The moment Amber and Tillie walked into the classroom, Amber let out a massive sneeze.
Tillie held her arm to steady her, and Vance quickly rushed over with some tissues. "Amber, did you catch a cold this afternoon? I told you we should've gone to the hospital, but you refused. This is definitely the aftermath."
Amber shot him a glare. "Can't you say something nice for once?"
Tillie chimed in, "Where did you guys even go this afternoon? Also, Amber, you didn't tell me—why do you have scratches on your face? Amber..."
"Ugh, since when did you become such a worrier? We didn't go anywhere special, just walked around town. You wouldn't believe it, but this giant of a guy is actually super fragile. Did you know he completely passed out from heatstroke? I had to sit there watching over him forever, and he wouldn't wake up. I even had to carry him. Look, all these scratches are his fault."
As Amber joked, she rolled up her sleeve to show Tillie. But before Tillie could look, Lucian—who had just walked in to check if Joanne had arrived for evening classes—snatched Amber’s wrist. "You really spent the afternoon walking around town with him?"
Amber was speechless.
Vance hated the way Lucian was gripping Amber, acting furiously possessive as if she belonged to him. He stepped in, forcefully prying Lucian's fingers off her wrist. "Is that any of your business?"
"Yeah!" Tillie agreed. "Lucian, Amber can hang out with whoever she wants. Who are you to police her?"
Lucian’s eyes widened, especially when he noticed the scratches on Amber’s arms and face.
For some inexplicable reason, a sharp pang hit his chest. "Fine, whoever you hang out with is none of my business. But Amber, can you at least have some standards? Vance? Are you that desperate? That lonely?"
Vance snapped. "You son of a..."
"Lucian, what’s with this passive-aggressive attitude? Acting like my 'new guy' isn't as good as you? I'm desperate? If you're mentally ill, go to a doctor, but are you blind too? Clearly, you're beyond saving; otherwise, you wouldn't have settled for someone like Joanne."
"I'm sorry, but even if Vance was my boyfriend, he's infinitely better than you. At least he's not toxic. Unlike you, who is rotten to the core!"
"Amber!" Lucian lunged, looking ready to strangle her.
Just then, Joanne—who Lucian had been calling all afternoon—walked into the classroom with her backpack. "Amber, why are you being so vicious? If Lucian is toxic, you're the one who enabled him. What, just because Mr. Madison has your back now, you think you're too good for Lucian? No matter his flaws, haven't you been following him around since elementary school?"
Lucian was overjoyed to see her. "Joanne, why weren't you answering my calls?"

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