Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 571

"Stella, we have an incredibly handsome new professor this semester. Half the girls in school signed up for his class, and I'm totally crushing on him too."

Hearts practically floated out of Cecilia Eames's eyes as she spoke, proving she was entirely enamored with this ridiculously good-looking professor.

Stella Hawthorne playfully pinched her friend's cheek. "Ms. Eames, unless my memory fails me, the university has a strict ban on faculty-student relationships. Don't tell me you forgot?"

"Stella, you're squishing my face! Let go!"

Cecilia batted her hand away. "Of course I know it's against the rules! Can't a girl just admire him from afar in secret?"

"As long as you know. Just don't let your hormones do the thinking."

"Ugh, I know, I know. I'm starving—let's just eat already."

Cecilia was genuinely worried her friend might start lecturing her. Stella was terrifyingly capable; she could put a grown man on the floor with one finger!

...

The next day.

Julius Blackwood personally drove Stella to the airport.

Pulling her into a tight embrace, he murmured reluctantly, "Come back soon. Don't forget you have a lonely husband waiting in an empty house for you."

"I know. I'll head straight back as soon as I wrap things up."

"Then promise me you'll video call me at least once a day."

"I can't guarantee that. Sometimes work gets crazy and I lose track of time."

It wasn't that she didn't want to humor him, but her schedule was erratic. There had been times she'd literally fallen asleep at her lab bench.

"You better not get so busy that you forget to eat. I won't allow it. You can't let yourself go hungry."

"Okay, okay, I promise I won't starve myself. Relax."

If she let him keep talking, he'd probably demand to buy a ticket to Bay City and follow her.

"Then promise me you'll call whenever you have a free second. It doesn't matter what time it is."

She immediately whipped out her phone and snapped several pictures of the hug.

"Stella Hawthorne, you sly bitch. I can't believe you already have my Julius, yet you're still hooking up with other men behind his back. Let's see him try to defend you when I show him this evidence."

Yvonne still harbored deep, simmering resentment over Stella "stealing" her man.

Her father had explicitly warned her to leave Stella alone, but she simply couldn't swallow her pride.

Julius was supposed to be her fiancé. They grew up together. What gave Stella the right to waltz in and snatch away the man who rightfully belonged to her?

If this evidence caused a rift that led to a divorce, Yvonne was positive she could seamlessly step back into Julius's life.

That man belonged to her, and no one was going to take him away.

Lydia Hale, Yvonne's friend in Bay City who had come to pick her up, noticed her muttering to herself while snapping photos. Confused, Lydia asked, "Yvonne, what are you whispering about?"

"Nothing. Hey, see that couple up ahead? Do you know who that guy is?" Yvonne gestured subtly toward Stella's direction with her chin.