Julia Garcia''s hope plummeted at Jack''s guarded demeanor. Last night, Max had told her Jack had left the bar with a girl, but she hadn''t believed it. She''d tracked him to the hotel. It was true.


    She''d been foolish, trying to win over Jack''s mother and spreading rumors of an engagement to get closer to him. He''d always been distant.


    Jack stared coldly at her, saying nothing. She didn''t dare approach him further. A waiter arrived with a food cart. Jack took it, ncing at Julia Garcia. “Excuse me."


    She stepped back, her voice tinged with resentment. “Jack, I just.....”


    He closed the door without a word, wheeling the cart to Alice.


    Alice nced at the door. “Who was that?” It sounded like a woman.


    Jack''s voice was calm. Room service. He handed Alice a bag. "Change your clothes."


    Alice looked at the bag, then at herself. How was she supposed to change without anything to cover herself?


    Jack turned around."Go ahead. I won''t look."


    She blushed, finding fresh clothes and underwear in the bag. She quickly changed. I''m done."


    Jack turned back, pushing the cart closer. "Eat something."


    Alice was hungry. She sat on the bed, ncing at him. Want some?”


    His phone rang. He went to the balcony. His voice hardened."Spit it


    "What happened with Little Lemonst night?"


    Jack sounded ufortable. "Mind your own business."


    "Dude, did you sleep with her? What now?"


    "No, I wouldn''t touch her."


    out


    ''Good. You still have some sense. She''s not right for you. Stay away from her."


    He looked at Alice eating, his gaze softening. His voice was tinged with bitterness."I know." He knew better than anyone. But he was trapped.


    He changed the subject. "How''s the investigation going?"


    "It''s the Garcia family. That white lotus from the Windham family is also at the business school, in the same ss as Julia Garcia''s sister. She manipted Max to target Alice, leading tost night."


    Jack thought of Julia Garcia''s arrival.“Are Max''s bodyguards taken care of? Make sure they shut. their mouths."


    ''Done. But Max probably saw you leave with Alice. The Garcia family might suspect you have another woman."


    Jack rubbed his temples. No one can know about her. It''s not good for her." He knew she wanted to escape the Windham family. Knowing about their rtionship would only bring her more


    trouble.


    "That''s easy. But what about Alice? Last night could have beep disastrous if we hadn''t been


    39.0%


    there!"


    "Didn''t you


    say Max often bullied ssmates? Find her most serious offense and expose it. Let the Garcia family deal with their daughter." Jack knew Alice didn''t want his interference, but that didn''t mean he wouldn''t act.


    He texted his secretary: Clear the hotel!" He didn''t want anyone to see Alice. He had to protect her.


    Back in the room, Alice finished eating. She looked at him, her eyes flickering. Jack checked the time. "Do you have sses today?"


    "In the afternoon."


    "If


    you


    don''t feel well, you can skip them."


    I''m fine. ss isn''t tiring; I just sit there. She felt awkward, unsure how to face him, how to navigate their situation.


    He saw her difort and smiled."Afraid to be with me?"


    She stammered, “No! I just... don''t want to skip ss."


    "Skipping ss is part of college life.”


    Seeing her struggle, he stopped joking."I''ll take


    you to school."


    She breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly freshened up and left with him.


    In the parking garage, Jack drove, Alice in the passenger seat. Her seatbelt got stuck.


    He leaned over to help her. Their faces were close. A sh of memory - had this happened before? It felt familiar.


    His heart pounded. He quickly finished fastening the belt and sat back. Alice nced at him, the scene lingering in her mind. Had she dreamt it? They drove in silence to the campus.


    Jack said calmly, "Tell me if you have any trouble at school."


    Max would likely cause more trouble, but the Garcia family would soon have their own. problems.


    "I can handle it. I''ll go."


    She walked towards school. Noah appeared.“Alice, are you okay? Chloe said you disappeared from the barst night. I looked for you all night."


    Alice scoffed."Chloe told you? She''s such a hypocrite."


    “Alice, you misunderstood Chloe. She was with me, looking for you." He exined, "She''s changed. She''s worried about you."


    Alice was speechless.


    Noah spotted the love bites on her corbone. He grabbed her hand. "Alice, what happenedst night? Were you... assaulted? Tell


    your brother!"


    “Let go!” Tears welled up in her eyes. She pped him. ''Want to know what happened?