Chapter 24

“You’re just a pathetic loser, Lewis. No one cares what you think!” Ethan taunted, his friends snickering behind him.

“At least I’m not a jerk who pushes people around!” Lewis shot back, his anger boiling over.

Ethan sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.

Just then, Lily, a fellow student who had been nearby, rushed over, sensing the escalating conflict. “Guys, come on, let’s just calm down—” she pleaded, trying to mediate.

Ethan shot her a sharp glare. “Stay out of this, Lily!"

Her attempt to intervene only fueled Lewis's anger. “Leave her out of this, Ethan!” he yelled, his fists tightening.

“Oh, please. What do you know about being tough? Your parents run a small bakery; you’re just some poor kid pretending to be important. You’ll never be anything more than that.”

The insult hit Lewis like a punch to the gut. “You don’t know anything about my family!” he shouted, his fists clenching tighter.

Ethan laughed mockingly. “What? You think your bakery makes you special? It’s just a joke. You’re a nobody, and you always will be.”

That was it. The anger boiled over, and in a flash, Lewis lunged forward and landed a solid punch squarely on Ethan’s jaw. The impact echoed in the quiet of the field, and Ethan stumbled back, shock and fury written across his face.

As the fight escalated, Lily stepped in between them, her voice trembling with urgency. “Stop! Both of you, just stop!” she cried, desperate to diffuse the situation.

But her words fell on deaf ears. The tension was too thick, and the anger too intense. Just then, the commotion attracted the attention of a faculty member, followed shortly by the college dean.

“What’s going on here?” the dean demanded, surveying the scene.

Ethan, still catching his breath, pointed a shaky finger at Lewis. “He attacked me!"

“Enough!” he commanded, stepping between Ethan and Lewis. The fight came to an abrupt halt as both boys stepped back, their chests heaving with anger.

“You two, come with me,” the dean ordered, leading them both toward his office. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken words as they walked in silence.

Once inside the office, the dean sat them down, his expression stern. Moments later, Ethan's parents burst through the door, their faces filled with fury.

“This is unacceptable!” Ethan's father exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at Lewis. “We demand that you rusticate him immediately!”

Ethan nodded vigorously, his anger still palpable. “He started it! He deserves to be expelled!”

Outside the office, Lily anxiously waited for Ethan to emerge. When he finally stepped out, she rushed toward him, concern etched on her face.

“Ethan, are you okay?” she asked softly, hoping to ease the tension.

But Ethan, still consumed by rage, pushed her away roughly. “Don’t talk to me! You don’t understand anything!” He snapped, storming past her.

Lily’s eyes widened in shock, hurt flashing across her face as she watched him go. Turning her attention back to Lewis, who was just exiting the office, she walked toward him, her frustration boiling over.

“You think you’re so tough now, don’t you?” She said bitterly, her voice laced with anger. “You just made everything worse!”

Lewis felt a pang of regret. “I didn’t mean to—” he started, but she cut him off.

“You never think! You just act!” she spat, her disappointment evident. Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away, leaving Lewis standing there, feeling utterly alone and crushed.

“He don’t deserve you Lily, don’t love someone who never value you and your feelings,”

She stop and turn to him and then turn back and left.

As he watched her leave, disappointment washed over him. He felt hurt not only from the fight but also from losing Lily’s support.

Flashback end

With a hesitant breath, he slowly walked toward her cabin, his heart racing. He peered through the glass panel of the door, careful not to make a sound. What he saw took his breath away. Lily sat at her desk, her hair slightly disheveled and her face illuminated by the soft glow of the computer screen. Papers were strewn across the surface, and an empty coffee cup sat precariously close to the edge, a testament to her long hours of work.

Lewis’s gaze lingered on her tired face, and he couldn’t help but admire her beauty. Despite the exhaustion etched in her features, she was still as gorgeous as he remembered from their college days. Her skin glowed with a faint sheen, and the way she bit her lip in concentration made his heart skip a beat. He felt a pang of longing, wishing he could tell her how he felt, but the words caught in his throat.

He watched as she rubbed her eyes, a sigh escaping her lips. The weariness was evident, but there was also a fierce determination in her demeanor. She was pushing through, refusing to let the weight of the task defeat her. In that moment, Lewis felt a surge of admiration for her resilience.

Yet, he also felt a deep sense of helplessness. Here he was, the boss, yet still unable to bridge the gap that had always existed between them. The years of unspoken words and missed opportunities loomed large, and he feared that he had lost his chance to connect with her.

As he stood there, hidden in the shadows, he wondered if he should knock and offer his help or simply leave her to her work. He felt torn between the desire to comfort her and the fear of intruding on her solitude. Instead, he remained still, allowing himself to bask in the moment, watching her as she poured her heart into the work before her.

The minutes ticked by, and he realized that he had to make a decision. He could either remain a silent admirer, forever watching from the sidelines, or he could step forward and take a chance. With a deep breath, he finally summoned the courage to knock softly on the door, hoping that this small gesture might open the door to something more than just a professional relationship.

Lily looked up, startled, her expression shifting from surprise to recognition as she saw Lewis standing there.