Chapter 455: Who Locked Me In?
Hayley’s POV:
I tried dialing my phone again, and this time, the call went through. “Hey, Hayley…” Benjamin’s voice came through the speaker. I quickly filled him in on what had happened, keeping it brief. About 30 minutes later, Benjamin arrived at the school and freed me. He pulled me into a tight hug, his worry evident as he asked, “What happened? How did you end up in there?”
I bit my lip and answered, “I have no idea who locked me in.” Before I could say more, Benjamin interrupted, “Why didn’t you call me sooner?” I gave him a sheepish smile. “I was working on this problem, and I lost track of time.”
Benjamin sighed, exasperated, and gently ruffled my hair. “You’re locked in a bathroom, and yet you’re still thinking about homework? How determined can you be?” I didn’t want to continue down that path, so I gave him a pleading look and quickly changed the subject. “I’m starving. Want to grab something to eat?”
Benjamin’s expression softened, and he took my hand gently. “Okay, let’s go. I know just the place.” It was nearly midnight, and the school cafeteria had already closed. Benjamin called a restaurant, and after a quick chat, he arranged for them to send a meal over to the school.
I dove into the food eagerly, not caring about eating neatly. I was just too hungry. Benjamin laughed and said, “Slow down. No one’s going to take your food.” I chuckled awkwardly. “I’m just really hungry…” Though I said that, I did try to slow down and eat more politely.
After I finished most of my meal, Benjamin asked again, “So, what exactly happened?” I had a strong hunch about who might have been behind it, but I wasn’t entirely sure. I answered, “I’ll handle it. I think someone might’ve accidentally locked me in.”
Benjamin’s brow furrowed. “Are you sure it was an accident?” I realized then that he, like me, had enhanced awareness as an Alpha. I spoke seriously. “Without proof, I can only assume it was an accident.”
Benjamin sighed deeply. “As your fiancé, your future husband, it stings to feel like you don’t need me sometimes,” he said. Hearing this, I quickly reassured him, “It’s not that I don’t need you. It’s just a small thing that I can handle. I love and need you more than anyone.”
Seeing me flustered, Benjamin smiled softly and pulled me into a hug. “Alright, I was just teasing. You handle it for now, and if you can’t, let me know.” I nodded. “Got it.” By the time I finished eating, it was almost 1:00 AM. Benjamin walked me back to my dorm.
The next morning, Loretta was surprised when she saw me. “Hayley, when did you get back?” I explained, “Around midnight.” Loretta nodded. “You’re always in the library. I find it so inspiring. When will I have your level of dedication?”
I gathered my books and stood up. “Let’s go. Professor Cain’s class is first.” When we arrived at the classroom, Kirsty was chatting with some classmates. The moment she saw me, her smile wavered, and her face froze. However, one of the classmates greeted me cheerfully. “Good morning, Hayley!” I smiled and responded, “Good morning.”
The same classmate asked, “You weren’t feeling well yesterday. Are you feeling better today?” As soon as I heard that, I knew something was off. I calmly asked, “I’m fine. Who told you I wasn’t feeling well?”