2- I'm sorry professor

LYNN

He has every reason to be suspicious.

After all, the last time I stood in front of him, I barely spared him a glance.

Now, here I am, giving him a watch and looking at him as though he is the only man in the world.

Well, technically, he is the only man in this world I want. "Professor, do you like it?"

Valerian glances at the watch on his wrist before looking at me. "It's a nice watch, Lynn."

I grin. "Then you can keep it."

His eyebrows rise slightly. "Are you sure?"

"Of course."

"Because, if I remember correctly, you bought that watch for Kai."

My smile freezes.

Oh.

He noticed.

Of course he noticed. The entire stadium witnessed my little public humiliation, and Valerian was standing right there.

I clear my throat.

"Well, Kai and I have decided to go our separate ways."

"Have you?"

"Yes, Professor."

"And that decision happened within the last five minutes?"

I stare at him.

Is he making fun of me?

For a moment, I consider telling him everything, That I died. That I spent nine years married to a man who never loved me. That I wasted my life begging for affection from people who saw me as nothing more than a convenient fool.

But how am I supposed to explain that I have returned from the dead?

He would probably send me to a psychiatrist.

And honestly, I have had enough of those places to last several lifetimes.

"Sometimes," I say forcing a smile, "it doesn't take long to realize you've been making a mistake."

Valerian studies me.

"And you believe you've made one?"

"The biggest mistake of my life."

His gaze remains on my face for a moment longer than necessary.

Then he takes a small step back.

"Whatever happened between you and Kai is your business Lynn. But I hope you understand that I am your lecturer."

There it is.

The gentle reminder. The invisible line he refuses to cross.

"I understand, Professor."

"Good."

He reaches for the watch, seemingly intending to remove it.

My eyes widen.

"Wait! Why are you taking it off?"

"Because I cannot accept an expensive gift from a student without understanding the circumstances."

"But I bought it for you!"

"You bought it for someone else first."

I open my mouth then close it.

That is technically true, but does he have to be so reasonable?

"Professor, I promise I won't ask you for anything in return."

"That isn't the point."

He carefully removes the watch and places it in my palm.

"Keep it for now. If you still want to give it to me after you've had time to think, we can discuss it later."

I stare at the watch.

Then at him.

He's actually refusing my gift.

In my previous life, I would have cried if Kai had done this to me. I would have wondered what I had done wrong and how I could make him happy.

But Valerian isn't Kai.

And I am no longer that foolish girl.

I close my fingers around the watch.

"All right, Professor. I'll keep it safe for you."

He gives me a look.

"For me?"

"Yes."

"Lynn."

"Okay, okay. For myself." I try not to smile, but it's impossible.

He shakes his head slightly. "I have a class to prepare for. You should return to your friends."

Friends?

Does he mean the people who have been watching me like I'm the main attraction at a circus?

Before I can answer, a familiar voice cuts through the conversation.

"LYNN!"

Oh, no.

Not her.

I slowly turn around.

Hellen is marching toward us, her heels clicking against the stadium floor. Her beautiful face is twisted with outrage, and her eyes keep darting between Valerian and me.

Behind her, Kai is following with his teammates.

I almost laugh.

What a wonderful reunion.

My dear stepsister. My beloved husband.

If only I had a knife to cut the invisible strings tying these two parasites together.

"Have you completely lost your mind?" Hellen demands as she stops in front of me.

I blink innocently "Good afternoon to you too, Hellen."

"Don't you dare act innocent with me!"

She points at the watch in my hand.

"First, you humiliate Kai in front of everyone. Then you run after Professor Valerian and throw yourself into his arms!"

She lowers her voice, but not enough to stop the students nearby from listening.

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

I tilt my head.

"Does everything I do concern you?"

Her lips part.

For a second, she looks genuinely surprised.

Then she recovers.

"You're my sister! I'm only trying to help you."

I nearly burst out laughing.

My sister?

Where was this sisterly concern when she was sneaking around with my husband?

Where was it when they made me believe I was the problem?

Where was it when I was lying in that hospital bed, begging someone to believe me?

I swallow the bitter memories.

Not yet.

I won't expose everything today.

Let her enjoy her little performance while she can.

"Then I appreciate your concern" I tell her sweetly "But you don't need to worry about me anymore."

Hellen frowns "What does that mean?"

"It means you can stop pretending to care about my love life."

Her expression changes.

Just for a second, I see something flicker behind her eyes.

Fear?

No.

That can't be right.

She has no reason to fear me.

Not yet.

"You are behaving strangely," she says, recovering quickly. "You were practically begging Kai to accept your proposal a few minutes ago. Now you're chasing another man. What will people think?"

I glance around.

Several students are still watching us.

Some are whispering. Others have their phones raised.

I shrug.

"They can think whatever they want."

"Lynn!"

"What? Should I cry because strangers don't approve of my decisions?"

Hellen looks as though she wants to slap me.

Instead, she turns toward Valerian, putting on the innocent expression she uses whenever she wants someone to take her side.

"Professor Valerian, I'm sorry about my sister. She's been under a lot of stress lately. She doesn't usually behave this way."

I almost applaud.

There she is.

The sweet, understanding Hellen.

The girl everyone loves.

The girl who knows exactly how to make herself look innocent while making someone else appear unreasonable.

Valerian doesn't respond immediately.

He simply looks at her.

Then at me.

"Miss Lynn is perfectly capable of explaining herself" he says calmly "She doesn't need you to speak for her."

Hellen's smile falters.

I have to fight the urge to hug him again.

Professor if you keep doing this, I might actually fall in love with you all over again.

Wait.

I already am.

"Of course, Professor" Hellen says forcing a laugh. "I was only concerned about her."

"Then you can express that concern without embarrassing her in public."

The surrounding students go quiet.

Hellen's cheeks turn red.

I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling.

Oh, this is wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Kai finally steps forward, his expression dark "Uncle Valerian, with all due respect, this is a family matter."

The stadium goes quiet.

I freeze.

Uncle?

I slowly turn my head toward Kai, then look at Professor Valerian.

Did he just call him Uncle?

Of course! How could I forget?

Valerian is Kai's uncle.

In my previous life, I had been so obsessed with Kai that I barely paid attention to his family. Even when Valerian visited me in the psychiatric hospital, I never bothered to understand why someone as busy as him would spend his time visiting a woman who wasn't even related to him by blood.

Now, standing here, I realize just how much I overlooked.

Valerian's expression doesn't change.

"Whether this is a family matter or not, Kai, you have no right to grab a woman by the wrist or embarrass her in public."

Kai's jaw tightens.

"Uncle, you're making this sound worse than it is. Lynn was the one who proposed to me and now she's suddenly running after you. Don't you think that's strange?"

Several students exchange glances.

I almost roll my eyes.

This shameless bastard is actually trying to make himself look like the victim?

Valerian adjusts his glasses.

"That's between Lynn and you It has nothing to do with me."

"But—"

"And while we're here, I suggest you remember that I'm your lecturer's colleague in this situation, not your uncle who will take your side simply because we're related."

Kai falls silent.

For the first time since I returned to this life I see him struggle to find the right words.

Valerian turns toward me.

"Miss Lynn I expect to see you in class on Monday."

I nod quickly.

"Yes, Professor."

"And please remember to maintain appropriate boundaries with your lecturers."

His words are calm, but they sting a little.

I know he's reminding me of our positions. He's my lecturer, and no matter what I feel for him, he won't allow our relationship to become inappropriate.

He gently places a hand on my shoulder and gives me a slight push backward, creating a little more distance between us.

"Please don't put me in an uncomfortable position, Lynn."

My heart sinks.

I know he's right, but hearing those words still hurts.

I take a step back.

"I'm sorry, Professor."

His expression softens for a brief moment.

"You don't need to apologize Just be mindful of your actions."

Then he looks at Kai.

"And you, Kai, should be more concerned about your own behavior than about what Lynn chooses to do with her life."

With that, he turns and walks toward the exit

Kai watches him leave, his face growing darker by the second.

I watch him too.

I want to run after Valerian again. I want to tell him everything I never got the chance to say in my previous life.

But I don't move.

This time, I'll respect his boundaries.

Even if it kills me.