A woman as exceptional as Jade would never struggle to find a suitor.
However, stunning looks weren't always a blessing; sometimes they were a burden.
She had once been harassed by a faculty member.
Although Professor Darwin had stepped in to protect her, he couldn't shake the feeling that his star pupil needed a powerful man to truly keep her safe.
It was a practical mindset-finding a solid anchor for her future.
As Professor Darwin and Jade climbed into the back seat, Dane instructed his driver
to take them to the restaurant first.
He turned to Claire. "Let's take your car."
Claire hopped out of the passenger seat. "Alright."
Only then did the professor realize there was another young woman present.
Who was she?
She seemed awfully close to Dane.
But from what he knew, Dane was an only child with no sisters.
The girl's identity was obvious.
The realization left Professor Darwin feeling slightly annoyed.
He wasn't upset that Dane was taken; he was annoyed at his own lack of foresight.
If he had known the man was off the market, he never would have brought Jade along. This was incredibly awkward.
He didn't want to accidentally ruin her reputation.
Someone who didn't know better might assume she was his illegitimate daughter, given how much he doted on her.
Jade was deeply disappointed as well. The professor had spent all week hyping up how young and successful Mr. Green was.
She had caught onto her mentor's matchmaking hints and secretly harbored her own hopes.
But who could have guessed that she'd show up only to find another woman standing by his side?
While Professor Darwin might not have recognized the girl, Jade knew exactly who she was.
After all, the public apology looping in the cafeteria for three days straight made it impossible not to notice her.
Everyone on campus recognized the underclassman by now, and they all knew she wasn't someone to cross.
Who else doled out threats of jail time and public humiliation so easily? No one wanted to be on her bad side.
When her peers gossiped about the drama, Jade had memorized the girl's face.
If she ran into her, she'd steer clear.
Making a detour was totally fine!
Still holding out a shred of hope, Professor Darwin probed the driver.
"Do you happen to know who the young lady with Mr. Green is?"
The driver obviously knew.
But he was a professional who kept his mouth shut.
"You'll have to ask Mr. Green about that, sir. I'm sure he'll introduce her at dinner."
Good point.
The professor dropped the subject.
Soon, they arrived at the restaurant.
True to plan, Claire and Dane pulled up right behind them.
Jade watched closely as Claire stepped out of the driver's seat.
That car...
It was something she could never afford.
How could a freshman be so wealthy?
She was driving a Porsche Panamera.
Jade hated to admit it, but a bitter knot of resentment tightened in her chest.
It was a toxic mix of envy and jealousy.
She had been raised by a single mother. Her father had supposedly passed away before she was even born.
Coming from a single-parent household, she knew how hard her mother had worked to provide for her.
That was why she studied so relentlessly.
She wanted to be the perfect
daughter
and
to make her mother
eventually give her a
veroud
comfortable life.
Yet, it took one look at this affluent underclassman to shatter her hard-earned pride
into pieces.
Given her modest background, the
professor's attempt to set her up
with someone like Mr. Get
utterly delusional.
How could she ever be worthy of a man of his stature?
Meanwhile, someone like Claire, who
casually drove a luxury car, looked
like a flawless match standing next.
to the billionaire.
Noticing his student spacing out, Professor Darwin frowned. "Jade, are you alright?"
Jade quickly shook her head. "I'm fine, Professor. It's windy out here. Let's head inside."