Olivia talked about how Hugh had once spent afternoons ying basketball with


    his ssmates, his backpack had been stuffed with love letters in secret, and how he had led Olivia to safety on that stormy night when the power went out in the


    library.


    As she spoke, Olivia leaned in closer to Hugh and Serena, her smile bright.


    "The power went out, and there was a typhoon outside. I was so terrified. If it weren''t for you, I don''t know what I would''ve done. You took me out, shielded me all the way to the dorms, and even gave me your jacket..."


    Serena listened intently. For some reason, her heart tightened. That was a side of Hugh she had never seen, a side of her ally she never knew.


    She looked up at him.


    He was much older than her, with more life experience. High school must have felt like a distant memory to him. Did he ever miss those carefree days?


    She was lost in her thoughts, and her mind drifted.


    But Hugh''s eyes grew colder. When Olivia brought up those supposedly romantic moments, he cut her off in a t tone.


    "The power went out during the typhoon. If you hadn''t taken my deskmate''s notes, we wouldn''t have rushed out looking for you. We were cramming for exams.


    The room fell silent.


    Olivia stopped speaking. A flicker of panic shed in her eyes.


    She didn''t expect Hugh to remember what happened during high school. And he even remembered in such detail. Couldn''t he at least give her a little room to embellish the story?


    Serena tilted her head, confused. So all that talk about a wild and romantic high school memory was just about retrieving some notes.


    Before she could fully process it, Hugh continued, "Olivia, I know you''ve been through bankruptcy and a divorce, but don''t sugarcoat the past. Pinning your hopes on other people or clinging to fantasies won''t help you. It''s better to focus on building a solid future now that you''re back."


    With that, Olivia''s triumphant expression faded into shock and pale embarrassment.


    Fantasy?


    But Hugh was standing right in front of her, just as handsome as she remembered him. He was even more mature now.


    He was the man she had once secretly loved but had to give up because of her family''s downfall. How could she possibly let go?


    Just as she was about to bring up more memories to win him over, Serena said, "Then let''s not dwell the past. We should enjoy the


    present. Since you''re Hugh''s biel. ne


    school friend, I''d be happy to show you around."


    "But what about me?" Hugh asked, his gaze deep with displeasure.


    How could Serena care about his ssmate more than him, her ally?


    Serena was caught off guard, frowning. "She''s your ssmate. It''s only right that we host her properly."


    She wasn''t particrly fond of


    Olivia.


    rtiowever, considering Olivia''s


    rtionship with Hugh, she was


    willing to set that aside and treat Olivia with proper courtesy


    What exactly was Hugh upset about?


    Upon hearing her use the word "we", it finally eased some of Hugh''s frustration.


    He slowly calmed his emotions and found a suitable excuse.


    "I want to hear you talk about your mom''s work."


    Letting more people know about Amber''s art was what mattered most. And she could only feel proud if such a great ally of hers


    move


    appreciated Amber''s work.


    Without hesitation, she nodded. "Alright. I''ll have someone else show Olivia


    around. I''ll take you to see my mom''s work."