chapter1234

For a split second, both professors wondered if they'd walked into the wrong room. How did they end up standing outside this man's door? Connor Jefferson was practically a legend, never seen around campus, and now they'd just run into him like this? It had to be a dream. Mr. Russo even pinched his own arm just to be sure.

Ouch. Definitely not a dream.

Connor glanced at their stunned faces, then stepped aside, quietly making space at the door. His voice was calm, polite. "Please, come in."

The words snapped Dr. Tomlinson and Mr. Russo out of their daze, like a jolt of electricity. So this was the right room. Lydia was really here. With him.

Lydia was only eighteen, a college freshman. In their minds, she was the model student, the one who always did everything right. Seeing her with another man, even if it was someone as impressive as Connor, just felt... too fast, didn't it?

Inside, Lydia had already changed into cozy loungewear. She heard the door open but when her professors didn't immediately come in, she guessed they were still in shock. She couldn't blame them. She had actually suggested that Connor give them some space, but he'd refused. There was nothing she could do. Looks like the professors would just have to deal with the surprise.

Please, come in, professors. Oh, and... this is my fianc , Connor.

If the professors' minds hadn't exploded before, they certainly did now.

Fianc ? Connor? Wasn't the rumor that Connor was engaged to Lucinda, the Norwood family heiress? Since when was he Lydia's fianc ? What was going on?

Connor seemed more than pleased with the introduction, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Lydia watched the professors, both of them completely speechless, and could only sigh. She knew she had to explain.

Lucinda isn't actually the Norwood family's biological daughter. That news just hasn't been made public yet."

Lydia might as well have been dropping grenades. Mr. Russo and Dr. Tomlinson were barely keeping up.

So... the real Norwood heiress was...

It hit them both at once. Lydia. Her

last name was Norwood. That

meant Lydia was the Norwood family's real daughter. The engagement between the Norwood

and lefferson families was actually Between Lydia and Connor

Suddenly, everything made sense.

Their families had arranged the engagement since they were kids. It was all perfectly legitimate.

"I see... so that's it. Lydia, I never would have guessed you were the real Norwood heiress," Dr. Tomlinson managed.

Lydia gave a little smile. I didn't expect it either. Life really does like to keep us on our toes. Please, sit down."

Finally, the professors let

themselves relax a bit and sat gently

on the sofa. Still, with Connor in the

room, the tension didn't completely fade is presence was just

intense. They weren't really sure

what to say to Lydia with him right there.

Connor seemed to notice, his voice low and thoughtful. "Let me make you both some tea. You can talk."

The fact that Connor Jefferson was personally serving them tea left the professors feeling a little starstruck. Maybe he wasn't as cold as

everyone said. In fact, he seemed

pretty considerate.

Connor poured tea for the professors and a cup of warm milk for Lydia before quietly heading to the other room.

Once he was gone, the last bit of tension melted away. The professors could finally breathe.

Lydia broke the silence. "So, how are the students holding up?

Dr. Tomlinson answered, "We've prepared them as much as we could, but ever since we arrived in Country D, they've all been on edge. Honestly, John and I are nervous too."