Chapter 3

3.

I planned to text my mentor to ask for a leave of absence once I reached the airport.

But he called me before I could even get through security.

"Avery, where are you? Get over to the design institute. We need to talk about your restoration project."

I felt a heavy weight in my chest.

I hadn't told him yet that the building had been burned to the ground.

I had no choice but to head back to the university.

To my surprise, Cillian was there, deep in conversation with my mentor, Professor Miller.

When the Professor saw me, he waved me over.

"Avery! Sit down. Cillian and I were just talking about you."

The moment Cillian saw me, his expression soured.

He caught my eye and immediately looked away with a look of pure disgust.

The Professor sensed the tension and opened his mouth to say something to fix the vibe.

Before he could, a figure popped through the door.

"Is everyone here? Professor, why didn't you invite me? I have some great ideas for this project."

It was Sadie.

She walked in like she owned the place.

Cillian immediately moved toward her, adjusting her coat and frowning.

"It's freezing outside and you're wearing this thin thing? Don't come crying to me when you get sick."

His words were a scolding, but his tone was pure sugar.

Sadie laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek naturally.

"What? Now that you've got company, I can't even act a little spoiled?"

They looked like a couple that had been together for decades.

It was as if this intimacy belonged to them, not us.

I kept a faint, polite smile on my face. I felt nothing.

Professor Miller looked at me, then cleared his throat awkwardly to get them to separate.

Sadie looked at me with a triumphant glint in her eyes.

"Avery, Cillian and I are just playing around. We used to play house like this when we were kids. Don't be mad."

Cillian was still holding her hand, rubbing it to keep her warm.

He looked at me and furrowed his brow.

"Ignore her, Sadie. Avery has always been petty. She can't help herself."

I actually laughed out loud.

In the past, I cared about him, so I acted 'petty' and jealous.

But the love was gone. I didn't care who he touched anymore.

"Relax. You two can do whatever you want," I said with a shrug.

Sadie's face froze. She didn't expect me to be so indifferent in front of Cillian.

Cillian reacted instantly, glaring at me.

"What is wrong with your attitude? Sadie is your junior. Think about her feelings before you speak."

I bit my tongue, wanting to scream at him.

But I realized I didn't have the energy.

His cold, hateful eyes were enough to make my own eyes sting.

I looked away, forcing the tears back.

For two years, he had treated me like this whenever Sadie was around.

I should have been used to it by now.

Professor Miller stepped between us with a set of blueprints.

"Avery, I heard about the fire. I'm so sorry for your loss."

I didn't say anything, knowing Cillian must have been the one to tell him.

"I have a new project. I know there's tension between you two, but this project really needs both of you to cooperate."

Before I could even reach for the blueprints, Sadie snatched them.

She pulled Cillian close, and they started giggling over the designs.

Professor Miller kept his eyes on me, his expression full of pity.

I shook my head at him. "I'm fine, Professor."

Sadie waved the papers in the air, acting like they were already hers.

"Professor, I can do this. Why don't Cillian and I take this on together?"

"You know we have the best chemistry since we grew up together. It'll be much easier for us to collaborate."

She directed those words at the Professor, but she was looking at me with a smirk. "Right, Avery?"

The word 'chemistry' felt like a punch to the gut. I paused, then smiled.

"I guess so."

Cillian looked at me, his expression turning strange, like he wanted to say something.

I knew exactly what he'd say if the Professor wasn't there.

He'd say, "Sadie didn't mean it like that, we're just close, stop overthinking."

But with the Professor there, he stayed quiet.

He knew the Professor would see right through his lies.

I was the only one who had been stupid enough to believe him.

Professor Miller looked grim. After a long silence, he spoke carefully.

"Sadie, this project isn't that simple. It requires a relationship with zero secrets and total trust."

Sadie squeezed Cillian's hand and looked up at him.

"Cillian, tell him. That's exactly what we have, right?"