Emma was exasperated. "Evelyn, Cassie, can you release me? I'm capable of walking on my own."Evelyn retorted. "If we let go of you, you'll bolt."Emma's hands were restrained; otherwise, she would have raised them in a pledge. "I'll go with you; I promise I won't run."Evelyn countered. "I hope we can trust your promise."Emma said, "You can trust me. Can you let go of me now?"They finally released Emma.Evelyn then said, "Emma, you don't look like you're short on cash. Why this constant focus on making money? Life is fleeting, gone in an instant. We must enjoy our youth; it's not a waste to have some fun."Cassie agreed. "Evelyn is spot on. Money is endless, work is endless after graduation. College is our last chance to be carefree. Don't waste it all on making money."Emma kept quiet, thinking to herself, 'I have to fend for myself, unlike Evelyn and Cassie, who are pampered with monthly allowances from their parents. I need to be strong to live the life I want as I have n
Evelyn said, "This water is for your crush. If you spot a hunky senior you like, go ahead, and give him the water. If he takes it, it's a sure sign he's into you too."Emma had a lightbulb moment. "I get it now." But then, she tilted her head back and gulped down the entire bottle in one go.Evelyn was nearly fuming. "You got it, so why the heck did you drink it? And in one gulp? What about your image?"Emma retorted. "Because I'm not into guys."Cassie chimed in. "Don't speak too soon. Wait till you see dozens of buff and hot seniors oozing charm and pheromones. I bet you'll find someone you like."As they were talking, the loudspeaker blared. "Everybody, take your seats, our athletes are about to make their grand entrance.""Ah..."The cheers from the girls hit a fever pitch as the athletes started marching in, loud enough to almost rip the sky open.The announcer boomed, "Entering now, the Chucklewood University basketball team."The basketball players were towering giants,
As soon as Emma heard Deborra's name, she looked up and saw her across the court in the front row.Deborra seemed to be watching Emma. When their eyes met, Deborra quickly shifted her gaze back to Ron on the court, her look clearly smitten.Emma's curiosity spiked as she tried to imagine Ron with the girl he was into, but she could not picture it.Soon after the preparations, the game started.Ron was in the starting lineup. Less than two minutes in, he nailed a three-pointer from downtown. Emma was not much of a basketball buff, but the thunderous applause made it obvious—Ron's shot was spectacular.Evelyn and the other two were jumping for joy. "Holy smokes, Ron is freaking amazing. Too bad the heartthrob is already taken. Otherwise, I'd definitely be running over to give him a drink later."Cassie laid it out. "Even if Ron was on the market, he wouldn't give us the time of day."Evelyn asked, "How so?"Cassie explained, "When all the other players walked in, their eyes were
Ron's look was complicated and dark; Emma was startled, quickly ducking her head to avoid his stare.An empty water bottle struck Emma out of nowhere. She jerked her head up, locking eyes with Ron as expected. His lips moved slightly as if to say, "Lift your head, don't be a coward."Emma straightened up immediately, chest out, sitting upright.Cassie returned at that moment, clutching a bottle, after evidently failing to deliver water. Ron shifted his gaze away. Cassie caught the moment Ron looked away, then glanced at Emma."Ah, Emma, was Ron just looking at you?""No. Don't start rumors," Emma replied.Cassie sighed. "What a pity!"The halftime break was quickly over. Some players were substituted, but Ron was still on the field. He shone the brightest, tireless, scoring more than anyone else.The whole crowd was cheering for him, and by the end of the game, Ron had gathered a bunch of new fans. The whole place was chanting Ron's name.Before anyone knew it, the game was ov
The guy asked, "You got someone special?"Emma replied, "Nope."Hearing that, the guy breathed a sigh of relief. He thought that as long as Emma was not interested in someone else, he still had a chance. He believed that he just needed to lay on the charm, keep being Mr. Nice Guy, and eventually, she would see it.Suddenly, Cassie gave Emma a hard nudge. "Emma."Emma shot her a puzzled look. "What's up?"The guy's gaze drifted to Cassie as a silent plea etched into his eyes.Under his intense gaze, Cassie's resolve hardened, and her cheeks flushed. "Emma, maybe don't shoot him down so fast. Think it over back at the dorm?"Eden felt a lifeline was thrown his way. "Emma, my name is Eden McCann, senior in the Archaeology Department.""Nice to meet you, Eden," Emma replied politely.Eden launched into his pitch. "People say archaeology is a dead end, but it's my passion, and it promises a steady future. I'm a Valtara local, an only child. We're not rolling in dough, but my folks
Ron ignored Deborra and continued walking. He moved with long strides, each step almost double that of Deborra's, forcing her to sprint to catch up. "Ron."Ron was visibly annoyed when Deborra blocked his way. "What is it?"Deborra pulled out her smartphone and opened a video. "Look at this."Although Ron initially showed no interest in the video on her phone, the sound of Emma's voice and Eden's confession of love to Emma in the video caught his attention.He glanced at it; unlike the typical reactions of blushing or shyness, Emma's expression was taut, intensely serious. It was kind of cute, in its own way.He raised an eyebrow. "What are you trying to tell me?"Deborra could not guess what he was thinking and was cautious not to make her words too harsh. "I know Emma is the fiancée your grandfather chose for you, but others don't know that. It's normal for them to confess to her."Ron gave her a cold look. "I'm close with your brother, not so much with you. 'Ron' isn't a name
Joshua said, "Hugh, Ron, don't worry. I've got this. She won't be a problem anymore, Ron."Hugh responded, "Yeah, keep her in line. She's the belle of our university. She's got to maintain some dignity."With that, Hugh and Ron walked away.Once they were alone, Hugh mentioned the game's theme song search. "I heard you're still hunting for the perfect theme song for your game. What exactly are you looking for?"Ron replied, "Something that matches the game's vibe, something that makes you want to play the game the moment you hear it."Hugh pondered for a moment. "You've been approaching famous musicians; their music is top-notch, but they might not necessarily be gamers. Your game seems to be popular among college students. Why not scout for talent on college campuses?"Ron nodded. "The marketing department is already on it."Hugh, a bit deflated, said, "I thought I had a brilliant idea to contribute, hoping I could share in the credit. Turns out you're already steps ahead. I ca
Emma was a maestro of several musical instruments, holding internationally recognized certifications that made her hourly tutoring rate soar above the average. By teaching just two classes a day, each an hour long, she earned more than many who toiled in conventional jobs.The two hours of lessons might appear insignificant, but teaching children required mental stamina that left Emma feeling somewhat exhausted after each session.Therefore, she looked for a third job that would be physically rather than mentally exhausting. She still needed to reserve energy for her studies. Earning money was crucial, as was her education. Failing a course was not an option for her.By the time her classes ended, it was already nine at night. But in Valtara, it was hardly late.Just then, a message from Evelyn popped up: [Are you done with classes?]Emma replied: [Yes, just finished.]Evelyn quickly sent over a location before texting: [Cassie and I are already here. Hurry over. Also, let us kno
Emma turned and dashed into the bathroom. She cranked the faucet on and splashed water on her face, aiming to soothe her nerves.Although they were engaged, they were still too young, with countless uncertainties looming over their future. The possibility of actually walking down the aisle was up in the air.Decisions made in a rush of happiness could eventually become sources of regret. And Emma knew all too well that she couldn't afford any regrets.She thought that fortunately, Ron hadn't pushed things further, which gave her time to cool off.After freshening up, Emma stepped out to find Ron on the balcony, a cigarette in hand.She couldn't resist chiding him, "I've told you to cut down on smoking. Why can't you seem to remember?"This time, Ron complied, snuffing out the cigarette. "We should get some sleep. We've got to put our best foot forward when we meet your family tomorrow.""Okay, I'll sleep on the couch. You take the bed," Emma responded.Ron simply replied, "As y
Ron looked at her dawdling pace with disdain. "If you, a lady, can handle it, why can't I, a grown man, stay?"His words sounded noble, but Ron regretted them the moment they arrived at the hotel.Despite now earning a decent income, Emma was still reluctant to spend money.This place was hardly a hotel; it was clearly a budget inn charging only a few dozen bucks a night. The hygiene was questionable at best, and safety seemed like a gamble.Ron turned on his heel, dragging her suitcase behind him. "We're leaving, now.""It's too late, and we can't get a refund for the room.""Are you trying to get us killed?"Emma fell silent, her thoughts a whirlwind of frustration. 'I told him he wouldn't be used to cheap places. He insisted on coming with me, and now he won't even let me stay here alone. Why is he so annoying?'However, considering Ron had rushed over in the middle of the night to help her, Emma decided not to hold it against him.Ron picked the best hotel in the area—the
Rebekah glanced over at Ron; she exchanged a knowing look with him before saying, "I'll have someone tidy up the rooms. Why don't you two stay here tonight and keep me company?"Ron replied simply, "Sure."Emma had purchased a midnight flight back to South Florivera, necessitating a rush to the airport, which made staying over after dinner impossible.Yet, she found herself at a loss for words, struggling to decline Rebekah's kind offer.As she hesitated, Ron stepped in to clear the air. "Mom, I've got something on tonight. After dinner, I'll drive Emma back to her dorm."Rebekah raised an eyebrow. "What's so important?" she wondered aloud, thinking, 'Wasn't he the one insisting Emma stay over? What's he up to now?'Ron kept it mysterious. "Life stuff."Rebekah could not help but chide him lightly, "You, always the joker."Right after dinner, Ron insisted on leaving to take Emma back to her dormitory. But as soon as they were out of the gated community, he asked, "So, you reall
Ron chuckled. "I didn't know you were aware that even a cornered rat will fight."Emma shot him a glare. "Are we going or not?"Ron quickly said, "Of course. When Miss Blue commands, how can I dare not obey?"Fearing another of his notorious driving escapades, Emma hastily buckled her seatbelt as she settled into the car.Thankfully, this time Ron kept it smooth, driving steadily.As they neared their destination, Ron finally spoke up, "You know, that Tucker guy is a married man. Don't let his kindness fool you into being the other woman."Emma's gaze on Ron was fiery, seething with anger. "Do you even hear yourself? Is that what you think of me? For the last time: Tucker and I share nothing more than a mentor-mentee relationship. There's nothing else between us.""I'm just looking out for you, worried you might get deceived," Ron said, witnessing Emma's fury for the first time. Yet, he could not help but find her anger not at all intimidating, but rather endearingly foolish.R
The two sisters had a pact: no cell phones at home to keep their secrets from the prying eyes of the Blue family. Thus, Emma could call only at prearranged times, the sole window for Rihanna to catch up.Rihanna's voice bubbled with excitement over the phone, as she chattered away about her life's minutiae.Knowing Rihanna was doing well eased Emma's mind.Just as Emma was about to end the call, she heard Rihanna's voice, soft and wistful. "You're really not coming home for the holidays? If you don't, I'll be all alone."Emma's heart clenched at those words, and she made up her mind in an instant. "I'll come back the day before New Year's Eve."The Blue family had their hands full with festivities that day, too busy to notice Rihanna's absence. Emma figured slipping back unnoticed then would be her best shot.After hanging up, Emma immediately booked a flight from Valtara to South Florivera. With her ticket secured and her last bit of work finished, Emma prepared to leave her off
Emma had no interest in romance, let alone the audacity to dream that Ron might fancy her.This time, she did not pick up the thread of conversation.After dinner, Ron, as usual, drove Emma back to the university.Before parting, Ron said, "Winter break is almost upon us, and the dorms might be off-limits. Are you sure you don't want to stay at my place for a couple of months?"Emma offered a smile in response. "Thanks for the offer. I've spoken with the dorm supervisor and submitted an application in advance. I'll be able to stay over the holiday period."Ron paused before saying, "Well, if you need anything, just let me know. I'll text you my number in a bit; make sure you save it."Emma nodded. "Sure."Without further ado, Ron drove off.Upon returning to her dorm, Emma saw Evelyn and Cassie, busy packing their bags, surrounded by gifts for their parents bought from Valtara.Evelyn asked Emma, "Are you really not going home for the winter break?"Emma replied, "No, I won't
Emma did not have the guts to risk failure because she did not have a safe haven to fall back on.Lucas kicked Ron in the shin. "Come on, if you fancy her, out with it. No Hagrid heir dithers like this."Ron glared at him. "Mind your own business." In his head, Emma was already his. The thought of losing her was unimaginable.Lucas said, "Without my meddling, she'd never be yours."Ron changed the subject. "I called you here for a serious discussion."Lucas replied, "No matter how serious, it can't outweigh the matter of your lifetime happiness."Ron was exasperated. "Lucas!"Lucas relented. "Alright, alright, you talk, I'm all ears."Ron spelled out Emma's music venture with Tucker. After hearing it all, Lucas could not help but see Emma in a new light."Never pegged Emma as such a dark horse," Lucas said.Silently listening to their conversation, Emma was thrilled to have her work recognized.Lucas said, "But, getting back to it, whether a song makes money, and how much, d
Ron barked, "Lucas!"With a chuckle, Lucas responded, "Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing Emma. I'm starving. Let's grab some food and talk business while we eat."Ron snapped, "Get lost!"Lucas could not help but revel in Ron's frustration. "Ron, have you fallen so quickly? Who was it that told me they would never accept an arranged marriage?"Emma was increasingly confused by their banter. "If it's inconvenient for me to be here, I can just take a cab and leave."Ron said, "Call you dumb and you won't admit it!"Emma thought to herself, 'I didn't want to be a third wheel, cramping their style. Was that really so wrong? No good deed goes unpunished, apparently.'Suddenly, Ron grabbed Emma's hand and led her inside. "It's cold out; let's go inside."Emma had to quicken her pace, practically being dragged along.Seeing them together, Lucas laughed heartily from behind. "Ron, oh Ron, never thought I'd see the day.""Don't laugh too soon. Your day is coming," Ron shot back.Th
Emma said, "Okay."Ron asked, "Have you won over your crush?"Lucas responded, "Secret."Ron replied, "Looks like you haven't won her over."Lucas said, "As long as I make a move, there's no girl I can't win over. But I haven't made a move yet because the timing isn't right."Ron asked, "Is it because of the Sandow family?"Lucas answered, "The Sandow family wants to marry their daughter to me, and my family wants me to marry her too. But I've told them long ago that I'm not willing to do that. Nobody can make me marry a girl I don't like."Emma remained silent. 'I didn't expect that Lucas would also have the same problem as me and Ron.'It seems like the wealthier the family, the more they'll arrange marriages based on social status without considering personal preferences.'Lucas seemed to sense Emma's thoughts. "Emma, my situation with the Sandow girl is different from yours and Ron's. Don't lump us together."Ron looked at Emma and suddenly said, "There isn't any other gi