Chapter 40
Tobias didn’t come alone. He showed up holding a bundle of white lisianthus in his arms.
Lisette blinked. “You picked these yourself, Mr. Hastings p>
Did he know that white lisianthus meant “sincere love”? The kind of thing a boyfriend gives to his girlfriend when they’re crazy about each other?
Right then, something waved in front of her eyes and made her pause.
Suddenly, an angry face popped into her line of sight.
A good-looking guy with a cold edge, and his voice matched-sharp, sarcastic: “Lisette, stop trying to get my attention. I don’t care how rich your family is, I’m never going to like you. If you have even a shred of self-respect, stay away from Grace and stop messing with her p>
Lisette stood there like, what?
Yeah, she knew the guy. Lennox Gray.. They were classmates their first two years in college. And he’d been her first serious crush.
Back then, he was that clean-cut guy in a plain white shirt and faded jeans, standing shyly in front of the class giving an intro. His smile had those adorable baby canines that made her heart skip a beat.
She fell hard, fast.
He was driven and warm.
His life basically revolved around class, dorm, and library.
Meanwhile, Lisette was obsessed with novels, while her noisy roommates distracted her nonstop. So she spent a lot of time reading in the library, where, surprise surprise, he always seemed to be too.
Since they were in the same class, it was natural they got closer. He brought her snacks from back home; she invited him out for dinner.
Lisette found out he was on student loans and working his butt off for scholarships, so over the holidays, She started transferring money to him, surprising him with little things now and then.
Once, after he missed out on a prestigious national scholarship and was crushed about it, she secretly asked the class advisor to invent a story about some generous philanthropist and awarded Lennox a made-up scholarship worth ten grand – just to cheer him up.
Before long, their classmates were convinced they were a couple. And Lisette, wrapped up in her rom-com fantasy, believed it too.
Until one night out with friends, when she accidentally stumbled across Lennox holding hands with Grace Coleman, the school beauty from the year below.
Lisette was furious. She confronted him, demanded a reason, and he just said calmly, “We’re not right for each other.” And that was that.
Game over.
Then came a whole other mess that led to her taking a year off from school p>
All those memories, just like that, flashed by.
But what the hell was he even talking about right now?
Lennox was glaring at her, all the hate plain as day. “You were always against Grace, and now you’re trying to snatch the opening performance she worked so hard to get! Do you seriously think I’d dump her for you? Dream on p>
Oh. Now it clicked. This whole meltdown? Was over Grace.
Since Lisette had come back from leave, she’d been in the same year as Grace.
Every year, Aurelian University held a giant Christmas-New Years event, run by the senior class and attended by all kinds of professionals. It basically doubled as a giant luck-based interview.
The opening act was prime real estate. Obviously, Grace must have wanted it badly. But Lisette hadn’t known anything about that.
The class president had asked her if she wanted to sign up, and she just casually said yes. Who got the opening was up to the school staff, not her!
Lisette wanted to explain, really. But Lennox just came barging in, ready to scold her like she owed him something. Please – she wasn’t some saint. Why should she bite her tongue for this guy?
“I Just as she opened her mouth, a cold voice cut in: “If your girlfriend couldn’t land the opening spot, maybe it’s her own lack of talent. What’s it got to do with others p>
Tobias walked over, a bouquet of white lisianthus in his arms.
He was tall – easily a head above Lennox – and carried himself with the kind of effortless confidence that made Lennox instantly shrink in comparison.
Lisette’s eyes lit up when she saw him. A smile broke across her face. “Didn’t you say you hated events like this p>
“Normally I do,” Tobias said, handing her the bouquet. “But I was curious if you’d actually take my advice and play Puppy Waltz p>
“Pfft -” Lisette took the flowers and grinned. “Bet you’re regretting it now, huh p>
Tobias said calmly, “Nope. You played beautifully p>
Off to the side, Lennox stood there like, huh p>
Lisette was openly cozying up to another man – right in front of him. And she didn’t seem shy about it at all. Was she seriously flaunting a new guy just to get under his skin?
Wait, no, that couldn’t be a real relationship. He must be some nobody she dragged in for show. She’d been picking on Grace just to get his attention, hadn’t she?
That had to be it.
Lennox frowned, collecting his thoughts and blurted harshly, “Lisette, no matter how much drama you cause, I’m never gonna like you! My heart belongs to Grace p>
Lisette’s smile vanished. She glanced at him coolly. “Are you seriously okay in the head p>
Lennox froze. That insult caught him off guard.
He scowled, trying to salvage some pride. With a snort, he said, “You think bringing some D-list actor to show off will make me care? What does he even have besides looks?
“Bringing a cheap bouquet to a grand event? Is that supposed to impress anyone? Screams broke and trying too hard p>
Lisette looked at Tobias, then back at Lennox – then burst out laughing.
She was radiant, her grin wicked with amusement. “Wow. He called you a nobody. Guess you’re not all that famous, huh p>
Cradling the bouquet in one arm, Lisette lifted an imaginary mic with the other. “Mr. Hastings, mind giving us a soundbite? How does it feel to be mocked as broke by a random nobody p>
Calling the richest man broke… Oh, that was comedy gold! Lennox, you really outdid yourself!
Lisette just couldn’t hold it in anymore – she doubled over laughing, body shaking, eyes gleaming. Meanwhile, Lennox’s face froze up. “What? Something I said wrong p>
Lisette waved a hand. “Nope, not a thing. You’re never wrong, Lennox. You nailed it p>
Just as he was getting smug again, she added with a bright smile, “You just happened to use yourself as the punchline. We all appreciate the free laugh. But like, it’s not Halloween – no need to scare everybody like that. Let’s keep our heads on our shoulders, yeah p>
Lennox, after graduation, had landed a job at a branch of Hastings Corporation in Veridia.
Hastings Corp was the biggest conglomerate in Sion – getting in wasn’t easy by any means. He’d worked his way up to lead a small team in just six months, wrapped up a major project, and even got a $7,500 bonus last week.
He’d spent $4,800 of it today on a Chanel bag for Grace.
Surely, someone as capable and promising as him could tell Lisette was mocking him.
His face darkened like a thundercloud.
Then out of nowhere, he forced a grin, dimples and all. “It’s fine. I get it p>
Lisette blinked. “Wait… what p>