All Chapters of The Billionaire's Distraction : Chapter 31 - Chapter 39

Exams crept in like an overcast sky—slow at first, then suddenly everywhere, heavy and suffocating. The campus transformed in response. The laughter that used to echo across the dormitory floors faded into hushed whispers. Lounges once buzzing with music now carried only the flickering hum of fluorescent lights. Cafés that served as social sanctuaries emptied, replaced by last-minute cramming and bleary-eyed students clutching overpriced coffee cups. Even the air felt different—tense, charged with nervous energy. It was like the whole school was holding its breath. Lucia moved through it all like a ghost. Focused. Tired. Quiet. She wasn’t the type to pace or panic. She didn’t cram in hallways or pull all-nighters with energy drinks stacked beside her. She studied with methodical calm, even when her fingers trembled from lack of rest. Some days, it felt like her body was held together by caffeine, grit, and sheer willpower. One exam bled into another. Essay questions that blurred

One week.Seven nights of glitter, music, and dim lights. Of fake smiles and heavy trays. Of short catnaps in the morning and a body that never quite felt rested.This had become Lucia’s routine.She’d wake up late in the afternoon, drink two cups of coffee with no sugar, pull her hair into a messy bun, and head back to work as the sun dipped behind Valemont’s skyline. The rhythm was mechanical now. Auto-pilot. Wake, walk, serve, smile, sleep. Repeat.The downtown lounge was decent enough. High-end in its own way. Chic lighting, velvet seats, and just enough class to draw the attention of the nouveau riche—those with money, but not quite taste. Flashy watches. Loud laughter. Tips that were generous if you played your cards right.But it was nothing like Ember Lounge.That place had been elite—quiet, refined, dripping with old money and restraint. A place where men arrived in tailored suits and women sipped martinis without staining their lipstick. Here… it was a touch louder. Less cu

The whiteness pierced first. Then came the sterile scent—antiseptic and cold. Lucia’s lashes trembled against the sharp lighting as she tried to peel open her eyes. Everything felt heavy. Her throat was dry, her body sore, her mind disoriented. “Mia…” she croaked, barely more than a whisper. Her hand fumbled weakly to the side, searching the air in blind desperation for the small, familiar warmth of her best friend’s touch. But instead of Mia’s small, soft hand, her fingers were swallowed by something larger. Warmer. Smooth, but calloused. Masculine. Her brows furrowed slowly, her head dragging itself over the pillow to face the direction of the touch. Adrian. Her dry lips parted slightly, breath catching in her throat at the sight of him—rumpled and unshaven, his white shirt half-unbuttoned, eyes sharp with fatigue but sharper with something else. Relief? “W-Where’s Mia?” she ma

Adrian finally returned to work. He wasn’t thrilled about it, but he had to sort a few things out, attend to some unavoidable meetings, and he had to make up for suddenly disappearing during an important meeting . Still, his mind had stayed behind—right there in that VIP hospital suite with her. So he left strict instructions with the bodyguards stationed outside her room. They were to ensure Lucia had everything she needed and report any unusual movement, even a whisper out of place. Over the next 32 hours, Mia and Sarah never left Lucia’s side. Not once. Even after Lucia had begged them to go home, at least to rest a little, they refused. Sarah only left once—to bring back food from her house along with soft flannel pajamas and a tote of essentials. Together, the three girls turned the sterile hospital room into their version of a sleepover. There were no movies or snacks, but there was laughter. Comfort. A strange sense of safety Lucia

“Lucia?” Marcus’s voice was immediate, anxious. “Are you okay? Where are you?” Lucia leaned back against the headboard, her voice soft but steady. “I’m fine, Marcus. I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier. It’s been... a lot.” “I’ve been worried sick,” he said. “Haven't been able to get across to you. But two girls dropped by and said something happened to you. What the hell happened?” She smiled faintly at the edge in his tone. “Exams, night shifts, stress. My body just gave out. But I’m better now. I’m—uh—resting somewhere safe.” “You’re not at the dorm?” “No,” she said, hesitating for half a second. “I’m staying with… a friend. Just for a few days.” Marcus paused, but didn’t press. “Lucia, you should’ve told me. I could’ve helped cover your shifts or something.” “You already do too much,” she said, touched. “But thank you. Really. I’m lucky to have you.” She'd known Ma