Boss, Your Ex-Wife is Unreachable Now! novel Chapter 51

After dinner, Willow helped clear the plates and silverware, even volunteering to do the dishes. Klein wouldn't let her, so she settled for trailing him into the kitchen, chatting away as he washed up.

"By the way, Dad," Willow said casually, angling for the topic as if it had just come to her, "that girl we ran into at the bistro last time—are you two close?"

Klein didn't pause in scrubbing the plates. "You mean Zoe Bellamy?"

Willow smiled, "Yeah, that's her."

It was no surprise Dad remembered Zoe so clearly—Zoe looked almost uncannily like Mom. If she ever tried to imitate Mom's voice, the resemblance would be even more striking.

As for Willow herself, even as her father's own daughter, she barely resembled her mother at all.

"She's just a student in one of my elective classes," Klein replied, rinsing a glass. "I wouldn't say we're close. Actually, she stopped by my office twice today—once at lunch, once in the afternoon—but I was out both times. Ms. Whitmore passed on the message. I have no idea what she wanted. I'll ask her next time I see her in class."

A flicker of coldness flashed through Willow's eyes, but her tone stayed light, even teasing. "Maybe she wants you as her thesis advisor?"

Klein chuckled. "How do you know she's planning on grad school?"

"And besides, I teach a pretty obscure elective. If Zoe were looking for an advisor, I doubt she'd pick your old man."

He trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

But Willow knew her father well enough to fill in the blanks. What he really meant was, even if Zoe did want him as her advisor, he wouldn't necessarily agree.

Dad was known for being strict about his graduate students—they had to be talented and upright, no exceptions.

And yet, despite having mentioned Zoe twice now—once at the restaurant, once just now—Dad hadn't offered a single word of praise for her.

In fact, in her last life, right up until the incident, she'd never heard her father mention Zoe at all.

She had a point. He'd always prided himself on being above reproach—if he kept things professional, there'd be no trouble. But Willow's words hit home.

No matter how innocent the truth, once rumors start, they can ruin reputations in silence. That was the real danger.

For his sake and for his students, he needed to keep a safe distance—especially from the female students.

"I know what needs to be done," Klein said, his eyes returning to their usual calm warmth. "Go on, rinse that soap off your hand. It'll dry your skin."

"Okay." Willow grinned and obediently rinsed her bubble-covered finger under the faucet.

She knew her reminder had sunk in. Next time Zoe tried to get close, Dad would be on his guard.

As for Zoe—Willow had no intention of letting things go so easily.