Chapter 5

Marcus stepped into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. I flinched as he raised his hand and gently pressed the back of it to my forehead. Heat flooded my face. I shifted away slightly, unable to meet his eyes. The evidence of my dream still lingered between my legs—warm and damning. I couldn’t let him see.

“G-good morning, sir,” I stammered, trying to steady my voice.

“Good morning, Ella,” he replied softly, that familiar velvet tone sending another unwanted shiver through me.

“I’m so sorry about that horrible fire,” he continued. “I spoke to the owner of the building. He’s going to refund everything, so don’t worry. In the meantime, you’ll stay here with us.”

I forced an awkward smile and nodded. “Thank you, sir.”

He chuckled lightly, brushing it off. “You can call me Marcus. It’s okay. And please… don’t be so tense around me.”

I nodded again, but I had my reasons which I could never tell him. Or Bella.

“How’s your wound?” he asked.

The question hit too close to my dream. “It’s fine,” I mumbled. “It’s getting better.”

Marcus stood, his presence still filling the room. “I’ll leave you to freshen up. Bella left early for morning classes—she didn’t want to wake you.”

My heart raced. We were alone in the house. Just the two of us.

“I’ll also be heading out soon to see the doctor… Marcus,” I added quickly.

He nodded. “Take your time.”

The moment the door closed behind him, I let out a long, shaky breath. I hadn’t breathed properly for what felt like ten minutes. Jesus Christ. I can’t stay in this house for long. I silently prayed the repairs on the dorm would be finished before anything worse happened.

I stood up and froze. The wet spot on my shorts was unmistakable. Guilt crashed over me as I quickly stripped them off and washed them in the sink. After a hurried bath, I dressed in the clothes Bella had left for me and quietly slipped out of the big, silent house, desperate to avoid running into my professor .

The cab I booked took me straight to my burnt dorm . Smoke still hung faintly in the air as I climbed the stairs to what used to be my room.

Everything was destroyed—burnt beyond recognition. But tucked in the corner, somehow untouched, was my family photo. Me, Mum, and Dad. The last picture we had together. I smiled through the sting in my eyes and slipped it carefully into my bag.

I couldn’t stay in the smoky ruins any longer. Instead, I wandered to the campus cafeteria. I had no lectures today, and more importantly, I needed distance from that house and from Marcus.

I had barely sat down when I spotted Bella with her friends. Her eyes widened in surprise. She said something to them, and they nodded before leaving. She walked over and sat beside me.

“Ella,” she said softly. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be resting at home.”

I smiled faintly. “I went to see the doctor,” I lied, “and I wanted to check if I could salvage anything from the dorm.”

“Oh, poor baby.” Her face fell with sympathy. “But don’t worry ,Dad said they’ll refund everything.”

We chatted for a bit until she asked, “Have you eaten anything?”

When I said no, she started to stand. I quickly grabbed her hand. “Let me get it. You’ve already done so much for me.” She nodded softly and I left .

I returned with snacks a few minutes later, but a group of girls had gathered around Bella, handing her gifts and talking animatedly. They left just as I sat down.

“Are those your friends too?” I asked.

Bella laughed, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Those stupid girls just want Dad’s number. Or for me to convince him to date them. I can never let anyone take my mom’s place—especially not someone my age. It makes me so uncomfortable and angry.”

Guilt twisted in my chest. I sighed, trying to hide it.

Suddenly, her phone rang. She picked up. “Hi, Dad… Yes, she’s here with me… I have a lot of assignments, so I’ll be late. You can go with Ella.”

My eyes widened in panic. Marcus was the whole reason I’d left the house early. I couldn’t ride back with him alone.

Bella hung up and grinned. “Dad’s waiting in the parking lot. No buts, Ella. Let’s go.”

She dragged me outside despite my protests. The car was sleek and tinted. I tried to climb into the back, but Bella steered me firmly into the front passenger seat. “I’ll see you two at home,” she said cheerfully, closing the door.

“Hi, sir,” I muttered.

Marcus smiled, flashing perfect white teeth and a devastating dimple. “Call me Marcus,” he reminded me gently. He leaned across to fasten my seatbelt. Our faces were inches apart. I pressed my thighs together tightly, heart hammering.

“Are you good now?” he asked.

Before I could answer, he frowned. “I forgot an important file in my office. Can you wait a minute?”

I barely nodded. The moment he stepped out, I exhaled shakily. Oh God. How was I supposed to survive this?

My phone slipped from my trembling hands and fell to the floor. I reached down, groping blindly. My fingers closed around something small and metallic instead.

A lighter.

I pulled it up, staring. It looked exactly like the one the shady man in black had been flicking on the night of the fire.

My eyes widened in shock. What was it doing in Marcus’s car?