Him?
21: Of All Men…….
Him?
Chapter 21- Of All Men… Him?
ROWAN Different thoughts were running through my mind at that very moment, and I honestly didn’t know which one I was supposed to concentrate on first.
I stared at Professor Ashford, completely frozen.
At this point, I wouldn’t even bother asking myself if my eyes or ears were playing some kind of joke on me.
That had been the question I had been asking myself since the beginning of the day.
Was I imagining him?
Was I seeing things?
Was my mind still stuck on everything that happened last night?
But no…..
It was definitely him.
Even after accepting that fact, a part of me still refused to believe it.
Maybe he just looked like him.
Maybe there was someone who looked exactly like Professor Ashford walking around this party.
Because why the hell was I seeing this man everywhere?
I had already seen him three times since last night.
Three freaking times.
Wasn’t that too much for someone who apparently didn’t even remember me?
I swallowed hard.
And besides, wasn’t he a professor?
Why did he even walk up to me in the first place?
What was his business asking me whether I was enjoying the party?
He was an invitee just like me, wasn’t he?
So why couldn’t he simply behave like an invitee and enjoy the damn party instead of making me uncomfortable?
The party had barely started.
It was too early for my peace to already be destroyed.
I still hadn’t recovered from everything that happened last night, and somehow, everywhere I turned, there he was.
I lowered my glass slightly.
Maybe I should just leave.
That would probably be the smartest thing to do.
I had already fulfilled my promise by showing up.
I didn’t need to stay.
But before I could even make a decision, I realized I had been staring at him for far too long.
My eyes were wide.
My mouth was slightly open.
I probably looked like I was about to swallow him whole.
╔════════════════════╗ 𝑶𝑯 𝑮𝑶𝑫.
𝑯𝑶𝑾 𝑬𝑴𝑩𝑨𝑹𝑹𝑨𝑺𝑺𝑰𝑵𝑮.
╚════════════════════╝ I quickly tried to close my mouth and look away.
But it was already too late.
A finger suddenly waved directly in front of my face.
Professor Ashford was the one waving his finger in front of me.
“We almost lost you,” he said with a small smile and I forced a smile back.
Mine was nowhere near as genuine.
“Hello, Professor,” I managed to say, my voice coming out with a slight stammer.
I cleared my throat.
“Nice to meet you again.” I immediately looked away from his eyes.
I didn’t know why I was avoiding his gaze so badly.
Maybe because looking directly into those eyes reminded me too much of last night.
“Same here,” he replied.
There was something almost amused about his tone.
“It really is fancy seeing you here.
Hope you are enjoying the party?” There it was again.
The same question.
I nodded quickly.
“Yes, I am, sir.
Thank you for asking.” I took another small sip from my glass just to have something to do with my hands, but my mind was still working overtime.
How did he even end up here?
Was he invited?
Of course he must have been.
Why else would a professor be at a family party?
Unless… No.
I wasn’t going down another rabbit hole.
I had already had enough surprises for one lifetime.
I looked at him again.
He seemed completely comfortable, like there was nothing strange about seeing one of his students at a family party.
Meanwhile, I was sitting there trying to understand what the hell was happening to my life.
I finally decided to ask.
“You must have been invited to the party, right?” He looked at me.
I quickly continued.
“I mean… I assume you were invited.
Hope you are enjoying it just like me?” For some reason, he suddenly laughed..
That made me frown as I wondered why he was laughing Did I say something funny?
I replayed my words in my head.
There was absolutely nothing funny about what I said.
I I stared at him suspiciously.
“What?” He shook his head slightly, still wearing that smile.
“Actually, I came here…” He didn’t get to finish.
“Babeeee… you cameeee!” I froze.
That voice was painfully familiar….
There was no need to turn around.
Before I could even prepare myself, an arm wrapped around me, followed by a kiss on my neck.
My entire body stiffened.
“Kelvin,” I muttered under my breath.
Disgust crawled through me the moment I felt his touch.
Every part of me wanted to push him away and remind him that I had only agreed to come here for one damn night.
But I couldn’t.
So I swallowed my anger and forced myself to stay still.
After a few seconds he pulled back, turned me to face him, and gave me a full, bright smile like nothing was wrong between us.
I looked at him with clear disgust, trying to signal that this was not why I had come.
Unfortunately, Kelvin either didn’t understand the look or simply decided to ignore it.
Instead, he continued acting like we were the happiest couple in the world.
“Ahhh,” he suddenly said, looking between me and Professor Ashford.
“You must have spoken to my uncle?” I blinked.
“Your uncle?” Which uncle?
I looked at Kelvin in confusion.
“I didn’t see any uncle.
I haven’t spoken to any of your family members.” Kelvin looked surprised for a second before a smile appeared on his face.
“Oh.” He turned slightly and lifted his hand.
“Behold!” My eyes followed the direction of his hand, and the moment they landed on the person he was pointing at, my entire body went stiff.
My breath caught.
My eyes widened, and my mouth fell open before a small gasp escaped me.
Professor Ashford.
It was him.
Mr.
Professor.
Kelvin’s uncle.
I quickly covered my mouth with my hand as my heart began pounding so hard that I was almost certain everyone around me could hear it.
What?
No.
No, no, no.
This couldn’t be happening.
My eyes moved from Kelvin to Professor Ashford and back again.
Professor Ashford was looking at me.
Kelvin was smiling.
And suddenly, every strange coincidence from today started connecting in the worst possible way.
He was Kelvin’s uncle.
The same Kelvin I had been dating.
The same Kelvin whose family party I had stupidly agreed to attend.
And the same Professor Ashford who… My stomach twisted.
“Wha… what…”