Adam disliked being caught between two women; he should end things with Celine.

Robin heard a knock. She dressed and opened the door. "Who is it?"

It was Celine. She carried nothing but the gift Mary had given her. She looked at Robin and smiled bitterly. "Robin, I have nowhere else to go. Can I stay with you?"

Robin quickly pulled Celine inside. Celine's hands were cold, so Robin rubbed them. "Celine, what's wrong? Why are you here in the middle of the night? That's dangerous!"

Celine smirked faintly. "Carly fell down the stairs today, and now Adam's not allowed to share a room with me. So, I got kicked out."

Robin froze, her hands trembling before she embraced Celine tightly. "Damn those two scumbags!" Her eyes reddened, and her voice cracked. "How can they… how can they keep bullying you like this?"

The next day, Celine registered at Yorhine University. Thanks to James's meticulous arrangements, everything went smoothly. She was placed in Class 12 of the medical program.

She sat alone in the back row. Friendly students nearby tried to introduce themselves. They buzzed with excitement. "Mr. Lambert himself is teaching us today! He's a devoted pioneer of medicine and a true giant in the field."

"Mr. Lambert rarely teaches anymore, and this class was added last minute. We're so lucky!"

It was a familiar name. Celine, sleep-deprived, felt drowsy. She yawned and rested her head on the desk, hoping to nap.

Moments later, the noisy classroom fell silent. The students returned to their seats—James had arrived.

James commanded respect everywhere, whether in medicine or at Yorhine University. His presence exuded authority. As he stepped onto the podium, his sharp gaze swept the room—he was searching for someone.

This impromptu class was an excuse to meet Celine. Adam, his nephew, had mentioned his stand-in bride. More intriguing, Adam had personally approached James on her behalf. That piqued his curiosity.

James scanned the room, his tone calm but firm. "Where is the new transfer student, Celine?"

The students eagerly pointed. "Mr. Lambert, she's over there."

Following their gestures, James saw Celine—fast asleep, her head resting on her folded arms. He blinked, momentarily speechless.

As Adam's wife and someone James vouched for, he decided to exercise patience. With a sigh, he descended the podium and approached her desk. Standing beside her, he cleared his throat loudly and purposefully.

But Celine, exhausted, slept soundly. James was speechless. He knocked on the table, waking her.

Celine blinked awake, her drowsy eyes meeting his. James assessed her, but he also saw her assessing him.

"You're…"

"You're James?" she asked, her voice soft but direct.

James froze. For years, decades even, no one had addressed him so casually. Yet here she was, using his name as if they were old acquaintances.