Chapter 301 Marcus Confesses: I Have Feelings for Someone
Amidst applause and cheers, the spotlight swept across the central table, then settled on a couple seated there.
"Well, well! Looks like we've caught a couple!" the host exclaimed. "Would you two introduce yourselves?"
Azalea rose gracefully, taking the offered microphone. "Hello everyone, I'm Azalea Gray from the Bioinformatics Department."
"And what about that handsome gentleman beside you?" the host prompted. "Won't you introduce yourself?"
Leopold remained motionless, his expression impassive.
Azalea smiled indulgently. "I'll do the honors. This is my boyfriend, Leopold Wipere. He's not a student here—he came specially to accompany me tonight."
"Wow!" Her words triggered an immediate wave of envious murmurs.
"Lucky guy!"
"Azalea's the beauty of the Bioinformatics Department! The rest of us didn't even get a chance before you snatched her up!"
"That's right!"
Azalea, though typically reserved, was pretty and good-natured, which had made her well-liked, and everyone enjoyed the good-natured teasing.
Leopold maintained his composed demeanor, seemingly unfazed by being the center of attention.
But Azalea knew better. He wasn't unbothered—he simply didn't care.
In fact, Leopold's attention had been elsewhere all evening. From the moment Camilla entered with Hestia, through the rejected dance invitations, to Sebastian and Marcus approaching her table—he had observed her every move.
Camilla and Hestia were returning to their table with refreshments, completely ignoring the commotion around Azalea and Leopold.
Leopold suspected Camilla hadn't even noticed him.
But she had. When Azalea introduced her boyfriend as "Leopold," Camilla had heard perfectly well.
Yet she felt nothing—her emotions remained as still as undisturbed water. He no longer had the power to disrupt her calm.
"This tiramisu is fantastic—much better than the macarons. What do you think, Camilla?" Hestia asked.
"I haven't tried the macarons. The tiramisu is excellent, though the rum flavor is a bit strong."
"That's it! I knew something was slightly off. How did you catch that? Here, try this cookie—my personal favorite of the evening."
Camilla took a small bite. "You're right. Definitely deserves the top spot."
"Really? Let me try again." Marcus swooped in, grabbing the remaining half and popping it into his mouth. "So sweet," he commented with a nod.
Camilla rolled her eyes.
Sebastian's expression remained neutral, though his gaze toward Marcus had grown distinctly frosty.
When the spotlight suddenly landed on Marcus, he had just finished swallowing the cookie. Rising smoothly, he took the microphone. "I'll skip the introduction—I'm not from the Life Sciences Department."
"Then how did you get in?" the host asked, voicing everyone's curiosity.
"I'm a sponsor," Marcus replied simply.
"He's an investor!"
"Too young and handsome to be the typical investor we imagined!"
The host's eyes lit up. "Then, sir, on behalf of all single women here—myself included—may I ask you a question?"
Marcus gestured for the host to continue.
"Are you single?"
"Currently, yes," Marcus answered.
"So do any of us have a chance?" The host was being quite bold.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I already have someone I'm interested in," Marcus replied, his smiling gaze falling directly on Camilla.
Sebastian's expression remained unchanged, though the water bottle in his hand had somehow become crushed.
Hestia glanced between the peacocking Marcus and the seemingly unfazed Camilla before deciding to focus on her food instead.
Marcus ignored the disappointed murmurs from the crowd as he returned the microphone and sat back down.
His gaze drifted to Camilla, who was contentedly eating, her cheeks slightly puffed like a squirrel's.
Even Marcus found it strange how captivated he was by Camilla. He'd had girlfriends before, but never had anyone commanded his attention so completely, fascinated him so thoroughly, or pulled him in so deeply.
It was as if he could never look at her enough. In that moment, Marcus realized he wouldn't mind spending his life just watching her.
Sebastian suddenly broke the silence. "Mr. Davis seems to be enjoying himself tonight."
"As does Professor Russell," Marcus countered.
Their eyes met, tension crackling between them.
Hestia couldn't take it anymore. "Camilla, I need to use the restroom. Would you mind coming with me?"
"Gladly," Camilla replied, all too eager to escape.
Only when they were safely away from the table did Camilla exhale deeply.
"Feeling better?" Hestia asked with a knowing smile.
"Yes! Thanks, Hestia."
"Anytime! Let them battle it out on their own."
With the spotlight segment concluded, the event moved into free social time. Music filled the room as colorful lights washed over the dance floor.
"Gentlemen," the host announced, "the stage is set! Now's your chance to invite that special someone to dance!" With a bow, the host departed to thunderous applause.
Meanwhile, Azalea was introducing Leopold to her classmates. She wore an elegant wool ensemble—a generous gift from Leopold that must have cost thousands. He had even chosen a tie that matched her outfit's color scheme.
To outsiders, they appeared to be the perfect couple, deeply in love.
But Azalea knew the truth. Though Leopold stood beside her, his heart was elsewhere—with Camilla.
Despite his efforts to appear indifferent, his gaze continually drifted to that corner of the room, all while trying not to be noticed by Camilla or Marcus.
Azalea saw it all, each glance like a needle to her heart. After a moment, she composed herself and turned to Leopold with a practiced smile. "Aren't you going to ask me to dance?"
Leopold frowned. "Is that necessary?"
Azalea met his eyes directly. "Aren't you curious how Camilla would react, seeing you hold another woman in your arms, dancing right in front of her?"
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