Chapter 1

I suddenly stopped panicking and quietly found a corner to sit down in.

When Zack Fenton noticed, the tension between his brows seemed to ease a little.

Maybe he was relieved to see me being 'reasonable,' because he finally took the initiative to speak.

"Cheryl, shouldn't you thank Dr. Hemingway for lending you the lab to celebrate your birthday?"

His student, Cheryl Smith, immediately curved her eyes into a sweet, obedient smile.

"Thank you, Ms. Hemingway!"

Before she even finished speaking, she slipped her arm around Zack's naturally and affectionately.

"But the person I should thank most is Zack. He actually made my birthday wish come true!"

The room instantly erupted into teasing and envious laughter from the other students.

"Mr. Fenton seriously spoils Cheryl. This lab is Ms. Hemingway's private territory. If it weren't for her birthday, how would any of us ever get in here?"

"Exactly! Cheryl is the first female student Mr. Fenton has personally accepted into the group in five years. Of course she gets special treatment!"

"The C6 Lab hasn't let anyone in except Ms. Hemingway all these years. Cheryl's amazing. Being able to throw a birthday party here is a huge deal!"

Cheryl stuck out her tongue playfully, barely able to hide the pride written all over her face.

Meanwhile, I sat silently in the corner, a dull buzzing filling my ears.

Last week, I had stayed late in the lab as usual, working until eleven at night.

When I got home, I was surprised to find Zack still awake, sitting in the living room waiting for me.

For a brief moment, a quiet happiness rose in my chest.

I thought he had finally remembered my birthday.

But all he did was stand up and say, "Lend me the keys to the lab."

The C6 laboratory in West University's research building had been specially reserved for me.

That was one of the conditions I insisted on when I chose to stay here, and naturally, I was the only one with the key.

However, when he asked for it, I handed it over without a second thought.

What I never imagined was that he only wanted it to fulfill another girl's casual birthday wish.

My gaze drifted unconsciously to my bare wrist.

The watch he gave me when we got married three years ago had accidentally gotten damaged. Back then, he smiled and coaxed me, promising he would buy me a new one for my next birthday.

Three birthdays had passed in the blink of an eye.

The new watch never came.

I always made excuses for him.

He was too busy.

He forgot.

Now I realized there had never been any need for excuses at all.

His attention had simply long since wandered elsewhere.

When it came time for the cake, everyone started laughing and smearing cream on each other's faces.

Then, somehow, a huge blob of cream accidentally got onto Zack's cheek.

The room fell silent instantly.

As the youngest and most accomplished professor at West University, Zack always appeared approachable on the surface.

But in reality, he was obsessively clean.