Chapter 255 At the Lab
+5 Free Coins
The moment Imogen spoke, a wave of excitement swept through the group. The senior students laughed, nudged each other, and started planning where to go for a celebratory dinner once the project wrapped up.
Anneliese had no interest in joining the cheer. She offered a polite, gentle smile to Imogen. “I have to go, Imogen. There’s still work to handle.”
Imogen, her black–framed glasses perched neatly on her face and her expression usually serious, returned the smile and spoke warmly.
“Come with us, Anneliese.”
Anneliese shook her head softly. “I think I’ll skip this one out. I got my ticket home, and the flight’s tomorrow.”
“What time is your flight?”
“Just after nine at night…”
“That’s plenty of time. Anneliese, you’ve done so much for us. You have to come to dinner tomorrow.”
“Yeah, the dinner’s going to be pointless without you.”
Their enthusiasm was relentless. Anneliese could not resist entirely and reluctantly agreed. Jackson, however, stayed unusually silent, watching her closely.
Once she stepped out of the lab building, he followed quietly, his steps careful but deliberate. Anneliese quickened her pace toward the parking lot, unaware that he was trailing her.
Her phone vibrated. She pulled it out and saw a video call from Jonathan. She brushed her hair back and swiped to answer.
Before she could even see who was on the screen, Jackson caught up and called out.
“Anneliese, can I have a word with you?”
“Hmm?”
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Chapter 255 At the Lab
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Startled, she spun around, clutching her phone. Her eyes met his, and she forced a polite,
nervous smile,
“Oh, yeah, sure. What is it?”
Jackson froze, his gaze fixed on her. The dim yellow glow of the campus lights fell across her, painting her in a soft, ethereal glow. She looked almost unreal, as if she belonged in a dream.
He thought about the warning call from his older brother, Zane, carlier that afternoon. Zane ordered him to stay away from Anneliese. Zane reminded him that she was already taken, and he left it there without any explanation. Jackson felt his chest tighten as though a heavy weight pressed down on him.
He knew time was no longer on his side. If he did not make his move now, he might never be able to. Even though this was not the right moment and the timing was far from ideal, he took a deep breath, stepped forward, and forced himself to speak.
“Anneliese, I like you. I really, really like you. Ever since I first saw you on the campus tree- lined path, 1,552 days ago, I’ve felt this. I—I’m nervous. Let me get my words out. Can you wait to answer me after I finish?”
His eyes shone bright and sincere. Even in the cold winter night, a sheen of sweat glimmered on his forehead.
His honesty radiated warmth, even in the sharp chill.
Anneliese froze. A sudden chill ran down her spine, as if invisible eyes were watching her with quiet intensity.
She shivered before she could remember why the feeling was familiar.
Then, a deep, husky voice belonging to a man broke through the night air.
“I’m afraid that is one question she cannot answer, but I can do it in her place, if you don’t mind.”
Jackson’s heart skipped a beat.
Who was that? Is there someone else here? he wondered.
He glanced around, but there was no one. The voice sounded oddly familiar.
Finally, his eyes fell on the glow of Anneliese’s phone, hanging in her lowered hand.
Anneliese’s pulse raced.
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Chapter 255 At the Lab
+5 Free Coins
She realized that before Jackson had stopped her, she had just answered a video call from Jonathan. The voice she heard came from her brand–new husband. A wave of panic and guilt flooded through her. She did nothing, but it felt like her husband had just caught her cheating.
She gripped the phone tightly, instinctively wanting to hang up, but froze in place.
Ending the call now would only make things worse.
Even though her marriage to Jonathan was a purely formal arrangement and he would not feel jealousy, she did not want to create unnecessary misunderstandings on the first day.
She held the phone out toward Jackson with an awkward, forced smile.
“Uh, I guess I should introduce you. This is my
husband.”
She tilted the phone so Jackson could see the screen.
Jackson’s eyes widened. On the screen stood Jonathan, calm and poised in a black shirt, framed by the hotel’s floor–to–ceiling windows.
His dark eyes were sharp and commanding, but there was a faint glint of warning in them.
Husband.
Not just a boyfriend, but a husband.
Jackson’s pupils shrank. It felt like a lightning strike had split his chest.
“She’s as good as your sister–in–law, Jackson.”
Jonathan’s gaze sharpened as he stared at the young man who had just poured his heart out to his wife. Every inch of him radiated caution and disapproval, as if he could pierce through the screen and make Jackson back away.
At the same time, Jonathan felt a quiet sense of relief. If he had not canceled Jackson’s dinner plans, this boy might have taken Anneliese for himself.
