Adam didn’t like being stuck between two women; he should end things with Celine.


    Robin heard someone knock on the door. She put on her clothes and opened it. “Who is it?”


    It was Celine.


    She didn’t bring anything and only had the gift Mary gave her. She looked at Robin and smiled bitterly. “Robin, I have nowhere else to go. Can I stay with you?”


    Robin quickly pulled Celine in. Celine’s hands were cold so Robin rubbed her hands. “Celine, what’s wrong? Why did youe here in the middle of the night? That’s dangerous<b>!</b><b>” </b>


    Celine curled her lips into a faint smirk. “Carly fell down the stairs today, and now Adam’s not allowed to share a room with me. So, I got kicked out.”


    Robin froze, her hands trembling before she reached out and pulled Celine into a tight embrace. “Damn those two scumbags!”


    Her eyes reddened, and her voice cracked with emotion. “How can they… how can they keep bullying you like this?”


    The next day, Celine arrived at Yorhine University to register. Thanks to James‘ meticulous arrangements, everything went smoothly. She was ced in ss 12 of the medical program.


    She sat on thest row alone. The students beside were friendly as they tried to introduce themselves too.


    They buzzed with excitement, “Mr. Lambert himself is teaching us today! He’s a devoted pioneer of medicine and a true giant in the field.”


    “Mr. Lambert rarely teaches anymore, and this ss was addedst minute. We’re so lucky!”


    It was a familiar name.


    Celine, who hadn’t slept well the night before, felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her. She yawned and rested her head on the desk, hoping to catch a quick nap.


    Momentster, the once noisy ssroom fell silent. The students hurried back to their seats–James had arrived.


    Jamesmanded respect wherever he went, whether in the medical field or at Yorhine University. His mere presence exuded authority. As he stepped onto the podium, his sharp gaze swept across the room–he was searching for someone.


    This impromptu ss wasn’t just a lecture; it was an excuse to meet Celine:


    Adam, <b>his </b>nephew, had already mentioned this stand–in bride. More intriguingly, even Adam had personally approached James on her behalf. That alone was


    enough to pique his curiosity.


    James scanned the room, his tone calm but firm. “Where is the new transfer student, Celine?”


    The students eagerly pointed in unison. “Mr. Lambert, she’s over there.”


    Following their gestures, James’s gazended on Celine–fast asleep, her head resting on her folded arms.


    He blinked, momentarily speechless.


    As Adam’s wife and someone James vouched for, James decided to exercise patience. With a sigh, he descended the podium and approached her desk. Standing beside her, he cleared his throat deliberately, the sound loud and purposeful.


    <b>But </b>Celine, utterly exhausted, had already slipped too deeply into her dreams to notice.


    James was speechless. He knocked on the table, and it woke Celine up.


    Celine blinked herself awake, her drowsy eyes lifting to meet the man standing before her.


    James assessed her closely but he also saw her doing the same.


    <i>“</i>You’re…”


    “You’re James?” she asked, her voice soft but straightforward. novelbin


    James froze for a moment, as everyone had always respected him. It had been years or decades since anyone had addressed him so casually.


    And yet here she was, uttering his name like they were old acquaintances.