Chapter 32: Always Wrong
At this moment, Layla was like a child, exuding an innocent and endearing charm. Julian could only smile helplessly at her display, saying nothing as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a card.
“This is a secondary card under my account. There’s a monthly limit of 100,000. Whatever you like, just go ahead and buy it.”
Layla had originally come over to record her fingerprint for the villa’s security system, but she hadn’t expected such a bonus–a secondary card to Julian’s account. The surprise left her both excited and slightly nervous. She wondered if this was too much.
Even though she was thrilled, a small part of her felt uneasy. Was this rea‘ problems later?
kay? Could it lead to
“I… I don’t want to take your card. I like you for who you are, not because of the money,” Layla said, though her tone wavered with hesitation.
“You’re my girlfriend. Spending my money is perfectly normal. Take it,” Julian insisted.
This softened Layla’s resolve, and after a moment’s hesitation, she accepted the card. “Well, thank you. Maybe I’ll bring you some more food tomorrow. I’ve been learning how to cook different things.
“There’s no need for that. It’s too much trouble. There’s someone here to take care of me. You just need to take care of yourself,” Julian smiled, though his refusal wasn’t entirely kindhearted. He knew that no matter how hard she tried, her cooking would never taste as good as someone else’s.
After an entire day of studying, Chloe and Matthew left the library. Matthew had been the top scorer in his entrance exams for graduate school, so he had plenty of tips and strategies to offer Chloe. He even prepared some notes for her on key topics that frequently appeared on exams over the years.
Chloe was genuinely grateful for his help and wanted to treat him to a meal. Matthew had agreed initially, but he got a phone call about an urgent matter and had to leave. They decided to meet again tomorrow for another study session.
As summer approached, the temperature began to rise, and it felt uncomfortably hot. By the time Chloe got home, she was drenched in sweat. After cooling off in front of the air conditioner for a while, she finally felt human again.
She headed to the fridge, contemplating what to make for dinner. Her philosophy was simple–never skimp on taking care of herself. After all, health was the foundation of everything.
Just as she finished preparing dinner, she heard some movement outside her door. Chloe assumed it was her neighbor returning, but when she opened the door, she saw only a cleaning lady tidying the hallway. The two exchanged polite nods before Chloe closed the door again.
The next morning, as planned, Chloe arrived at the library with some breakfast she had prepared. Relationships, after all, were built on reciprocity.
Matthew was pleasantly surprised that Chloe had brought him breakfast but graciously accepted it. They settled into their usual spot by the window, a bright corner of the library where there was rarely much foot traffic. It was an ideal spot for studying.
To Chloe’s surprise, when she glanced around, she noticed Layla sitting nearby. The last time they had crossed paths, Layla had been with her roommate. Today, she was alone.
Chloe didn’t know if Layla had chosen this spot deliberately or if it was mere coincidence, but it didn’t
Chapter 32: Always Wrong
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matter. She pulled out her books and began working on some practice exams, determined not to waste time on irrelevant distractions.
Layla, however, had noticed Chloe as soon as she entered the library. She kept glancing over at her. Though Chloe appeared unbothered, the attention was unsettling. Still, she remained focused on her work, not letting it disrupt her flow.
Oddly enough, Chloe looked even more beautiful when she was completely absorbed in her studies. Layla, despite being the campus beauty, couldn’t help but feel a little inferior in comparison. She began to wonder if this was why Julian still couldn’t forget about Chloe even after their breakup.
The memory of that day in the haunted house still stung. She couldn’t shake the image of Julian rushing past her without hesitation to reach Chloe when something seemed to go wrong. He might not have realized it, but Layla had seen it clearly: in that moment, Julian had been genuinely worried about Chloe.
Back when Layla had no official status in Julian’s life, she c officially his girlfriend, why shouldn’t she have a say? She Wa what.
‘t say or do much. But now that she was etermined not to lose to Chloe, no matter
As Chloe and Matthew continued their study session, it became clear why Matthew had been such a top student. He had a knack for breaking down complex concepts and offering practical advice. Both of them, being naturally gifted learners, made rapid progress, and their study sessions became increasingly efficient.
By the end of the morning, Chloe had completed two practice exams with impressively high accuracy. Matthew was genuinely amazed. He had heard that Chloe hadn’t done any serious studying since graduating, but her skill and comprehension were remarkable. No wonder Professor Lauren thought so highly of her.
Chloe, however, was unaware of Matthew’s admiration. After finishing the two exams, she was feeling a bit tired and excused herself to go to the bathroom.
As soon as Chloe stood up, Layla couldn’t resist following her. Once they were both outside the library, Layla called out to Chloe.
Chloe turned around, not particularly surprised to see her. “Yesterday, I went to the villa and brought him food,” Layla began, her voice smug. “He loved it. And you know what? He invited me to stay the night. I never expected him to be so wild. He’s always been such a gentleman with me, but last night… well, let’s just say I was up all night.”
Layla’s words were dripping with innuendo, and her face was filled with faux bashfulness, as if she were sharing an intimate secret.
