“Professor Foster, no one will wait forever—and besides—”
“All of this before was just me being foolish. We’re teacher and student, nothing more.”
I turned to leave, but Daniel Foster’s frown only deepened.
He was a young entrepreneur from outside the university, who had taken on a part-time position as a guest lecturer because of his friendship with the dean.
I had only taken a few steps when someone grabbed my arm.
“Claire.”
“Didn’t you say you liked me?”
Daniel was truly strange. Back when I had recklessly chased him, he never even glanced at me. But now that I wanted nothing to do with him, he clung on relentlessly.
“I see your worth now. As long as you accept my confession, you’ll be my girlfriend.”
I tilted my head, staring at him in disbelief.
“Oh? Anyone overhearing this would think you’re some emperor choosing a concubine.”
“Why should I accept just because you confessed?”
“Who I like is my choice. And honestly—how could I like someone so much older than me?”
A smirk of disdain tugged at my lips.
“I prefer guys my own age.”
His face drained of color inch by inch, until at last he let go of my arm. I seized the chance to walk quickly away.
Even after I turned the corner and could no longer see him, my heart was still pounding wildly.
The truth was, I had lied.
After being reborn, I couldn’t bear the thought of this man appearing in my life again. Every time I saw his face, I thought of my mother lying lifeless in a pool of blood. I thought of the anguish in her eyes, how she couldn’t rest in peace. I thought of her last words to me, whispered with her final breath:
“Good girl, stay away from that man… run for your life…”
This time, I had to listen to her.
I thought that after making myself clear that day, Daniel would give up. After all, his confession had only been impulsive, a way to spite Isabella Reed, his adopted sister, by making her jealous.
In my previous life, I was too foolish to understand the truth, too eager to be the scapegoat. This time, I swore I’d keep my distance.
But Daniel clung to me like a shadow I couldn’t shake.
“Claire Thompson, look—Professor Foster keeps staring at you!”
In class, while I was spacing out, my classmate nudged me with her elbow.
“The day he confessed to you went viral on the campus forum. You’re famous now, don’t you know?”
“Just look at the lovestruck way he watches you. Maybe being his loyal puppy for so long actually moved him?”
I followed her gaze, and sure enough, my eyes met Daniel’s. But only for a second—I quickly looked away.
It was exhausting.
Back then, I had pulled every string possible just to get into his classes. Now, even though I wanted nothing more than to avoid him, I couldn’t skip them—my credits depended on it.
Beside me, my classmate kept gossiping until I finally pressed a hand over her mouth.
“Pay attention to the lecture.”
“And stop spreading those stupid rumors. There’s nothing between me and Professor Foster.”
I didn’t hear a single word of the lesson. My head was full of my dinner plans with Ethan Walker—we were supposed to grab Korean BBQ.
When class ended, the rain outside was pouring hard. Of course, I had forgotten my umbrella.
One by one, the other students left the building. I stood under the eaves, waiting like a fool.
Then suddenly, a black umbrella appeared above my head.
“You can take this one.”
Daniel’s voice was low and magnetic, sounding far too close to my ear.
