A gentle, persistent drizzle veiled the world outside. Daniel wasn’t sitting in his car; instead, he leaned against the side, rain threading silver lines across his shoulders. He looked impossibly alone, his figure outlined by the gray, damp air—solitary and desolate.
As if sensing her gaze, he lifted his head and looked in her direction.
Amelia quickly dropped the curtain and stepped away from the window, out of sight.
She didn’t reply to his message, choosing instead to bury herself in research.
An hour later, after finishing her work, she wandered back to the window. To her surprise, Daniel was still there, still leaning against the car, still staring up at her window as if time itself had stopped—unchanged from an hour ago.
Her eyelashes fluttered. She pulled out her phone and typed a line: Don’t wait. I’m not coming out.
But after a moment, she erased it, slipped her phone away, and left the research room without looking back.
It wasn’t until night finally fell that Daniel sent his last message.
[Amelia, your heart must be made of diamond.]
Day four passed in quiet silence.
Amelia thought, everyone has their pride, especially someone like Daniel, who’s been treated like royalty since he was a child.
No matter how unwilling he was to give up, after being turned away so many times, resentment would turn to indifference, and indifference to letting go.
By day five, Amelia felt utterly calm. In just two days, the court hearing would finally take place. Once it was over, her divorce from Daniel would be one big step closer to finality.
Around noon, Emily told her that the university was considering a long-term partnership with Greenovation, and the Greenovation team would be visiting the research facility that afternoon for negotiations.
Greenovation had stormed onto the scene in renewable energy over the past few years—a real force to be reckoned with.
Emily set a steaming bowl of soup by Amelia’s hand. “The Dean will probably ask you to handle the reception again.”
He looked her up and down, clearly unimpressed with her outfit. “Such a pretty young woman, and you dress like you’re headed for the mountains. At least try something a bit more cheerful.”
Amelia glanced at her long black winter coat and shrugged. “This one’s warm and hides stains.”
Not wanting to give him another chance to harp on her choice of outerwear, she changed the subject. “Dean, how many people are coming from Greenovation? You didn’t give me any info—I just don’t want to miss anyone important.”
“I don’t know the exact headcount. Don’t worry about the rest; your main job is to take care of Mr. Campbell.”
“Mr. Campbell?”
“Of course. The same Mr. Campbell who donated the library. He’s a generous man. Remember last time when you accidentally sent his friend into the landscaping bushes? Didn’t hold a grudge—still donated the library. I’d say that’s fate, wouldn’t you?”
He pointed ahead. “Speak of the devil—there he is now.”
Amelia thought: So much for fate.
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