Chapter 259
As Chuck finished his sentence, a sound of knocking came from the door. Liam lifted his gaze, and there she was, standing at the entrance—it was Diana.
His brow twitched almost imperceptibly. “Come in.”
“Liam, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head downstairs,” Chuck glanced at Diana, speaking respectfully.
Whether Diana had overheard their conversation was unclear.
Liam gave a nod. “Yeah, go ahead.”
Chuck nodded, and as he turned to leave, his eyes lingered on Diana for a moment, but he said nothing and simply walked out.
“Liam, here are the documents you want, all translated.” Diana approached Liam’s desk and placed a neat stack of papers before him.
As the CEO’s secretary, she was also putting her language skills to good use, serving as a German translator.
“Uh-huh.” Liam hummed an acknowledgment, not looking up from his work.
Diana knew what he meant, but this time, instead of leaving immediately, she bravely said, “Liam, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on your conversation. I want you to know Teresa is my best friend. I would never betray her.”
With that, Diana turned and left.
Luckily, she had made the right decision yesterday, or things might have ended disastrously for her.
As she turned to leave, Liam looked up from the papers, eyes trailing over Diana with a glimpse of the admiration he had never shown before.
...
Teresa spent the day with Gabriel at the hospital. The team of specialists had developed an optimal treatment plan for his condition, and he was set to begin treatment the next day.
Though he was in the hospital, it didn’t interfere with his work. The only change was his office location.
As Gabriel juggled treatment and work, Teresa’s presence became more of a distraction. Therefore, she decided to return to the university the following day.
Unexpectedly, after finishing her morning classes and heading back to her office, as she stepped out of the elevator, she found Brian standing right there, apparently waiting for it. Beside him was the Department Head of their German Studies program, both of them sharing a light moment in front of the elevator doors.
Hearing the soft “ding” of the elevator announcing its arrival, the doors slid open, and both men looked up, their faces brightening into smiles when they saw Teresa inside. Brian, however, had a sly glint in his eyes that flickered briefly before he composed himself.
“Finished with lecture, Teresa?” greeted the Department Head with a gentle smile.
“Cousin! Long time no see!” Brian chimed in, his smile carrying an ambiguous twinkle.
“Cousin?!” Brian’s address caught the Department Head off guard, turning his surprise into hearty laughter. “I had no idea that not only were you and Brian classmates, but relatives too, Teresa. What a small world!”
Teresa exited the elevator with a polite nod and a reserved smile, but at the mention of ‘Brian,’ a discernible frown crossed her brow, quickly smoothed over as she turned to the Department Head. “Yes, Brian is my cousin-in-law. So, has he joined our faculty as well?”
“That’s right. Aren’t you happy to see me?” Brian retorted playfully, cutting in before the Department Head could respond.
She hadn’t expected this—after Terry left, the last thing she thought she’d have to deal with was Brian showing up.
Given their last encounter at the Garcia family house, a nagging suspicion told Teresa that his arrival at Northern River University’s Language Academy had everything to do with her.
He had an ulterior motive.
“No. If I wanted to work with a family, I could have easily picked a position with the Garcias or Bennett’s businesses, couldn’t I?” she replied with courteous sarcasm, maintaining her composure.
The Department Head sensed the tension and, feeling slightly uncomfortable, chimed in with a jovial diversion. “You and Brian catch up. I’ve got some things to take care of at the office. If you need anything, just let me know, and I’ll do my best to help.”
Caught between a rock and a hard place, the Department Head wisely left the issue for Teresa and Brian to hash out themselves.
“See you around,” Brian said with a smile, nodding at the Department Head.
“See you,” Teresa added, also nodding.
The Department Head returned his smile before turning on his heel and walking away.
Once the Department Head had left, Teresa’s demeanor toward Brian shifted drastically as she walked toward her office. “Why did you decide to teach here?”
Brian followed her, not bothering to hide his intentions. “For you, of course.”
The sudden admission caused Teresa to stop dead in her tracks and whirl around, piercing Brian with a gaze sharper than she’d ever directed at him before. “For what about me?”
Brian matched her halt, the tease evident in his eyes as he leaned in and whispered, “To win you over.”
“That confident?” Teresa retorted, her eyes narrowed in scorn rather than fear.
“Yes, I am,” Brian said, the amusement in his gaze intensifying, “After all, a ghost can’t compete with the living.”
Her frown deepened, and a flash of anger sparked in her clear eyes. “Brian, what do you mean?”
As Teresa’s temper flared, Brian’s grin only grew wider. “Teresa, how long Gabriel has got is anyone’s guess. If he were to... “
