Chapter 601
If he’d known it would turn out like this, he would’ve swapped with Turner and just waited in the car himself.
After the flower presentation, it was time to take a photo together.
Bowen didn’t do anything until the entire event had finished.
“You did a great job,” the teacher said with a warm smile, shaking Aubree’s hand. “Having someone as talented as you is truly a blessing for Rithol University.”
She chuckled, “With your current status, I honestly don’t know whether to call you Ms. Miller or just address you as a student.”
Aubree returned the smile politely. “No matter what happens in the future, I’ll always be a student of Rithol University. If you start calling me Ms. Miller, I’ll really feel nervous.”
After a few more words, the teacher shot a meaningful glance at Oliver, who was still waiting nearby, and grinned. “Alright, I won’t keep you any longer. Looks like you’ve got something else going on.”
With that, the teacher gathered up the other students who were still finishing up and led them away.
“Aubree… I heard everyone calling you that. Mind if I call you that too?” Oliver asked.
“It’s not like you’d actually listen if I said no,” Aubree shot back, rolling her eyes the moment the teacher was out of earshot.
Aubree wondered if Bowen was already here to pick her up like he had promised. She could not wait to shake off Oliver as soon as possible.
Oliver didn’t mind her cold attitude at all. It was what made it fun for him.
“How about we grab dinner later?” Oliver asked, acting like he didn’t even notice her rejection and just kept talking.
Aubree’s attention was completely elsewhere, not even catching what he’d just said. Her gaze suddenly locked onto the man striding toward her, and her annoyance instantly flipped to delight.
“What took you so long, Bowen?” Aubree called out.
As Bowen got closer and saw the look on her face, the icy look in his eyes finally thawed a bit. Hearing her complaint, he lifted his hands in a helpless gesture, surrendering. “My bad. Some last-minute stuff came up at the meeting and held me up.”
“By the way, I’ll answer on behalf of my girlfriend. Sorry, she’s busy tonight,” he added.
Bowen naturally moved to Aubree’s side and slipped an arm around her waist, staking his claim without saying a word.
Oliver didn’t look the slightest bit rattled by Bowen’s arrival. He even put on a mock-serious tone and said, “Mr. Turner, you’re here.”
Bowen’s brow creased slightly.
“Mr. Lawson, are you aware that making a show of affection toward someone else’s girlfriend is pretty disrespectful?” Bowen said.
“Someone outstanding is bound to attract admirers. I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Oliver scoffed. “Or is it that you’re not confident in yourself, Mr. Turner?”
Bowen let out a laugh, giving Oliver a once-over with a look that was downright picky. “I can’t speak for everyone else, but standing in front of you, Mr. Lawson, I think I can muster up at least a little confidence.”
He added, “After all, Bree isn’t the type to fall for someone who locked her up in an interrogation room, can’t tell right from wrong and throws his weight around.”
Oliver’s face fell for a second, but he quickly pulled himself together. He glanced at Aubree, shrugged, and said, “Well, Mr. Turner, I’m just not cut out for your kind of double standards.”
‘What does that even mean?’ Aubree wondered, freezing momentarily as she instinctively glanced over at Bowen.
Bowen was just as lost, not really sure what Oliver was trying to say.
Oliver just smiled and didn’t press the issue. “Well, since you’re here, Mr. Turner, I’ll take my leave.”
He added with a smirk, “You know what they say, gentlemen chase after fair ladies. Even married couples divorce. You two are just dating, so don’t go thinking you’re irreplaceable, Mr. Turner.”
As he turned to leave, Oliver shot a glance toward a corner of the room. After he walked away, a shadowy figure quickly slipped out from where he’d been looking.