CHAPTER 47

CHAPTER 47
Mila

I stood in front of Professor Rowan’s desk, staring at the back of his laptop while he typed away like I didn’t exist.

Five minutes.
I knew because I counted them. I always did when I felt invisible. My feet were beginning to ache, but I stayed standing.

I had a rule..one of those quiet rules you make for yourself when life keeps reminding you of your place. If I wasn’t asked to sit, I wouldn’t. Simple. Stubborn. Necessary.

He finally looked up, peering at me over his glasses in that irritating way he always did, like I was an inconvenience he hadn’t planned for. Like a fly buzzing too close to his food.

“Can I sit, sir?” I asked, swallowing down the irritation creeping into my voice.
“Help yourself,” he said flatly, already turning back to his screen.
I sat.

“Can I please have your attention, sir?” I tried again.
This time, he sighed, slid the laptop aside, and leaned back in his chair. His eyes fixed on me, sharp and knowing. He knew why I was here. Worse,he looked like he’d been expecting it.

“Let’s have it,” he said.
“It’s about the group project,” I began. “The people assigned to me aren’t serious at all. I was wondering if I could switch groups or maybe be allowed to do a standalone project.”

A small laugh escaped him. Not kind. Not amused. Just dismissive.
“Miss Garvis,” he said slowly, “you said it yourself. It’s a group project.”
He paused, watching me like he was measuring something invisible.

“You not being good enough shouldn’t be blamed on your group members. And for your information, I gave all groups an additional two weeks.”
“Sir-”
“You’ll stick to your group, Mila,” he cut in. “You may leave my office.”
That was it.
I stood up, my chest tight, my throat burning with everything I hadn’t said. I was almost at the door when his voice stopped me.

“Good luck.”
I turned.
He was smiling.
Cold. Calculated. Mocking.
I walked out.
Piper was pacing in front of the office, wringing her hands. The moment she saw me, she rushed forward.

“How did it go? Did he accept it?” she asked, words spilling out.
I shook my head.
“He didn’t.”
She slipped her hand into mine and squeezed gently.
“Don’t worry,” she said.
“I’ll be in the library,” I murmured, already walking away.

But by the time I reached the path leading there, my steps slowed. My thoughts were heavy, tangled.

These past few days had been too much. Mary’s condition worsening. My so-called husband. Now this project...another reminder that effort didn’t always matter.

“Little sis.”
I didn’t stop.
“Little sis.”
The voice followed, persistent. Annoying.
I heard hurried footsteps, then suddenly someone stepped right into my path.

“Mila, didn’t you hear me?”

Cassie.

I tried to move past her, but she blocked me, eyes sharp, lips curved into something that looked like sweetness if you didn’t know better.

“I have something to say to you,” she said.

“I don’t,” I replied and moved again.

She blocked me. Again.

“Mum asked you to come home for dinner,” she said. “With Lance.”
I scoffed. “You’re really going through this route?”
“Bring him,” she said lightly. “Unless you want to be in the limelight again.”
Anger flared.

“A threat, Cassie? You’re doing it again.”
She stepped closer, her voice dropping.
“Mila, we have a lot of your weaknesses to hold onto.”
My expression changed
“What are you talking about?”

“For one,” she whispered, “your disabled sister, Mary. Don’t think we can’t touch her where she is. We can always send her to where your parents are.”

My hands curled into fists.
“Mary isn’t disabled,” I snapped. “She’s in a coma.”
“Same thing,” Cassie said with a smile.
“Get out of my way.”
She was about to speak again when a voice interrupted.

“Hi, Cassandra.”
We both turned.
Adrian stood there.
Cassie’s face lit up instantly, her posture softening as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

“Hi, Adrian,when did you transfer here....i missed you a lot you know” she said in a flirty tone.

I rolled my eyes internally. Cassie had always been like this, always clinging, always performing.

Even back then, when she was dating that senior everyone feared in high school, she still found time to hover around Adrian.

Still laughed too loudly at his words, still found reasons to touch his arm, to linger like she belonged there. It never mattered who she was with. Cassie liked what she couldn’t have especially when that thing had to do with me.

“You still haven’t quit bullying Mila,” Adrian said, displeased.
“Wh—what? No,” she laughed. “I was just inviting her to dinner with her husband.”
She glanced at him again. “Oh… did I talk too much? You probably didn’t know she’s married.”

“I know she is, Cassandra,” Adrian said calmly.
“Now be on your way.”

He knew I was married???

Her smile faltered.
“Still supporting her?” she scoffed dramatically. “When will you see past that fake face?”
She walked away.

I sighed, rubbing my temple.
“Thank you,” I said lightly. “My knight in shining armor.”
He smiled. “Come on.”

“She hasn’t changed,” he said quietly.

“No,” I replied. “She hasn’t.”

“Where are you headed?” he asked.

“I was going to the library,” I said, then sighed. “But I think I’ll just go home.”

“Let’s go,” he said. “I was heading back to the dorm anyway.”

We walked together, talking about that one time Adrian got detention because he beat up a senior

“But… this isn’t the way to the dorm,” I said, glancing around.
He chuckled. “I must’ve been carried away.”
Then he smiled. “Let’s find some time to catch up.”
“Sure,” I replied.

“That wouldn’t be possible,” I heard a voice say from behind, an all too familiar voice.