Chapter 10

CHARLOTTE’S POV

“Are you seriously going to stand there pretending you don't know me after disappearing for an entire night?” Sophie asked as she caught up with me near the university entrance, her eyes immediately moving over my new clothes before settling on my face. “You vanished after those men attacked your apartment, and now you've shown up looking completely different, wearing clothes that probably cost more than everything in your wardrobe.”

I tightened my grip around my bag and forced myself not to glance toward the road where the luxury car that had dropped me off was disappearing. Zade's staff had replaced almost everything destroyed in my apartment, and although I'd chosen the simplest outfit they provided, there was nothing simple about it. Even my bag looked expensive enough to attract attention.

“I had a difficult night, Sophie, and I had somewhere I needed to be,” I explained as I adjusted my sleeve, deliberately avoiding her questions about the car and where I'd stayed. “I'm fine now, and that's all you need to know. I don't owe anyone a complete explanation of what happened.”

Sophie continued walking beside me, her expression changing into something that looked like concern but didn't quite reach her eyes. “Of course you don't owe me anything, but you could have at least told me you were safe,” she replied as she glanced toward the road again. “I was worried after what happened at your apartment, and now you suddenly appear dressed like this and refuse to explain where you've been. Don't you think that looks suspicious?”

“I think it looks like I survived a terrible situation and had access to clothes that weren't destroyed in it,” I answered as I kept walking. “There's nothing mysterious about that, and I don't want to spend my morning discussing my personal life in the middle of campus.”

She gave me a small smile before lowering her voice. “Personal life?” she repeated as she leaned closer. “So there is a personal life now? Did you meet someone?”

My steps slowed for half a second before I continued walking. Zade's face immediately entered my mind, followed by the memory of our agreement and the reminder that I had thirty days tied to a man who was both my professor and the person who had saved me from the debt collectors. I still hadn't figured out what I felt about any of it, and I certainly wasn't discussing it with Sophie.

“No,” I replied simply, keeping my expression neutral as I looked ahead. “I haven't met anyone.”

Sophie raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced as she looked over my clothes again. “That's interesting because you don't look like someone who hasn't met anyone,” she remarked, her tone becoming playful. “New clothes, an expensive car, disappearing overnight and refusing to explain anything. If you were my friend, I'd assume there was a man somewhere in the middle of all this.”

I stopped and turned toward her, finally allowing my irritation to show. “Sophie, every question you've asked has been about my clothes, my car or whether there's a man involved,” I pointed out as I held her gaze. “If you genuinely want to know whether I'm okay, ask me that. If you're trying to find out something else, just say so.”

Sophie looked caught off guard for a moment before recovering with an innocent expression. “I'm only asking because I care,” she insisted as she touched my arm. “You've been through a lot, and I don't want you making another mistake because you're desperate for help.”

Before I could respond, a familiar voice came from behind us.

“Handled it?” Lucas asked as he approached, his expression changing when he saw me. “Is that what we're calling this now?”

I turned around and felt my stomach tighten. His attention moved from my face to my clothes before shifting toward the road where the car had disappeared. He didn't ask whether I was okay or what had happened after the attack. His first reaction was to examine what I was wearing.

“What's that supposed to mean?” I asked as I folded my arms, already regretting stopping.

Lucas gave a humorless laugh as he stepped closer. “It means you wasted no time replacing me,” he said as his expression hardened. “Three years together, Charlotte, and you couldn't even wait a few days before finding yourself another man with a nice car and expensive clothes.”

I stared at him, stunned. “You cheated on me with Sophie, Lucas,” I reminded him as I looked between them. “You don't get to question how quickly I move on after you were the one who destroyed our relationship.”

His jaw tightened as he stepped closer. “Our relationship lasted three years, and you're acting like it meant nothing,” he argued as his voice rose enough to attract nearby students. “You know exactly what you're doing by showing up here dressed like this. You're trying to make me jealous.”

“Believe me, Lucas, if I wanted to make you jealous, I wouldn't need expensive clothes to do it,” I replied as I held his stare. “Whatever happens in my life now has nothing to do with you. You made your choice when you cheated on me, and you don't get to control what I do afterward.”

Lucas's expression darkened as he moved closer. “So who is he?” he demanded, looking me over with open suspicion. “Who is paying for all this? We both know your situation, Charlotte. Your mother is drowning in debt, you were struggling to pay your bills, and now suddenly you're walking around in designer clothes. Don't expect me to believe you just got lucky.”

The insult hit hard, but I refused to break. “You know what your problem is, Lucas?” I asked as I looked directly into his eyes. “You think because you knew me when I was struggling, you have the right to decide what I'm worth now. I didn't need to cheat on you before moving on, and I don't need to explain who helps me to the man who betrayed me.”

For a moment, Lucas simply stared at me, anger building behind his eyes. He had become accustomed to the version of me who swallowed her hurt and tried to keep our relationship together. That woman wasn't standing in front of him anymore.

“You've changed,” he muttered as he stepped even closer, his voice dropping into something more threatening than angry. “You weren't this arrogant when we were together.”

“No,” I replied as I held my ground, “I was just too busy loving you to realize how little respect you had for me.”

Before Lucas could respond, Sophie suddenly stepped between us. I expected her to defend me, but instead she turned toward him with an expression I couldn't understand.

“Leave her alone, Lucas,” Sophie said as she looked at him with an oddly knowing confidence. “Whatever happened between you and Charlotte is over, and you don't have the right to interrogate her about her life.”

Lucas frowned suspiciously. “What are you talking about?” he demanded as he glanced between Sophie and me. “You're the one who knows her better than anyone here, so if you know something, tell me.”

Sophie didn't answer immediately. Instead, her eyes moved slowly over my clothes before returning to Lucas, and something about that look made my stomach twist. It wasn't concern. It was calculation.

“You really think Charlotte suddenly got lucky?” Sophie asked as she tilted her head, her voice carrying enough amusement to make my chest tighten. “You really think this is about her simply finding someone new?”

I stared at her, my uneasiness growing as she refused to meet my eyes.

“Sophie, what exactly are you implying?” I demanded as I stepped toward her. “You've been asking questions since I arrived, and now you're talking like you know something I haven't told you. If you have something to say, say it.”

She finally looked at me before giving Lucas another knowing glance. “I don't want to embarrass you in front of everyone,” Sophie replied as she lowered her voice, her expression almost sympathetic. “You should be grateful I'm trying to stop Lucas from making this worse.”

My stomach twisted.

“Stop what from getting worse?” I asked as I moved closer, no longer caring who was watching. “What do you know, Sophie?”

Lucas looked between us, his curiosity replacing some of his anger. “Sophie, what are you talking about?” he asked as he studied her face. “You keep looking at her clothes like there's something you're not telling me. If you know who she's seeing, then just say it.”

Sophie slowly turned toward him, and the strange confidence in her expression returned.

“Leave her alone,” she said as she glanced at me once more, her voice suddenly carrying a certainty that made my heart pound. “I think I know exactly who she's been seeing.”