?Chapter 981:


    She didn’t need anyone to say it out loud—she knew what they were thinking. She shouldn’t be back. That it wasn’t fair.


    And maybe it wasn’t. But what could she do? She couldn’t change their opinions. She sure as hell couldn’t force them to like her. So she kept her head up and pushed forward, pretending not to notice.


    She was a few steps away from herb when a voice called out from behind.


    She turned. Lainey was hurrying over, eyes wide, clearly relieved to see her. She gave Ste a once-over, then asked, “You’re back! Are you okay? How’ve you been holding up?”


    Ste gave her a small, tired smile. “I’m alright. Everything’s… settled, more or less.”


    Lainey exhaled, visibly rxed, and gently touched Ste’s arm. “I was so worried. I kept thinking about calling you, but I didn’t want to bother you. For a second there, I thought you might note back.”


    Seeing the genuine concern in Lainey’s eyes, Ste felt something soften inside her—a small flicker of warmth.


    “Thanks, Lainey,” she said with a smile. “But you know me—I don’t break that easily.”


    Laineyughed. “It’s nice to see you thinking this way. Oh, right—our university’s anniversary is next week. You should’ve gotten an invite. Want to go back and check it out?”


    The university anniversary?


    Ste blinked, caught off guard by how fast Lainey switched topics.


    The university felt like a whole different world now—far away and kind of unreal. Her first reaction was to say no. She wasn’t exactly in the mood for parties or reunions, and thest thing she wanted was to bring down the vibe for the students or faculty.


    Lately, even the idea of socializing felt exhausting.


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    “It’s kind of a big deal this year,” Lainey pressed on, sensing her hesitation. “You haven’t seen your advisor in forever. Why not drop by? Who knows—maybe it’ll open some doors for you.”


    Lainey didn’t try to guilt-trip her or y the nostalgia card. She justid out two solid reasons, and Ste started to reconsider.


    The refusal was right on the tip of her tongue… but she paused.


    Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Maybe she’d run into someone who could help her get out of the rut she was stuck in.


    So, she gave a small nod. “Alright. Going back for a visit isn’t a terrible idea.”


    Lainey’s face lit up with excitement. “Great! Let’s go together then. I know you’re not into big crowds or awkward small talk—I’ll run interference, keep the chit-chat to a minimum.”


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