Chapter 276

Chapter 276:
William had walked away about thirty minutes ago but hadn’t said where he was going.
Stretching stiffly, she stood up and figured she should let him know she was heading back to her dorm.
Thankfully, the research institute was closed today—otherwise, she’d be facing a full day of work with under-eye bags and caffeine shakes.
“William?” she called softly, glancing around. “Are you still home?”
Getting no response, she wandered toward the master bedroom.
She knocked on the door, but then the door creaked open by itself.
“William?” she started to call again, stepping inside. And then froze. In the bathroom, with the door wide open, stood William—shirtless, halfway through changing.
Her breath caught.
She took a quick step back, heart racing, but stumbled straight into the cabinet behind her. A bottle clattered, threatening to fall.
She spun around to catch it in time, hands trembling slightly. When she looked back up, William was already dressed and walking toward her, cool as ever.
He hadn’t expected to see her, but he remained unfazed.
“You needed something?” he asked, his tone calm, almost amused.
She tried to speak, but her face was already burning.
“N-no. I just… you were gone for a while, and I thought I should tell you I’m leaving.”
He stepped closer. “Stella,” he said, his eyes flicking down to her flushed cheeks. “Why are you blushing?”
William’s teasing made her cheeks burn hotter, especially after she’d just barged in on him changing—again. She wished the floor would swallow her whole.
Why was she always so lucky when it came to these awkward run-ins?
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“I’m not blushing. It’s just stuffy in here,” she protested, grasping at dignity but only drawing out William’s amusement.
His deep, velvety laugh curled through the room, wrapping around her nerves and making her pulse stutter.
Every breath seemed infused with his subtle, woodsy scent, the warmth of his presence stirring a flustered heat beneath her skin. If she didn’t escape, she might actually combust.
Gritting her teeth, she gave him a light shove. “The proposal’s done. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving. Goodbye!”
She darted out of his dorm without so much as a backward glance.
But even sprawled across her own bed later, she couldn’t banish the vivid, stubborn memory of William—bare-chested.
Without warning, her heart started thundering in her chest—and before she could make sense of it, a thin trickle ran from her nose.
.
.
.