Chapter 27: He Sent Flowers

Livia's lecture was lively, and her interaction with the students was particularly brilliant.

The bell rang to signal the end of class, and she promptly wrapped up the lesson.

She wasn't one to let class run over time.

"Miss Ashcroft, are you feeling alright?" the class president asked with a trace of concern after hurrying over.

Livia gave the girl a reassuring smile. "I'm fine."

"But your eyes are red."

A bit embarrassed, Livia explained, "I got face wash in my eyes this morning. Don't worry, I'm okay."

The concern from her students boosted Livia's spirits. When she returned to her office, she noticed a bouquet of roses on her desk.

"Miss Ashcroft, I saw the janitor with these, and he said they were for you, so I brought them up," another teacher explained.

"Thanks."

Livia looked at the roses—about twenty stems—and found no note, leaving the sender's identity a mystery.

She never considered Angelo as a suspect for such romantic gestures, as he had never sent her even a single flower.

"A secret admirer, huh?" Florence teased as she returned from class and saw Livia gazing at the bouquet. "Why wouldn't they leave a name?"

Livia just smiled helplessly and shook her head. "I have no idea who it's from."

"There's a first time for everything. Whoever it is might send more, and then you'll find out," Florence reasoned, settling back into her seat. "By the way, it's my birthday today. Let's have dinner together tonight. No gifts necessary."

A colleague chimed in with a laugh. "If you put it like that, how can we not bring something?"

"I'm serious. It's the company that counts, not the formalities," Florence insisted as she turned to Livia. "You got class tonight?"

Livia glanced at her schedule. "No, I don't."

"You have to come," said Florence. "I'll send the address to the group chat later. Just show up. It's a buffet, so there's always food as long as you're not too late."

Livia sat down, occasionally glancing at the bouquet.

She truly had no idea who could have sent them.

Yet, she snapped a photo and posted it on social media with a caption: [First time ever getting red roses and from an anonymous admirer.]

Soon after, Matias commented: [Someone's finally chasing you?]

Matias added: [You're beautiful and kind-hearted, your admirer's got good taste.]

Livia laughed.

Then came Bronte: [Wasn't it him?]

Livia's smile slightly stiffened, and with pursed lips, she replied to Bronte: [We broke up.]

Bronte immediately texted: [Broke up? Why?]

After pondering for a while, Livia, hugging her phone, texted back: [Got tired of it.]

Bronte sent a message: [Out with the old, in with the new. Enjoy life.]

Livia laughed again.

Her social media page had already received 21 new notifications, which Livia ignored.

She opened her textbooks to preview the afternoon's lessons.

In the afternoon, she tidied up a bit, and Florence took her along with a couple of coworkers to the buffet restaurant. Not long after they arrived, a few more teachers and some of Florence's friends joined.

Livia and her colleagues got Florence a three-tiered cake, and Florence jokingly chided them for overspending, but she still put on a crown and made a wish after lighting the candles.

When colleagues asked about her wish, she hoped that all her students would get better and better grades.

The group enjoyed eating, drinking, and chatting, and Livia's mood was uplifted.

In fact, when life is fulfilling, there's hardly any time to dwell on the distressing things, like now. Her laughter was truly heartfelt.

Three hours later, they all walked out of the restaurant, just as happy leaving as they were arriving. Simple connections always carried more sincerity and hope.

Florence, having had some drinks, called for a ride-share service.

She originally planned to drop Livia off, but it was out of the way, so Livia declined and decided to call her own car.

After Florence left, Livia waited for her ride.

A sleek silver Porsche with its window down pulled up in front of Livia, and Angelo said with a stern face, "Get in."

Livia had noticed his car parked nearby all along but pretended not to see it.

Even now, she glanced over as casually as if seeing a stranger and continued to wait.

Her ride soon arrived and parked behind Angelo's car.

Livia walked straight to it and got into the back seat.

The driver signaled a turn and swerved around the Porsche.

Livia passed right by Angelo, who was seated inside the driver's seat, without so much as a flicker of her eyelids, staring straight ahead, thoroughly ignoring him.

The car came to a stop outside her apartment complex, and Livia got out.

Angelo's car also followed, and he hastily parked on the curb before rushing out to grab Livia.

Livia turned around coldly. "What do you want? Let go!"

Angelo's brows were furrowed. "I sent the flowers."

Livia was indeed a bit surprised but didn't show it. "So?"

"I haven't done what you're upset about," said Angelo. He had called her several times, but she never answered, and she ignored his texts, too. If it hadn't been for Luke's question, he wouldn't have been able to find her.

'This woman is really hard to appease when she gets moody.'

He never liked to coax anyone, but he felt wronged about what happened yesterday. After all, if he was accused of a crime he did not commit and was suddenly sentenced to death, wouldn't he have the right to prove his innocence?

"Should we talk here or at your place?" asked Angelo.

"Let's just talk here," Livia said.

"Okay." Angelo took out his phone, opened a video, and what played was an explicit scene with sounds that were hard to bear, resonating loudly in the quiet night outside the neighborhood.

Livia's face turned red in an instant, and she was furiously embarrassed, rushing to shut off his phone. "What are you doing? Have you no shame?"

Angelo was unfazed. "Don't you think the voice sounds familiar?"

"What are you trying to prove?" said Livia, exasperated.

Angelo explained, "The audio you heard last night came from this adult video. I am innocent. You can't slander me. Besides, I’m not in the habit of messing around."

Livia clenched her teeth in anger and watched him, breathing deeply. "Isn't it a fact that other women have stayed overnight at your place?"

"I didn't invite her," Angelo defended. "Plus, it wasn't just me and her at home. You can ask Luke about it."

At that moment, Livia was overwhelmed, not with any particular emotion, but because the video he played without warning left her feeling humiliated, and yet Angelo looked completely unbothered.

"You don't need to explain anything to me. We're not the same kind of people anyway." Livia saw things clearly. She had never spent a night at Angelo's place like Valentia, nor had she ever sat down for a meal with his friends.

He never even considered integrating her into his circle.

Livia took a deep breath and gave him an enigmatic smile. "Let's break up. It won't be difficult for you, and you won't have to go through all this trouble."