Chapter 1020:


    She avoided stepping outside altogether, even arranging for groceries to be dropped at her door and only retrieving them once the delivery person had gone.


    While boiling water for coffee that afternoon, her phone buzzed with a new message. Jeff had written: “Ste, the professor has some materials for you. He asked me to check when you’d be able toe by the school to collect them.”


    The message left Ste perplexed. What kind of materials could the professor possibly have set aside for her?


    Ste paused for a moment, thinking before she replied, “I’m free right now. Would an hour from now at the campus work for you?”


    Jeff replied almost immediately, “Perfect. I’ll wait for you in Professor Taylor’s office.”


    She gathered her things in a rush and opened her apartment door carefully, her eyes flicking toward the one across the hall. The thought of running into William made her heart race a little. Luckily, the opposite door stayed shut. No sounds, no movement—just silence.


    Ste let out a quiet breath of relief. Feeling lighter, she hurried down the hall, took the elevator, and rode smoothly to the underground garage. A momentter, she was behind the wheel, heading for the university.


    Still, as she drove, a strange thought crossed her mind—why did it feel like she was sneaking around in her own home?


    When she got to campus, she went straight to Professor Taylor’s office. The professor’s face brightened the moment he saw her, and before she could even settle in, he started chatting about thetest updates on their research.


    Then he paused, studying her face. “Ste, you look exhausted,” he said gently. “Are you overworking again? Don’t forget to take care of yourself. The work can wait sometimes.”


    A warm feeling filled her chest at his kindness. She smiled softly and said, “Thank you, Professor. I’ll try to rest more.”


    He handed her a neat stack of papers. “These are fromst week’s seminar. They might help with your project. Jeff asked me to give them to you—he said you’d find them useful.”


    That surprised her. She hadn’t expected Jeff to be that thoughtful.


    Find more chapters now g?lnσv??ls?c?m


    She flipped through the papers, her eyes lighting up when she saw how relevant they were. “Professor, thank you! These are exactly what I needed. But where’s Jeff? I didn’t see him around.”


    “He’s got sses this afternoon,” the professor replied. “You might catch himter.”


    Ste nodded and exchanged a few more words before heading out.


    As she walked through the familiar campus paths, a calm sense offort washed over her. There was something about the quiet buzz of student life that always helped her breathe easier.


    She hadn’t gone far when the bell rang, signaling the end of a ss. The walkways quickly filled with students,ughter, and chatter drifting through the air.


    Just as she turned toward the parking lot, she heard faint, tense voices from a nearby path. Someone was arguing.


    .


    .


    .<hr>


    Message from Noah: New chapters a bit early this time dear readers, I hope you like them. God loves you, and I wish you all the best. ( ? ? – ) ?


    .