Malvina leaned back in her chair, giving a skeptical look to the lecturer on stage


    Is it just me, or does the prof seem off today?”


    Even Malvina, who barely scraped by academically, could tell something was wrong — and if she noticed, it meant it was obvious to the whole ss.


    Darcy stared nkly at the whiteboard, her marker poised mid-air, repeating the same sentence over and over. Clearly, something was wrong.


    Ingrid voiced her concern, “ls Ms. Darcy feeling alright?"


    Though Darcy was a younger lecturer, her expertise was undeniable, with a unique teaching style that could rival that of seasoned professors! This


    was clearly not her usual self.


    As soon as ss was dismissed, Malvina bolted out of the school.


    Noe knew she was probably off to mend things with Ulrich. her boyfriend — young love always had a certain unmistakable aroma


    Noe entered the office, finding Darcy briefing Ingrid on some homework. Ingrid still seemed worried about her.


    "Are you okay, Ms. Darcy?"


    "I''m fine, the ss didn''t go as nned today, my fault. I''ll post the lecture notes online, and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out.”


    Ingrid nodded, "Okay, don''t worry about us. We''re just concerned about you. Take some rest."


    After Ingrid left, Darcy finally noticed Noe standing at the door.


    "Did you need me for something?"


    "No, the department head wanted to see me. But you seem... a bit down."


    On the desk was a vibrant bouquet of irises, a stark reminder that beauty often hides poison.


    Noe softly asked, "Do you know what irises symbolize?"


    Darcy paused, her gaze falling onto the flowers, still fresh with droplets of water. A card nestled among them carried Beckett''s distinct handwriting


    "Wishing you all the best, Happy Birthday. Beckett."


    Tears uncontrobly streamed down her face!


    "Sorry, it''s just... Dalia has been sick, and I''ve been taking care of her," she managed to say, referencing a coworker on medical leave.


    Darcy clenched her fist. “Actually, it was me who pursued Beckett."


    Beckett was incredibly charming, the type that stood out in any crowd.


    "He might say he pursued me, for my pride, but it wasn''t like that.”


    “Back in college, I did everything to win him over — attended all his sses, ‘identally’ bumped into him around campus, even staged a candlelit


    confession outside his dorm. Crazy, right?”


    Considering Darcy''s current demeanor, it was hard to imagine her past antics.


    "I was about to give up when Beckett told me, ‘If you''re giving up, then it''s my turn to chase you.''"


    Reflecting on the past, Darcy''s face softened with a tender smile as she looked at the irises


    “Our timing was always off.”


    Noe calmly interjected, “But if you still have feelings for Beckett. wouldn''t letting go be a regret?”


    Regret was an understatement: some people simply exist and that''s enough to take your breath away..


    Darcy''s gaze lingered on the bouquet.


    Noe continued, “Irises mean ''I think of you.’ Whatever Beckett wants to say, you know it. What matters to you might not matter to him. The


    Schnabel family doesn''t have a throne to inherit: no kids, so what?”


    "And if you don''t ask and just decide for Beckett, maybe you''re not right for each other.”


    Noe''s words were harsh but necessary. She knew Darcy''s transformation wasrgely due to her upbringing and personal history.


    Depression can make one fixate on the negatives.


    With that, Noe headed to the department head''s office, leaving Darcy with her thoughts and the irises


    Beckett!


    A name she''d written countless times, each letter etched in her heart.


    Darcy dialed a familiar number, and Beckett answered promptly.


    "Something up?”


    "I''d like to take you out for dinner, if you''re free?”


    Beckett paused, "Tonight''s tough. If it''s about Noe, Jasper can handle it.”


    "It''s about me. Tomorrow or the day after works too."


    Hearing Darcy''s tone, Beckett canceled a meeting.


    “Tonight at seven, I''ll pick you up.”


    "No need, I''lle to you. Just find me after work!"


    Beckett was genuinely surprised. os


    This felt fike a shback to their


    college days when Darcy would?


    eagerly wait near his department


    just to see him after sses.


    "Would that be inconvenient?"


    "Not at all. Come to my office, my assistant wille down for you.”


    "Great!"


    The excitement in the voice on the other end of the line was palpable, as if every second away from him was a second too long


    Beckett''s Adam''s apple bobbed as he adjusted his tie, his voiceing out bitter and raspy.


    "Is there something you need my help with?”


    Darcy responded promptly.


    "There are a few things, actually. I was hoping Beckett could lend me his wisdom."


    But more than anything, it was because she missed him, wanted to see him, and Beckett was the only one who could make it happen!All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    If she thought Beckett couldn''t =~


    ept her troubled past, then a


    perhaps it was time to ept ihat


    theirjourney together had reached


    its natural end.


    -


    After hanging up the phone, Darcy grabbed the bouquet from her desk and rushed out the door, urgency in her step.


    She bumped into Ingrid, who was there to drop off some homework.


    "Miss, where are you off to in such a hurry?"


    "To meet someone very important to me!”


    In the dean''s office.


    The dean, recently returned from


    abroad, and still catching up on local


    news, Adjusted his sses as te


    looked at the student standing


    before him, Noe.


    to 6  -


    "I hear it''s you who''s been causing quite the stir around here, turning everything upside down!"


    Noe replied coolly. "I believe we''re not in the Agricultural Department."