Stella's POV
"Not here," I hissed, scanning the nosy students around us. "Follow me."
I dragged him out of the dorm building, ignoring Sam's worried look and Victor's stare. Damn, that needed to be private—away from gossip hounds ready to blast every damn thing online.
The campus was just waking up, the air sharp and cold. I knew a quiet spot behind the art building—cherry blossoms boxing it in, dead till noon. I led him there. Private enough, but not too compromising.
I turned to face Adam, forcing myself not to get sucked into his goddamn charm. Even sleepless, he was stupidly hot—messy hair, stubble adding that rugged edge that screwed with me.
Focus, Stella. Don't you dare get distracted, you horny idiot.
"Adam," I started, my voice clipped and businesslike, "I had thought it over. I didn't want your money or your shit. I wanted you to sign the divorce papers, and we would be done clean."
His eyes narrowed, jaw tightening. "Nothing? Not a dime?"
"Yeah," I locked onto his gaze, even though it burned like hell, "a clean break was best."
He stepped forward, invading my space, close enough I caught that cologne-and-man scent. "You married me, played my wife, and now you're walking away with jack shit?"
It was like he was calling me a failed gold-digger. I laughed bitterly, my chest knotting up.
"Adam, I didn't marry you for fucking money," I snapped, reminding him, "That was a family setup, remember?"
"What if I didn't sign?" he challenged, his voice low and edged.
"You couldn't force me to stay married," I fired back, my heart starting to thud unevenly.
"I could make divorce a real bitch," he said calmly, his eyes unyielding.
I kept it short. "I deserved better."
Not scrapping with Grace for your scraps of attention. I should have been first, not ditched the second she barked.
Something dangerous flickered in his eyes. Before I could react, he grabbed my wrist, yanked me against his chest, his other hand cupping the back of my head, fingers twisting into my hair. He crashed his mouth onto mine, hard and fierce.
I gasped in shock, accidentally letting him deepen it. His lips carried a desperate, starving edge, like he was trying to fucking convince me with his body. Shit, the heat and force sank straight into my bones.
For a second, my traitorous body caved, melting into his familiar touch like some cheap slut. Then sanity slammed back, and I shoved him off.
"Adam!" I panted, wiping my mouth. "What the fuck!"
His eyes blazed with something that weakened my knees. "Didn't break skin," he murmured, his thumb grazing my lower lip, his voice dripping seduction. "I've got restraint. Mrs. Lancaster, did I look like a man ready to divorce?"
"Did it matter what you wanted?" I stepped back, hitting the tree, trapped. "This was my call."
"Was it?" He closed in again. "Your body was saying something else."
Before I could argue, he kissed me again, deeper, like he was staking a claim. My damn body heated up, nothing to do with the morning light.
When he pulled back, we were both breathing hard.
"Adam!" I glanced around, pissed as hell. "This was a fucking school!"
A predator's smirk tugged his lips. "So, different spot and it was fine?"
"That wasn't what I meant!" I shoved him hard, my hands shaking as I fixed my clothes. "This changed nothing. I wanted the divorce."
His smile vanished, replaced by cold resolve. "We would see."
I brushed past him, nearly forgetting why I was ending this mess as I stormed off.
"Got class," I threw over my shoulder, walking fast, clinging to some shred of dignity. "Didn't follow."
The library was my sanctuary—diving into work drowned out the chaos. But that day, even that place was tainted by Adam's morning assault—those commanding lips, my body's fucking betrayal, branded into me.
I forced myself into my notes, outlining lectures. A chair scraped lightly, and I looked up. Henry was settling in across from me, giving that gentle smile, sliding a hot coffee my way.
"Thought you might need it," he said low, mindful of the quiet. "You looked like you had been here a while."
I took it, managing a smile. "Thanks. That was sweet."
As Henry grabbed his book, I sneaked a glance. He was good-looking—college-boy wholesome, with honest eyes, boyish charm, and an easy grin free of baggage. Nothing like Adam's dangerous, tangled mess.
Why the hell couldn't I fall for someone simple like Henry? Clean, easy, safe.
But my dumbass heart was stuck, hooked on Adam like a fucking junkie.
The library hum picked up, heads turning toward the entrance. I looked—and froze.
Adam.
He was at the door, a goddamn attention vortex—suit sharp, confidence screaming, totally out of place. He scanned the room, his eyes snapping to me.
He strode straight for my table, my pulse doubling. Students gawked, some pulling out phones, snapping pics of the infamous Adam closing in on me.
He stopped at the next table, where four girls were studying.
"Excuse me," he said politely, "mind if I take this spot? I need to sit here."
The girls exchanged looks, practically tripping over themselves to clear out. "Sure!" one squealed, recognizing him. "No problem!"
Adam slid into the empty chair, right across from me, his green eyes pinning my face.
The quiet library erupted in whispers and sneaky glances. I felt the buzz of speculation, social media posts probably already drafting:
GT CEO Adam Lancaster crashed uni library, faced off with Prof Winston! Marriage rumors confirmed?
I tried focusing on work, but Adam was a black hole, sucking up every ounce of my attention. He grabbed a random book, pretending to read. I'd bet my ass he wasn't into Advanced Veterinary Pathology.
Henry shot me a worried look, clearly uneasy. I flashed a reassuring smile, forcing my eyes back to my notes.
Two hours of torture. Switching tables felt like surrender; staying meant enduring his stare and the students' gawking.
I couldn't take it. I packed up and stood. Henry moved too, but Adam was faster, slamming his book shut and rising.
I marched out with as much dignity as I could muster, knowing both guys trailed me, dozens of eyes tracking us.
Outside, Henry caught up. "Professor Winston, were you okay? Did you need security?"
Before I could answer, Adam cut in smooth. "No need, Jones."
Henry faced Adam, his young face hardening with resolve. "Mr. Lancaster, I wasn't stalking. I needed to talk to Professor Winston."
Adam's expression stayed pleasant, but his eyes turned icy. "Talking to my wife in front of me—did you think that was appropriate?"
"Wife" hung in the air, dripping with his territorial bullshit.
Henry didn't back down. "With all due respect, sir, you didn't deserve her. Married and still tangled up with some other woman. You didn't fucking know how to value her!"
I jumped between them fast, scared this campus standoff was about to blow. "Stop! This was a university."
Adam's gaze stayed on Henry, a cold smirk curling. "Jones, head back. Me and my wife had private shit to sort."
Henry flushed, humiliated but holding ground, turning to me. "Stella, anything you needed, tell me."
He walked off, his shoulders stiff, his head high.
The second Henry was out of earshot, I whirled on Adam. "What the fuck were you doing? Stalking me to the library? Freaking out my colleague? "