bChapter /bb248 /b

For several bdays/bb, /bEthan Haxton had been unusually attentive to his phone, The Princeton social media tform had been buzzing with posts about Jade and the new student, Ss Murphy. One post imed she’d loaned Silus her notes. Another mentioned seeing her in line for his cafeteria window. The most recent one reported seeing Ss getting into Jade’s car.

Ethan scrolled through thements, his expression unreadable. Connor watched him from the corner of his eye, trying to gauge his boss’s reaction to these developments.

“Connor,” Ethan said suddenly, setting down his phone. “What’s my schedule for this evening?”

“You have the monthly physical at the medical center at 6:30, Connor replied promptly.

Ethan nodded and typed out a text to Jade: Free after yourst ss. Coming to see you

Her reply came a few minutester: Have something to do. I’ll see youter.

al center. I’ll go to Jade’s afterward,” Ethan said, his voice bcontrolled/b.

“Let’s head to the medical

During the drive, Connor kept stealing nces at Ethan, trying to read his mood. Ethan caught him looking and raised an eyebrow

“What is it?” Ethan asked, his voice edged with bice/b.

Connor swallowed hard. “Nothing, sir.”

The hospital was crowded when Ethan arrived for his monthly check–up. As he and Connor bstepped /binto the elevatorb, /bEthan noticed a familiar figure at the bend /bof the hallwayde, walking alongside a tall, thin young man. Even from a distance, Ethan recognized Ss from the social bmedia /bposts

“Sir?” Connor asked, noticing Ethan’s sudden stillness.

Connor followed Ethan’s gaze and spotted Jade disappearing into an elevator with Ss. Understanding dawned on his face.

By the time they reached the fourth floor, the elevator doors were just opening

Ethan stepped out, his expression surprised as he spotted Jade standing there alone.

“Ethan,” she said, her voice revealing nothing. “What are you doing bhere/b?”

“Monthly check–up,” he replied smoothly, though his eyes searched behind her for Ss. “And you? Are you feeling unwell?”

She shook her head. “Just visiting

e someone.”

The young man with you?” Ethan asked, his tone carefully bcasual/b,

12:28 Sat, Sep b27 /b

“His mother,” Jade rified. “She bhas /bkidney failure. She’s been admitted.”

“And the young man? A friend of yours?”

Jade tilted her bhead/b, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Are you having an age crisis, Ethan? He’s just a ssmate.”

“I’m not concerned about a teenager, Ethan said with a dismissive smile. “Where is he now?”

“He left,” she replied simply.

re me?” Ethan’s mouth curved into a satisfied smile.

“You asked him to leave before me?”

“Yes.”

They stood in the crowded hospital lobby, people rushing past them on all sides. Ethan studied her face, searching for something- perhaps a hint of what she was hiding.

“This new ssmate,” Ethan said. “You seem to be taking a special interest in him.”

Jade met his gaze steadily. “Maybe I am.”

Ethan’s eyes

narrowed slightly, but before he could respond, a group of visitors pushed between them, forcing them apart. When the crowd cleared, Ethan reached out and took her bhand/b, guiding her through the throng btoward /ba quieter section of the corridor.

She didn’t pull away, letting him lead her through the crowd, her face betraying nothing. “Did you need something?” she asked once they were in a less congested barea/b.

“No,” Ethan admitted, still holding her hand. “I just haven’t seen you in a few days.”

“How are

your eyes?” he asked, leaning closer to examine her face. “bCan /byou see clearly now?”

“Yes,” she replied, meeting his intense gaze.

For a moment, they stood there in silence, surrounded by the chaos of the hospital yet somehow separate from it.

Connor approached them hesitantly. Til go get the car.”

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