Chapter. 13

{Third person's pov}

Arizona was sitting on the couch and reading a book when Everett came back.

As soon as she saw him she closed the book and looked at him, "Should I bring water?" She asked.

Everett shook his head, "When are you rejoining your college?" He asked and before she could answer he added.

"From tomorrow, you should join your college." Arizona blinked, visibly caught off guard.

“Tomorrow?” she repeated softly, almost unsure if she heard him correctly.

Everett loosened his cufflinks as he walked further into the room, expression unreadable. “Yes,” he said simply. “Why not?”

“You’re married, not imprisoned.” The words landed heavier than he intended.

His jaw tightened slightly, like he realized something about her silence, but chose not to push yet.

Instead, he placed his phone on the table and looked at her properly. “You were studying before this marriage,” he continued, voice calm, practical. “You’ll continue now too.”

“As long as you want to study, you will.” Arizona stared at him quietly, almost like she didn’t know what to do with that kind of freedom.

Everett noticed that too. “Was someone planning to stop you?” he asked suddenly and she immediately shook her head.

He exhaled slowly, easing back before his tone became too intense. “I’ll have the driver drop you tomorrow,” he said. “And if anyone in college says anything unnecessary about the marriage, you ignore it.”

“Or tell me.” He removed his watch and placed it aside.

“And stop asking before doing basic things,” he added, glancing at the untouched water jug near the table.

..........

Another day Arizona was getting ready for the college, She wore a baggy jeans and an oversized top.

Everett looked at her as he came out of the closet, "I will drop you today, The driver will pick you up later." He said and Arizona nodded.

The ride to the college was awkwardly silent no one said anything, his entire focus was on the door but Arizona was glancing at him time to time.

Everett noticed every single glance. He just pretended he didn’t.

One hand rested against the steering wheel, the other adjusting slightly as the morning traffic slowed near a signal. His expression remained composed, focused ahead, but there was a certain awareness in the tension of his jaw.

Finally, without looking at her, he spoke. “If you keep staring at me like that,” he said evenly, “you’ll miss your college gate.”

Arizona immediately looked away. And for the first time that morning, the corner of Everett’s mouth shifted almost imperceptibly.

Silence settled again, but it wasn’t as stiff anymore.

A few moments later, he glanced briefly at her outfit.

“You look comfortable,” he remarked.

But from Everett, they sounded strangely meaningful because he was the type to notice presentation, details, appearances.

“That’s good.” The car finally slowed outside the college gates. Students moved around in groups, noise and chatter filling the atmosphere instantly.

Everett’s car, of course, drew attention the second it stopped. He noticed the stares before Arizona probably did.

His gaze shifted toward her. “You don’t need to explain anything to anyone,” he said calmly. “About us. About the marriage. About your life before this.”

“And if someone makes you uncomfortable, call me.”

Then he unlocked the doors. But before she could step out, he added quietly, “Arizona.”

When she looked at him, his eyes met hers fully for a brief second. “Have a good day.”

It sounded unfamiliar coming from him. Like he wasn’t used to saying things like that, but meant them anyway.

As Arizona stepped out he watched her walk inside the campus until she disappeared in the crowd, he finally drove away.

Arizona was walking in the campus alone, yeah her best friend emily skipped the college, she told her yesterday night that she won't join her today.

And suddenly she was stopped by a man, yeah the most irritating person, the one who has been stalking her in the campus and even proposed her just to get rejected.

"Hey babygirl." Max said making her roll her eyes, "I am not your babygirl and step aside."

"Oh come on, you know I love you, why are you playing so hard to get?" He said and she sighed.

"And I don't even like you max, now please step aside." She tried to walk away but he held her wrist and pulled her back.

"What the hell?" Arizona gasped and stared at him with shock. "Leave me max!"

"Uh huh I won't." He pulled her closer by her waist and that was it, Arizona slapped him hard across his face.

The whole campus gasped and started whispering themselves, Max left her immediately. "I will get back to you, Arizona. You will regret this."

With that he left and Arizona walked inside the class, a lot of people asked about her being absent for days but she just said she was sick.

After the college, the driver picked her up and took her back to home.

.......

Arizona was inside the bathroom in the night while her phone was kept on the night stand, Everett was sitting on the bed and doing something on his laptop when a notification popped on the screen of her phone.

"Hey babygirl!" The message said and the number was saved as Max. Everett immediately fornwed as he saw the text.

He was confused, Did she have a boyfriend? but then why did she marry him?