Chapter 214

It smelled good, comforting in a way that made her want to relax.
She blinked, then lifted her arms, looping them around Andrew Lane’s waist.
He noticed right away and pulled her into a fierce hug.
A soft smile played on her lips, but in the next second, her expression froze.
Behind her, Andrew’s arms trembled so much that it was impossible to ignore, no matter how hard she tried.
She spoke quietly. “Andrew, what’s wrong? Why are your hands shaking so much?”
He drew a long, shaky breath. When he replied, his voice was rough and low, nearly breaking.
“How long has he been doing this?”
She answered in a small voice, “Since the start of the semester.”
He went silent for a moment, sounding defeated. “So it’s been four months already. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to worry. You’re starting your own business—I didn’t want to take up your time.”
Andrew’s voice dropped even lower, almost a growl. “If you keep things from me, that’s when you really get in the way. Do you realize what could have happened if I hadn’t come in time? Is that what you want-for me to lose my mind?”
Her heart gave a sharp, painful twist.
“Andrew
He hugged her tighter. “If anything like this ever happens again, you tell me first. I’ll take care of it.”
She nodded softly after a moment.
As he let her go, she clung to the edge of his shirt, panic flickering across her face. “Andrew, is he did he die? Should we run?”
Andrew actually let out a short laugh.
“He’s not dead. And you don’t need to run. Leave it to me.”
“For now, your most important job is to go home and get some rest.”
She managed a small, trusting smile. “Okay. I believe you.”
Standing beside Andrew, she was a mess-her clothes filthy, but her face bright and innocent, lit up with hope.
That scene began to blur, fading into another, until the girl’s face slowly became Isabella Austin’s.
The one Andrew was shielding was no longer her, but Isabella.
Emily Blair’s eyelids fluttered closed, her fingers curling into her palms.
A dull ache settled in her chest. Everything was different now, and every memory of the past felt like a fresh wound.
Maybe, if this were her former self, she would have asked: “Why did you just stand there and watch? Why didn’t you help me?”
But now, she would never voice such a ridiculous question.
She knew that if she dared to ask, she wouldn’t need Andrew’s answer-the
laughter and scorn of everyone around her would be answer enough.
Her expression smoothed out, calm and distant, as she turned to go. “Hold on.”
Alex White’s lazy voice drifted over from behind, tinged with a mocking smile.
“Emily Blair, did I say you could leave?”
Before she could even react, the man she’d just left behind rushed forward, blocking her path.
Emily glared at him coldly. “What do you want now?”
Alex was dripping wet, wearing nothing but swim trunks and a white towel draped over his shoulders—the towel barely hiding the sculpted lines of his chest and abs.
He let out a low, amused laugh.
“Since you’re here, why not take a dip?”
He moved closer.
Emily automatically took several steps back, keeping her guard up.
Until she bumped into a wall of bodies behind her the group of men blocking her escape.