Angela's voice trembled as she recounted the events of the evening, the party, Elena's odd group of friends, and the snippets of the hushed conversation she had overheard. Edmund stood across the room, his expression darkening with each detail.The dim light from the desk lamp softened his sharp features, but the intensity in his expression was anything but subdued, his intense gaze fixed on her.

　　"She's too close to you, Angela," Edmund said, his voice low but brimming with conviction. He stopped near her desk, his hand resting on its edge as he turned to face her. "There's more to her than she's letting on."

　　Angela hugged her knees, unsure of how to respond. "You're reading too much into this. You don't even know her," she protested, though her voice faltered under his conviction.

　　"I don't need to know her," he countered. "I can see the patterns, Angela. Her interest in you isn't casual. It's deliberate."

　　Angela hesitated, biting her lip. She wanted to dismiss his words as paranoia, but her own doubts about Elena had been growing. The certainty in his voice made her stomach twist. "Maybe she's just curious.," Angela admitted, biting her lip. "But I don't think she means any harm."

　　"Curious?" Edmund stopped abruptly, turning to face her. His eyes searched hers, filled with a mix of frustration and concern. "Angela, you don't see what I see. The way she's inserted herself into your life, it's deliberate." His jaw tightened, and he took a step closer, crouching in front of her so their eyes met. His gaze was fierce, unwavering.

　　Angela looked away, the weight of his words settling heavily on her chest. A part of her wanted to dismiss his concerns, to believe Elena's intentions were innocent. But there was another part, a smaller, quieter part that couldn't shake the unease she'd felt at the party.

　　"She asked about my necklace," Angela murmured, her voice barely audible. "And when her friend brought it up, she changed the subject so fast it felt strange."

　　Edmund's eyes narrowed. "You see? She's hiding something. I don't trust her, and neither should you."

　　Angela met his gaze, her throat tightening. "But what if you're wrong? What if she's just intense?"

　　"I'm not wrong," he said firmly, taking her hands in his. His touch was warm, grounding. "You need to be cautious. Promise me you'll keep your distance."

　　His certainty made her stomach churn. She wanted to dismiss his words, to write off his suspicions as paranoia. But deep down, she couldn't ignore the nagging doubts she already had about Elena.

　　"You really think she's a threat?" Angela asked softly, her voice almost a whisper.

　　"I don't just think it," Edmund replied, stepping closer. "I know it."

　　"I'll try to stay away," she whispered, the words heavy with doubt. "But what can I do? She's everywhere I turn."

　　"I'll handle it," Edmund said sharply, his jaw tightening. "Just promise me you'll keep your distance. If she tries to dig into your life again, don't let her. You don't owe her anything."

　　"Okay," she said after a long pause, her voice trembling. "I promise."

　　Edmund exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if he could shield her from the world. Angela melted into his embrace, the tension in her body giving way to a deep, aching relief.

　　"I hate this," she admitted against his chest. "I hate feeling like I can't trust anyone."

　　"You can trust me," Edmund said, his voice soft but resolute. He pulled back just enough to cup her face, his thumb brushing gently over her cheek. "I'll always protect you."

　　Her heart swelled at his words, her earlier frustrations dissolving. Her heart clenched at the intensity in his eyes. "But who's protecting you?" she asked, her voice breaking.

　　His lips quivered into a small, bittersweet smile. "You are. You always have."

　　The air between them shifted, heavy with unspoken emotions. Angela's breath hitched as his thumb traced the curve of her jaw, his touch sending shivers down her spine.

　　"Edmund," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

　　"I shouldn't," he said, though his gaze lingered on her lips.

　　"But you want to," she whispered, her words a challenge and an invitation.

　　His resolve crumbled in an instant. He closed the distance between them, she leaned into his touch. He cupped her face, his other hand slipping around her waist, pulling her close. The heat of his body against hers was overwhelming, her thoughts scattering as he tilted her chin up, capturing her lips in a kiss that was both tender and desperate. Angela clung to him, her hands fisting in his shirt as the world around them faded away.

　　The kiss was slow, deliberate, every movement filled with unspoken promises. Angela's hands found their way to his chest, clutching the fabric of his shirt as if to anchor herself. His touch was possessive yet gentle, his fingers threading through her hair as he deepened the kiss.

　　Angela's head swam, her heart pounding as his lips moved against hers with a fervor that left her breathless. She had never felt so alive, so consumed.

　　When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads resting together, Angela's breath came in shallow gasps. "I've missed this," Edmund confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "Holding you. Being near you. It's the only thing that feels right."

　　Angela tilted her head up to look at him, her breath catching as their eyes met. "I've missed you too," she admitted, her voice trembling with the weight of her emotions.

　　"Shh," he said softly, his lips curving into a faint smile. "You've been through enough tonight. Just let me take care of you."

　　Her heart swelled, and for a moment, she allowed herself to forget the complications, the risks, and the secrets that shadowed their relationship. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

　　"Try to sleep," Edmund said after a while, his voice low and soothing. "I'll stay up and keep watch."

　　She wanted to protest, but the exhaustion of the day caught up with her. Reluctantly, she nodded, letting him guide her back to bed. He pulled the covers over her, his touch lingering on her shoulder.

　　"I'll be right here," he promised, his voice a gentle reassurance.

　　Angela drifted off to the faint sound of his movements, her heart lighter than it had been in days.

　　The first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Angela stirred, blinking against the sunlight. For a moment, she thought she had dreamed the entire night, but the sight of Edmund sitting at her desk brought it all rushing back, her gaze landing on Edmund, who was hunched over her desk, flipping through her books and notes.

　　"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice thick with sleep.

　　Edmund turned, startled for a moment before his expression softened. "Looking for anything out of place. I need to see if she's left any clues, anything that might hint at her true motives."

　　Angela sat up, rubbing her eyes. ""Out of place? Edmund, it's just my schoolwork. Moreover, Elena hasn't touched my things."

　　"Maybe," he said, his tone thoughtful. "But Elena's too curious about your life. I need to be sure she hasn't planted something or left some kind of trail."

　　His obsessive focus worried her, but she couldn't deny the warmth that spread through her at the thought of how far he was willing to go to protect her.

　　"Edmund," she said softly, walking over to him. She placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch grounding him. "You don't have to do this."

　　For a moment, they simply looked at each other, the connection between them unspoken but undeniable. Then, as if realizing the time, Edmund stood.

　　"I should go before anyone notices," he said reluctantly.

　　Angela nodded, her heart sinking at the thought of him leaving. "When will I see you again?"

　　He crossed the room, brushing his fingers against her cheek. "Soon."

　　"Promise?"

　　"Always."

　　"Take care of yourself. And stay away from Elena."

　　She nodded, unable to find the words to say what she really felt. He leaned down, brushing a soft kiss against her lips before slipping out of the room with practiced ease.

　　The morning passed in a blur as Angela prepared for class, her mind replaying the events of the night. She couldn't stop smiling, the memory of Edmund's arrival and their stolen moments filling her with a warmth she couldn't explain.

　　She was so caught up in her memories that she nearly forgot the time. Cursing under her breath, she grabbed her bag and rushed out the door. By the time she arrived on campus, she was running late.

　　She slipped into her lecture hall just as the professor began, sinking into her seat with a whispered apology. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't focus. The discussion about Pride and Prejudice barely registered as she doodled absentmindedly in her notebook, her mind replaying the night's events.

　　Angela found it impossible to focus. Her mind kept wandering, replaying the events of the night before. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Edmund, to the way he had held her, kissed her, , to the way he had looked at her as if she were the only person in the world and looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered.

　　"Angela?" The professor's voice snapped her out of her daydream.

　　"Yes, sorry," she mumbled, her cheeks burning as a few classmates snickered.

　　As the lecture dragged on, Angela's gaze kept flickering to the clock, willing the minutes to pass. Before she could fully recover, the door to the lecture hall opened. The principal walked in, his expression unreadable, followed by a tall, sharply dressed man who exuded an air of authority.

　　Angela's heart skipped a beat as their eyes briefly met and the room fell silent. Her pulse quickened. The room buzzed with hushed whispers, but Angela barely heard them. Her grip on her pen tightened, her earlier warmth replaced by a growing sense of unease.