waved a hand in front of her face. "Staring into space?"
"It’s nothing." Vivian Quinn collected herself. "Let’s just focus on the class."
"Okay."
Despite his youth, Mason Landon was a highly skilled professional, and his lectures were far more popular than those of the older professors.
The class period flew by, and Vivian Quinn left the classroom as soon as it was over.
"Vivian Quinn, where are you going?"
"To the restroom."
Vivian Quinn went straight to Hugh York’s office. She found him leisurely sipping tea and went over to ask, "Professor York, how did Mason Landon end up being a substitute teacher here?"
"What’s wrong?" Hugh York gestured for her to sit. "You seem to have a problem with him?"
"I’m in no position to object. I’m just curious."
"Mason may have only studied at Aethelgard University for a year before going abroad, but he’s one of my most brilliant protégés. After finishing his studies, he didn’t stay overseas. He ca back to contribute to our country’s dical field. That kind of dedication is incredibly rare and valuable."
"More importantly, his willingness to be a substitute and pass on what he’s learned to students like you is a wonderful thing."
"I’m not saying it’s a bad thing," Vivian Quinn said. "So you’re the one who invited him to be a substitute?"
"Of course. He’s a very busy man. You students should cherish the opportunity to have him make ti to teach."
Vivian Quinn nodded. "I understand. Well, I’ll let you get back to your tea. I’m going to head back now."
"Alright."
Vivian Quinn opened the door and was startled to see the man standing right outside.
Mason Landon’s deep, ocean-like eyes flickered with an unreadable light, making Vivian Quinn feel a strange sense of unease.
"How long have you been here?" Vivian Quinn asked.
"I heard everything," Mason Landon admitted freely. "You think I volunteered to be a substitute just so I could get close to you, is that it?"
"I’m worried you’ll lose control, Mason. We need to keep our distance. That’s why I haven’t even approached you about researching Jett Sterling’s condition."
Mason Landon smiled. "He’s the one who won’t let you, isn’t he? He’d rather his condition go untreated than let you get close to , right?"
"You’re overthinking it. Even if he thought that way, I’m not so puppet on a string. I can weigh the pros and cons for myself."
’I’m Jett Sterling’s wife now; I can’t be getting too close to a man who has feelings for .’
’I do want to work with Mason to research Jett’s condition, but when it cos down to it, I don’t want to do anything that would make Jett unhappy.’
"That’s good to hear." Mason Landon seed to let out a silent sigh. "Vivian, I’ll say what I’ve always said: Jett Sterling isn’t the right man for you. No matter what, I’ll always be here for you, watching over you. You just have to turn around, and I’ll be there."
"Stop it!" Vivian Quinn glanced around nervously. "Don’t ever say things like that again. What if soone hears you?"
Mason Landon gave a self-deprecating smile. "Alright, I won’t. You should head back to class."
"Okay... Bye." Vivian Quinn returned to the classroom, her mind elsewhere. Ian Sterling imdiately rushed over, phone in hand.
"Vivian Quinn, I’ve got the scoop on that handso professor. Wanna hear it?"
"No."
"That makes sense. After all, you already know him, so you’d know all about him." Ian’s face was a mask of pure gossip. "Judging by your reaction earlier, there’s so romantic history between you two, isn’t there? Vivian Quinn, look, I’m not one to judge, but most people are superficial. You’re... well, you look like *that*, and you’re crushing on a super-handso guy like him? Don’t you feel a little out of your league?"
Vivian Quinn: "..." ???
"Ian," she said, "are you saying *I* have a crush on *him*?"
"What else could it be? You don’t expect to believe *he* has a crush on *you*, do you?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)