All Chapters of Layover : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Ella stood in her kitchen humming softly as she prepared breakfast.Her phone buzzed.A message from Sophie.Sophie: Don't forget we're meeting after work. I refuse to let you cancel because a certain lecturer has stolen all your free time.Ella laughed.She quickly replied.Ella: He's not stealing my time.A second later...Another message appeared.Sophie: Really? Because someone smiles at her phone every morning now.Ella rolled her eyes.Ella: You're impossible.Sophie: And you're in love.Ella stared at the message.Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.For the first time...She didn't deny it.Instead...She locked her phone and smiled to herself.Across campus...Victor had just finished a faculty meeting when his secretary knocked gently on his office door."Dr. Hayes?""Yes?""You have a parcel."He looked surprised."For me?"She nodded and handed him a neatly wrapped package."There wasn't a sender's name."Victor thanked her and closed the door.Inside the package was a f

Victor stood outside the Academic Ethics Committee room, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat.Despite everything Professor Morgan had uncovered...His stomach remained in knots.The truth was on his side.But truth alone didn't always protect a reputation.The door opened."Dr. Hayes?"A university administrator smiled politely."The committee is ready for you."Victor nodded."Thank you."Inside the conference room...Five committee members sat around an oval table.The Dean occupied one seat.Professor Morgan sat nearby with a thick folder of documents resting before him.The committee chair adjusted her glasses."Good morning, Dr. Hayes.""Good morning.""As you're aware, this meeting concerns a complaint alleging an inappropriate relationship between yourself and Miss Ella Anderson during the period in which you supervised her postgraduate research."Victor nodded calmly."I understand.""Before we begin, is there anything you'd like to say?"Victor took a slow breath."

Victor stepped into the Dean's office.The door closed quietly behind him.The committee members were already seated.Professor Morgan was there.The Dean offered Victor a seat."Thank you for coming, Dr. Hayes."Victor sat.His heart remained steady.There was nothing more he could say.Everything that needed to be said...Already had been.The committee chair folded her hands."We have completed our review."Silence filled the room."We examined the complaint.""The supervision records.""The departmental correspondence.""The witness statements.""And the official transfer documents."She paused."Dr. Hayes...""We found no evidence whatsoever that your relationship with Miss Ella Anderson began while she was under your academic supervision."Victor closed his eyes briefly.Not in celebration.In gratitude.The chair continued."The evidence clearly establishes that professional boundaries were maintained throughout the supervisory period.""The relationship began only after Miss A

Victor stood before his lecture hall, but for the first time in years, his thoughts weren't on the day's lesson.They were on a single sentence."You have to go."Ella had said it with a smile.But now...He wondered if she'd smiled only to keep him from feeling guilty.He adjusted his glasses and walked into the classroom."Good morning, everyone.""Good morning, Dr. Hayes."He smiled politely."Let's begin."Across the city...Ella stared at a report spread across her laboratory desk.Numbers.Charts.Research notes.Normally, they fascinated her.Today...She had read the same page four times.Her supervisor noticed."Ella?"She looked up."Sorry.""You've been distracted all morning."She forced a smile."I'm fine."He studied her for a moment before nodding."If you need the afternoon off, let me know."She smiled gratefully."Thank you."That evening...Victor sat alone in his office.His computer screen displayed the fellowship documents.Accommodation Confirmation.Research Sc

Victor barely slept.Professor Morgan's words echoed through his mind all night."Protection without honesty often looks exactly like rejection."For the first time...He realized he had made the very mistake he always warned his students against.He had made assumptions.About Ella.About her dreams.About what she wanted.Without asking her.The following afternoon...Victor stood outside the Food Innovation Research Centre.Employees streamed out of the building as the workday ended.Finally...He saw her.Ella.She looked exhausted.When she noticed him...She stopped walking.For a brief second...Neither of them moved.Victor took one careful step forward."Ella..."She forced a polite smile."I thought you'd be busy preparing for Cambridge."The distance in her voice frightened him more than anger ever could."I need to talk to you."She looked away."I don't think there's anything left to say.""There is."She sighed softly."Victor...""I heard you."His heart sank."You hear