Adrian leaned against the edge of his desk, arms crossed, as Liam presented the latest findings. The tension in the room was palpable, the silence broken only by the faint sound of pages being turned and Liam’s low voice.
“Adrian,” Liam began, setting a folder down on the polished desk, “the photos of Elena Harper and Gabriel Kingsley were indeed uploaded from within the university. We traced the source, and it seems someone is intentionally trying to tarnish her reputation. The IP address belongs to a device used on campus.”
Adrian’s sharp eyes narrowed. “Who?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with an edge that made Liam hesitate.
“We’re still searching it down just one more day, but the intent is clear,” Liam replied. “This isn’t random gossip; someone wants to destroy her image .”
Adrian picked up the folder, flipping through the details Liam had compiled. “What about the other name?” he asked, his voice quieter but no less intense.
“Andrew Harrington,” Liam answered. “He and Gabriel are both best friends. Both seem unusually attached to her, though it’s unclear why. Elena Harper’s background doesn’t suggest any connections to either of them prior to her arrival at Kingston.”
Adrian’s lips tightened into a thin line as he processed the information. “And her hometown? ?”
“Small, quiet, and unremarkable,” Liam said. “Her family runs a modest business. Her father, though, seems… controlling. There’s tension in their relationship based on the conversations I’ve come across.”
Adrian closed the folder and set it down. “Keep digging,” he said curtly. “I want to know who’s behind this and why they’ve targeted her. And Liam keep this discreet. I don’t need unnecessary attention on this matter.”
Liam nodded and left the room, leaving Adrian alone with his thoughts.
—
Elena sat on the edge of her bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. The call with her father still echoed in her ears, his words cutting deeper than she wanted to admit.
“Enough of this nonsense, Elena. You’re wasting your time at Kingston. Come home. The family needs you,” he’d said, his voice sharp and unyielding.
She had tried to reason with him, to explain how much this opportunity meant to her, but it felt like talking to a brick wall. “Dad, I’m doing this for us, for the future,” she had pleaded, only to be met with silence and then the familiar cold dismissal.
Her chest ached as she stared out the small window of her dorm room. The sky was overcast, the gray clouds mirroring her mood. She thought back to when things had been simpler, to the days when her father would play with her in their backyard, spinning her around until she was dizzy with laughter. He had been her hero then, her biggest supporter.
But those days felt like a lifetime ago.
Her stomach churned as her mind replayed the cruel gossip she had overheard earlier that day. Mia’s sharp voice had carried across the lecture hall, dripping with disdain.
“Poor Elena. Guess being a charity case wasn’t enough she had to latch onto Gabriel and Andrew too.”
The laughter that followed had felt like needles pricking her skin.
Elena gritted her teeth, forcing the tears back. She wouldn’t cry again. Not here, not now. She grabbed her jacket and left her room, needing air, space anything to escape the suffocating weight of her thoughts.
—
Adrian found himself walking toward the garden behind the library, a rare habit he’d developed when he needed clarity. The space had once been his mother’s favorite spot, a place she had often described as “a sanctuary for growth and reflection.”
He hadn’t planned to think about her today, but as he stepped into the garden and saw the flowers she had planted still thriving, memories surfaced unbidden. His mother’s voice echoed in his mind, gentle yet firm.
“This university isn’t just a place, Adrian. It’s a home for those who dare to dream beyond their circumstances.”
He closed his eyes, her face vivid in his memory. She had been the heart of Kingston, a woman who believed in second chances and the potential of every student who walked through its gates.
Her loss still felt fresh, even after all these years. And though he carried on her legacy as best as he could, there were moments-like now-when he felt the weight of her expectations pressing down on him.
Adrian exhaled deeply, brushing a hand through his hair. His mother would have wanted him to look beyond the surface when it came to students like Elena Harper. But how could he, when her name was entangled in rumors and scandals that threatened the reputation of the very place his mother had cherished?
Elena wandered aimlessly, her feet eventually leading her to the garden. She hadn’t meant to end up there, but the quiet serenity of the space called to her. She found an empty bench and sank onto it, her head falling into her hands.
The emotions she had been holding back all day spilled over. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks as she grappled with the weight of everything her father’s demands, the relentless gossip, her own insecurities.
She didn’t hear Adrian approach until his voice broke the silence.
“Miss Harper.”
Elena jolted, hastily wiping her face and turning to face him. “Professor Blackwood,” she said, her voice hoarse from crying.
Adrian studied her, his expression unreadable. “I wasn’t expecting to find anyone here,” he said after a moment.
“I just needed some air,” Elena murmured, avoiding his gaze.
He noticed the redness in her eyes, the slight tremble in her hands. For a moment, he considered walking away, but something about her vulnerability held him in place.
“You seem to find yourself needing a lot of air lately,” he said, his tone as sharp as ever, though there was a hint of something softer beneath it.
Elena flinched, his words hitting a nerve. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice firmer this time.
Adrian raised an eyebrow. “You don’t look fine.”
She bit her lip, struggling to keep her emotions in check. “With all due respect, Professor, I don’t think how I look is any of your concern.”
Adrian’s lips twitched, almost forming a smirk. “Fair enough,” he said, taking a step closer. “But if you’re going to fall apart every time the world throws something at you, you might want to rethink your decision to be here.”
Her head snapped up, anger flashing in her eyes. “I’m not falling apart,” she said, standing abruptly.
He met her gaze, unflinching. “Good. Then prove it.”
For a moment, they stood in tense silence, the air between them charged. Then Adrian reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, holding it out to her.
“Here,” he said simply.
Elena hesitated before taking it, her fingers brushing against his briefly. “Thank you,” she said quietly.
Adrian nodded, stepping back. “I’ll leave you to your air,” he said before turning and walking away.
Elena watched him go, her emotions a whirlwind of frustration, gratitude, and confusion. For all his coldness, there was something about him that made her feel seen in a way she couldn’t explain.
She clutched the handkerchief tightly, a small but unexpected lifeline in the chaos of her day.