Chapter 3

When the meals were served, I was overjoyed. Every dish tasted exactly the way I liked it. I was so happy that I showered him with praise.

Morgan's smile was so wholesome. "I'm glad you like it so much! Oh, how about I make your meals every day from now on as a sign of gratitude? Please. It's the only way I know how to repay you for your act of kindness."

He looked so sheepish as he waited for my answer. It was like... looking at a cute, wholesome little puppy.

Excitement bubbled up inside me, and I found myself nodding. "Sure!"

That evening, Morgan stayed at my house.

…

The next morning, I woke to find the house spotless.

Surprised, I asked, "Did you clean all this up?!"

"Yeah. I felt like keeping my hands busy," Morgan replied bashfully. "Hey, so... I know a diner around here that makes the best breakfast. Wanna go together? My treat."

I nodded.

Morgan went upstairs to get his things while I got ready to take a morning shower.

Just then, Xavier returned carrying a box of strawberry-flavored cake and a breakfast set.

His voice was flat as he greeted me. "Morning, Maddie. Have your breakfast. It's bad to skip a meal."

I didn't want that. I was already eager to try the diner Morgan had told me about, after all. Hence, I shook my head and replied candidly, "I'll pass."

Xavier frowned as though a thought had just occurred to him. "Are you still mad about last night? Why? I told you Reyna sprained her foot at the college. I couldn't have possibly ignored that. Stop being so small-minded and jealous."

"It wasn't that. I just wanted to celebrate my birthday with my..."

Xavier suddenly noticed the freshly washed pajamas hanging on the balcony and asked sharply, "Who wore my clothes?"

For some reason, I felt a twinge of guilt. But then again, Xavier had told me to explore myself and consider an open relationship, so I had done nothing wrong.

"Well, a new friend I met borrowed them," I replied.

A shadow of displeasure flashed across Xavier's eyes before his expression relaxed, as though he had reached a conclusion.

Massaging his temple, he said tiredly, "Maddie, this is so immature. You went out, found the first guy on the street, and brought him home to wear my pajamas just to get a rise out of me?"

I blinked. "Huh?"

"You shouldn't have done that! You know how limited your judgment is. You could've been duped and taken advantage of so easily!"

Xavier always thought I was stupid. He had always believed that if I ever left him, I would be completely helpless. And yet, Morgan didn't see me that way. We had only met and talked for a few hours the night before, but he had praised my intelligence more times than Xavier had in years.

He thought I was incredible for recognizing every luxury brand and designer item I saw. He thought I was amazing for knowing the price of a bottle of wine off the top of my head and realizing that the manager had massively inflated it to punish him.

He said I wasn't stupid. I was just reluctant to apply myself. At worst, I only seemed dull-witted because I was too lazy to think things through.

I had liked hearing that, which was why Xavier mocking my intelligence again pissed me off so much.

I was about to fire back when I heard Reyna call from outside, "Professor, is Maddie upset again because she misunderstood our relationship? I don't know why she's so obsessed with my presence..."

Xavier's attention immediately shifted to her. He hurried over, took her hand, and helped her up. "Why are you here? Your foot hasn't recovered!"

She leaned against his shoulder and said sweetly, "Because I got worried about the two of you fighting over me. I feel bad about it."

She walked over to me with an innocent look in her eyes. "Maddie, I'm telling you honestly, our relationship is purely professional. He's my professor, and I'm his student. There's nothing more to it, and I don't want Professor Bates to suffer unnecessary misunderstandings."

Oh, was that so?

Her dress looked new. In fact, I had seen it on Xavier's online shopping receipt.

I also remembered the Instagram post she had made the night before. It was a photo of Xavier paying the bill with the caption: [I'm glad you're here.]