"You look strange," Chelsea commented the moment Lucy settled onto the couch.
Lucy snapped her head toward her, one brow nearly disappearing into her hairline.
"What do you mean?"
Chelsea tilted her head, studying her with exaggerated seriousness. "You have this..." She gestured vaguely. "Face."
Lucy blinked. "Face?"
"Yes. A face."
"Chelsea, everyone has a face." Lucy sighed.
"Not this one." Chelsea narrowed her eyes. "Yours looks... softer."
Lucy palmed her forehead. "You’re insane."
"I am not," Chelsea scoffed. "You’ve just been smiling to yourself every five business minutes."
Lucy’s heart skipped.
Had she?
"I have not." She denied it.
"You literally smiled while staring at your phone."
Lucy instinctively slipped her phone deeper into her bag. "You’re imagining things."
Chelsea gasped dramatically. "She’s hiding evidence!"
Lucy couldn’t help laughing.
"See? There! You laughed again." Chelsea pointed accusingly at her.
"Tell me the truth..." She leaned forward conspiratorially. "Did Professor Sterling finally confess his undying love?"
Lucy stared at her for a second. Then she burst into laughter.
"Chelsea!" she managed between laughs. "Are you listening to yourself?"
Chelsea blinked innocently. "What? It could happen."
"In what universe?"
"This one, preferably."
Lucy shook her head, still smiling. "You’ve completely lost your mind."
Chelsea grinned. "So... he didn’t?"
Lucy’s smile softened. "No. It’s not what you’re thinking about."
"Hmm." Chelsea folded her arms. "Then why do you look like someone who just received a love letter?"
Lucy rolled her eyes. "You’re impossible."
"Thank you. I take that as a compliment." She shrugged. "Now tell me. You’ve been staring at your phone for a while now while smiling. Is it a message from Professor Sterling or..." she narrowed her eyes. "...another man."
Lucy shook her head. "And why should I tell you?"
"Because we are friends."
"It’s..." Lucy hesitated. "...nothing."
Chelsea was silent for a while as she pondered on her words.
"Fine. If that’s what you say."
Lucy barely heaved a sigh of relief when Chelsea added, "that doesn’t mean this conversation is over. I’m only letting you off for tonight."
Lucy gave her an amused look.
"I’m hungry, Lu." She groaned dramatically, letting her head rest on the couch.
"What do you want? My treat."
Chelsea’s smile widened. "I want ice-cream."
Lucy gaped at her. "This late at night?"
She pouted in return.
"Fine," Lucy gave in. She picked up her purse, and they both walked out.
The next day, University’s Library.
Lucy stretched her arm toward the top shelf, balancing the stack of books against her chest.
Just as her fingers brushed the book she aimed for, another hand reached for the same book.
She paused, her brows furrowing as she turned.
And she blinked.
"Professor?" Her voice was small and filled with uncertainty.
Kane looked equally surprised, but he recovered quickly. "Miss Bennett."
For a brief second, neither of them spoke.
Then his eyes drifted to mountain of textbooks in her arms.
"I thought you had a lecture-free day today. Why are you in school?"
Lucy’s brow raised in response. How did he know that she wasn’t meant to have lectures today?
But she didn’t think too much into it as she answered. "I use the library to study when I’m free."
Kane nodded. He recalled her mentioning this.
His gaze drifted to her arms again, and his brows furrowed.
With a quiet voice, he said, "you’ll strain your arms carrying all of those."
Lucy’s lips parted. "I’ll manage."
"I can help."
Again, Lucy blinked. Then she smiled politely.
"Thank you, Professor. But I’ll be fine."
The refusal came so naturally that Kane almost frowned.
Almost.
"As you wish."
Lucy reached for another textbook.
At that exact moment, someone hurried past the narrow aisle.
"I’m so sorry."
The student’s backpack caught Lucy’s elbow. Her balance disappeared, and the pile of books slipped from her arms.
Lucy stumbled sideways.
But before she hit the shelf, a firm hand wrapped around her wrist and another settled lightly against her waist to steady her.
The textbooks crashed to the floor with a thud.
Silence followed.
Lucy’s heartbeat hammered in her ears. And she looked up, then swallowed. Kane was far too close.
"Are you alright?"
She nodded too quickly. "Y-yes."
His gaze fell to the wrist he was holding, and he didn’t let go.
The faint red marks were still there. It wasn’t as glaring as two days ago, but it was still visible.
His jaw tightened.
"They are still there."
Lucy followed his gaze before gently pulling her hand back. "It’s nothing."
"It doesn’t look like nothing."
"They’ll disappear."
"When?" He pressed, his jaw clenching.
Lucy laughed awkwardly. "I don’t know."
Another silence followed. Before it was broken by Kane.
"One moment."
Before Lucy could ask what he meant, he reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a small paper pharmacy bag.
She frowned.
Kane seemed to hesitate for the briefest moment, almost as though he were reconsidering his decision.
Then he took out a small tube of bruise ointment and held it out to her.
"Apply this twice a day."
Lucy stared at it instead of taking it. "Professor?"
"It’ll help the bruising heal faster."
"You... bought this?"
He looked away for a fraction of a second.
"I happened to pass a pharmacy this morning to get something for myself."
It wasn’t a lie. It just wasn’t the whole truth.
Lucy slowly accepted the tube, her fingertips brushing his.
"Thank you."
Kane cleared his throat. "Don’t misunderstand." His voice regained its usual calm. "I simply don’t like seeing my students injured."
Lucy smiled softly. "Of course, Professor."
She curled her fingers around the small tube of ointment. It was warm.
Almost as though he had been carrying it for a while.
She looked up.."Thank you... Professor."
Kane merely inclined his head.."You should continue studying."
"And you?"
"I was just leaving."
Lucy nodded.."Then... goodbye."
"Goodbye, Miss Bennett."
She bent to gather the textbooks scattered across the floor.
By the time she straightened... he was already gone.
For reasons she couldn’t explain, her gaze lingered on the empty aisle for several seconds.
Then she looked down at the ointment in her hand. A small smile found its way onto her lips.
"You’re a terrible liar."
Kane blew a breath as he walked out through the library doors.
"What exactly are you doing, Kane?"
Only silence answered.
A quiet scoff escaped him as he continued in his steps.
His phone vibrated. Without much interest, he pulled it out.
Ethan (Executive Assistant): Mr. Sterling, I need you to return to the company immediately.
Kane frowned.
Kane: I’m busy.
Three dots appeared almost instantly. Then another message arrived.
Ethan: It’s about your father’s research.
Kane stopped walking, his grip tightening around his phone.