CHAPTER 173

**WINTER**

I stared out the window, the pale light of the winter morning spilling across the campus, but my mind was miles away. The message still burned in my pocket, and I couldn’t stop replaying it in my head.

Funny how fast you forget. But that’s okay… you let your guard down so easily... will make my revenge even more fun.

Could Zion really be behind it? A part of me wanted to believe he was being genuine this time. But the other part—the part that had been torn apart by him before—couldn’t shake the doubt, the lingering fear that he was playing me once again.

And then there was Cindy and her friends. She hated me with a passion, so who knows—maybe this message was just her latest way of getting under my skin. Ugh, stop it, Winter. It’s probably just some stupid prank. Forget it.

“Alright, class!” My thoughts were abruptly pulled back to reality as the professor’s voice cut through the air.

“Guess what we’re going to do today, guys?” our professor asked, way too chipper for a Monday morning. His name was something unpronounceable that no one had committed to memory yet—most of us just called him “Prof What’s-His-Face” behind his back.

Claire leaned in, deadpan.

“If he says group project, I swear I’m going to fake a medical emergency. I’m not emotionally equipped to carry another team.”

Laughter erupted across the class, even the professor cracked a smile.

“I fucking hope it’s not a surprise test,” a low, cocky voice drawled from the back, laced with amusement.

“Because trust me, I didn’t drag my ass in here just to get screwed over on day one. That’s not really my kink.”

A few students snorted. Someone even whistled.

The sound of it made my head turn before I could stop myself.

And there he was.

He leaned back in his chair like the rules didn’t apply to him, long legs stretched out, jet-black hair brushing his shoulders. There was something effortlessly reckless about him—like trouble dressed in a smirk and dipped in danger.

His gaze swept lazily across the room… then locked on me.

My breath caught.

He didn’t look away.

For a moment, it felt like the air around us shifted—like everything else blurred, and it was just his eyes on mine, sharp and unapologetically bold.

Then he smiled. Slow. Deliberate.

A prickle crawled up my spine. I looked away quickly, heat rising to my cheeks, suddenly hyper-aware of how small I felt beneath that stare.

What the hell was that?

I blinked, thrown completely off guard.

“Who’s that?” Ariel whispered, elbowing me gently.

I shook my head, still trying to piece together what just happened.

“No clue…”

Claire grinned. “Well damn, if mystery-man isn’t my type, I don’t know what is. Looks like he eats heartbreak for breakfast and still has room for chaos.”

“Mr. Damien Black,” the professor narrowed his eyes over the rim of his glasses.said coolly, voice laced with warning.

“Watch your language, Mr....um..,” the professor said, his tone steely.

“Damien Black,” he replied smoothly, a cocky grin playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Right. This may be college, and you might be new here, but there’s still a standard of decency—and you’re definitely not meeting it.”

Damien didn’t flinch. He simply stretched his legs out, leaning back in his chair like he was lounging at home, and gave the professor a casual grin.

“Noted, sir,” he replied, his voice dripping with nonchalance.

Damien’s eyes flicked back to me as he leaned forward on his desk, a slow, knowing smirk curling at his lips.

“What?” he murmured, just loud enough for me to hear.

“See something you like?”

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, heat rushing to my face as I quickly snapped my attention back to the front.

Our professor—whose name I still couldn’t remember—let out a long-suffering sigh, like being in charge of this class was his personal form of punishment. His eyes swept past me, landing squarely on Damien Black.

Even his name 'Damien Black' sounded like a warning label.

“And to answer your question, Mr. Black,” he said dryly, “no. But we are having a surprise test.”

A collective sigh of relief swept through the room.

I turned slightly in my seat, just enough to catch his reaction.

Damien looked completely at ease, a smirk playing on his lips like he’d known all along there wouldn’t be a test. He leaned back, arms crossed behind his head, eyes flicking lazily around the room before landing on me again.

And just like before—he smiled.

Like this was all some inside joke only he was in on.

The professor cleared his throat, adjusting his glasses with a weary sigh as he looked around the room.

"Alright, enough with the groaning," he muttered, clearly uninterested in the collective relief at not having a surprise test.

“We’re starting a project today in Business Strategy. It’s a partner assignment, so pick someone you think you can work with well for the next few weeks. This project is a significant portion of your grade, so choose wisely.”

A few students groaned half-heartedly, others exchanged excited glances, and some immediately started eyeing the people they thought would make good partners.

“Each pair will be responsible for completing an in-depth analysis of a business strategy within your chosen industry,” the professor continued, sounding slightly exasperated.

“You’ll need to collaborate on the research, strategic planning, and presentation. This is not a solo project. I expect teamwork and innovative thinking.”

I could hear some of the students muttering excitedly, and others groaning at the thought of working with a partner. As the professor scanned the room, he began calling out the pairs.

“Daniel and Sarah... Ella and Josh… And Winter—" He paused for a moment, eyes glinting as he looked at me. “You’ll be working with... Damien Black.”

A few students turned their heads in surprise.

I froze.

Damien.

Of course.

The whispers started up immediately, and my gaze flicked over to him.

He was leaning back in his chair, his eyes scanning the room like he was searching for something—or someone.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are, Winter,” he said, his voice low and teasing, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

My stomach did a little flip. I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or groan at his cockiness.

Claire, sitting next to me, rolled her eyes but then leaned forward with a wicked grin.

“Fuck, you’re lucky," she muttered, shaking her head. "I’d sell my soul just to be stuck with him for a project. You might even survive this with a little bit of chaos and a whole lot of fun.”

“Just my luck,” I muttered under my breath.

Of all the people in the room… why did he have to be my partner?

As if surviving Zion and all his bad boy chaos hadn’t been enough for one lifetime—now the universe had thrown Damien Black at me. Like some kind of cosmic joke with leather, attitude, and a permanent scowl.

I’d much rather partner up with Claire, or Ariel—hell, even one of the nerdy kids who wouldn’t make me feel like I was walking into a lion's den.

“Okay, everyone, move to your assigned partners and let’s get started!” the professor announced, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I quickly glanced at Damien again—only to find that he was already looking at me, his eyes never wavering. Then, he raised a finger, pointed directly at me, and mouthed the words, You, Winter.

I sighed—And nodded

—and his smile widened, his satisfaction clear as day.

The professor continued calling out names and pairs, but the moment was interrupted by a student standing awkwardly near the front of the room.

It was Adrian, the self-proclaimed “nerd” of the class. He shuffled nervously, glancing at the professor with a sheepish smile.

"Ah, Adrian,” the professor sighed, clearly not sure what to do with him.

“What to do with you…” He paused, looking around the room.

“Well, just join whichever team you like.”

Adrian perked up at this, clearly relieved, and without wasting another second, he made his way to my desk. He shot me a nervous, yet hopeful, smile before sitting down next to me.

“I, uh... guess we’re working together now,” he mumbled awkwardly, looking anywhere but at me.

"Sure, no problem..." I replied, a wave of relief washing over me. The thought of being alone with Damien didn’t exactly feel reassuring.

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the room as a hand slammed against my desk, causing every girl in the class to jump in shock. A collective gasp swept through the room, and all eyes immediately shot toward the source of the noise.

It was Damien.

He stood next to my desk, his body tense, glaring down at Adrian with an intensity that made my stomach churn.

His fists were clenched so tightly on the desk that I was sure the wood would splinter under the pressure. What the hell had gotten into him?

“Do you have a problem, Black?” the professor asked, his voice low and stern as he locked eyes with Damien.

Damien's glare shifted to the professor, and he responded with an edge in his tone,

“I’m not really a team player. It’s bad enough I’m stuck with one person, but now you expect me to team up with two? Not happening.”

The professor let out a frustrated sigh and glanced toward me.

“Adrian has already picked his team, and you, young man, need to adjust.”

Damien didn't seem to care in the slightest.

“I don’t fucking care. He can pick another team. So, fuck off, nerd.”

That was it.

My patience snapped. I could feel the heat rising in my chest, my hands shaking with frustration.

Who the hell did he think he was? This wasn’t some playground where he could act like the king of the world. I couldn't let him get away with this.

Before I even realized what I was doing, I stood up, my books clutched tightly in my hands, as I glared at him.