Chapter 482: Storm Off
Hayley’s POV:
“This city must be pretty small. Ran into him at the bar last night, and now we bump into him here? If that devil’s got his eyes on us, we’re in for trouble.”
Benjamin hadn’t given it much thought, but hearing my words, he quickly realized Daniel was behind this. With a slight raise of his right hand, Benjamin pointed at Daniel, speaking in the most matter-of-fact tone, “Idiot.”
Daniel, who had been basking in his smugness, immediately flushed with anger. He slapped the back of the chair in front of him, yelling, “Who are you calling an idiot?”
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. In a deliberately sarcastic tone, loud enough for everyone to hear, I said, “Isn’t it rare for someone to admit to it themselves? How fascinating!”
As soon as the words left my mouth, chuckles rippled through the crowd. Seeing Daniel’s embarrassed expression only made their laughter grow louder.
Freya was furious. She shot to her feet, ready to storm off. Daniel grabbed her wrist in frustration, demanding, “Where do you think you’re going?!”
“After such a public humiliation, you’re just going to stand there and do nothing? Worse, you want to leave me to face it alone?”
Freya yanked her arm free with a sneer. “If you want to embarrass yourself, go ahead, but don’t drag me down with you. I’m not interested in sharing your shame!”
With that, she stormed out without a second glance. Daniel glared at Benjamin and me, his jaw clenched in frustration. Eventually, he stomped off as well.
I turned to Benjamin with a playful grin. “He loses his cool way too easily, doesn’t he? If something like this sets him off, how’s he supposed to be an Alpha heir?”
Benjamin chuckled, extending his hand toward me. “Pleasure working with you.”
I smiled back and shook his hand firmly. “Pleasure working with you!”
At six in the evening, Benjamin parked the car outside the campus and walked me back to my dorm. After spending the weekend together, the polite distance between us had disappeared, replaced by a newfound closeness. We walked side by side, shoulders brushing, our hands intertwined—not too tight, not too loose. It felt as if no matter how far we walked, our hands would always stay connected, like we were meant to hold on forever.
He was busy, no doubt about it. But my life felt even busier, like a spinning top that never stopped. It seemed like this weekend had been the only time entirely ours. Who knew how long it would be until we’d have another moment like this?
Suddenly, I remembered something and stopped in my tracks, uncertain. “Wait, didn’t I bring my suitcase with me?”
Benjamin let out a resigned chuckle. We’d been so preoccupied holding hands when we got out of the car that we’d both forgotten about it. Reluctantly, he let go of my hand, playfully brushing my nose with his finger. “You wait by the dorm entrance. I’ll go grab it.”
With that, he turned and walked back toward the car. I stood there, watching until his figure disappeared around the corner, before heading toward the dorm entrance.
The moment I stepped inside, confetti cannons went off, and colorful streamers rained down on me, covering me from head to toe.
“Congratulations, Hayley!”
“Welcome back, Hayley!”
“Hayley, you’re amazing! You’re my idol!”
“Wow!”
Caught off guard by their enthusiasm, I laughed awkwardly. “Thanks!”
While brushing the streamers off my shoulders, I looked at them, puzzled. “But…what exactly am I being congratulated for?”