The chatter of the class faded into the background as Angela stared at the man standing beside the principal. Edmund's tailored suit, immaculate as always, seemed to amplify the air of authority he exuded. The man who had spent the night with her, who had held her with a tenderness she could still feel, was now the college's new owner. Her heart raced, her emotions a whirlwind of shock, pride, and unease.

　　His posture was straight, his expression calm, but his eyes flickered just for a second when they met hers.

　　"Class, I'd like to introduce Mr. Edmund Brown," the principal began, his voice reverberating in the lecture hall, breaking through Angela's thoughts. "He's the new owner of our college, a distinguished entrepreneur with plans to elevate our institution to new heights. Please join me in welcoming him."

　　Angela's breath hitched. Her mind raced to process the sight of him here, in her world, now part of her everyday life.

　　The murmurs among the students were a mix of admiration and curiosity. Angela, however, was too stunned to join the whispers. Edmund, ever the picture of composure, offered a polite nod, his eyes scanning the room with detached interest. The idea of Edmund standing there as her college's owner felt surreal. Pride mingled with jealousy. How does he do this, command a room so effortlessly?

　　Angela forced her gaze downward, her fingers gripping the edge of her desk. She felt exposed, as if their shared secrets were written all over her face.

　　"As Mr. Brown acquaints himself with our faculty and students, we're excited about the developments his leadership will bring," the principal continued. "Thank you, Mr. Brown, for gracing us with your expertise."

　　Edmund gave a measured smile. "It's an honor to be part of such a promising institution. I look forward to working with all of you to create a space where ambition and creativity thrive."

　　His deep, confident voice sent a shiver down Angela's spine. He didn't glance at her again, but Angela could feel his presence like a physical weight. As he wrapped up his brief introduction, the students burst into applause. Angela's hands stayed glued to her lap, her mind too tangled to think about appearances.

　　When the lecture ended, students flooded out of the hall, buzzing with curiosity about the enigmatic new owner.

　　"Did you see the way he looked at us? So charismatic," one girl gushed.

　　"I heard he's one of the youngest billionaires," another whispered with a dreamy look in her eyes.

　　"How old must he be? Doesn't matter. I can still call him daddy," one more girl drooled over him.

　　Angela clenched her fists, trying her best not to react. Once the room was empty, she stood, her legs shaky beneath her, her heart pounding as she debated her next move. She needed answers, but the thought of facing Edmund now, in such an official capacity, filled her with dread.

　　Finally, unable to suppress her frustration any longer, she made her way to the administrative wing. The administrative wing was eerily quiet as Angela approached the door marked "Edmund Brown, Owner." Her heart pounded as she knocked, the sound echoing in the corridor.

　　"Come in," his familiar voice called.

　　Angela pushed open the door and stepped inside. The office was sleek and modern, dominated by a mahogany desk and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the campus. Edmund sat behind the desk, exuding authority and calm, his hands clasped loosely in front of him.

　　He looked up, his lips curving into a faint smile. "Angela," he said smoothly. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

　　She closed the door behind her, leaning against it with her arms crossed. "Care to explain what you're doing here?"

　　"It's nice to see you too," he replied, leaning back in his chair, the corner of his mouth twitching with amusement.

　　"Don't deflect," she snapped, stepping closer. "Why didn't you tell me you were buying the college?"

　　He shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "It wasn't relevant at the time. And, to be fair, the deal was only finalized a week ago. Let me remind you that we both were busy with something more important that time. If you want, I can remind you of that important task as well." A smug smile appeared on his face.

　　She royally ignored his remark about the vacation. "Not relevant?" Angela's voice rose, her disbelief evident. "You show up in my dorm, warn me about Elena, and then, what? Drop into my class like this is normal?"

　　Edmund's smirk softened, replaced by something more sincere. He stood, closing the distance between them."I couldn't stay away from you, Angela. You know that."

　　Her jaw dropped. "You bought an entire college just to be close to me?" Her breath caught, her mind reeling.

　　He stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers with a piercing intensity. "Yes. And I'd do it again if it meant keeping you close." His admission was calm, unflinching.

　　Angela shook her head, her hands gripping the edge of the chair beside her. "You can't be serious! That's insane, Edmund. Do you even hear yourself?"

　　His lips quivered into a small smile. "Dead serious. What's insane is expecting me to stay away from you."

　　Her chest tightened, overwhelmed by the intensity in his voice. "But this? Do you even realize what this means? You've inserted yourself into my life in the most public way possible."

　　Edmund reached out, his fingers brushing against her arm, sending a shiver up her spine. "No one knows what we are to each other, Angela. To them, I'm just another businessman."

　　She stared at him, her mind warring between disbelief and something deeper, something warmer. "And to me?" she whispered.

　　"To you, I'm the man who would do anything to protect you," he said, his voice low and resonant. Angela's breath quickened as Edmund reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek. "You drive me mad, Angela," he murmured, his voice rough. "Do you know how hard it's been to stay away from you?" he continued, his hand slipping to the nape of her neck. "I can't stay away from you. You're in my every thought, every breath."

　　His confession left her speechless, her body trembling as he pulled her closer. She swallowed hard, her resolve wavering under his intense gaze. "Edmund… You shouldn't be here," she said weakly, though her hands betrayed her as they clutched his shirt.

　　"But I am," he countered, his lips a whisper away from hers. "And I'm not going anywhere."

　　The tension between them shifted, thickening with an undercurrent of unspoken emotions. Angela's lips parted, but no words came. Edmund's hand slid from her arm to her waist, his touch firm yet gentle.

　　"You're impossible," she murmured, though her voice lacked conviction.

　　"And yet, you're still here," he countered, his tone teasing yet laced with something deeper.

　　Her resolve crumbled as his hand cupped her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek. "Tell me to stop," he whispered, his breath warm against her skin.

　　"I can't," she admitted, her voice barely audible.

　　Edmund closed the gap. Their lips met in a fiery kiss, a collision of pent-up longing and raw emotion. Angela melted into him, her fingers tangling in his hair as he backed her against the desk. His hands roamed her waist, pulling her flush against him as the world outside the office ceased to exist.

　　The world outside his office disappeared, leaving only the two of them, caught in a moment that felt both forbidden and inevitable. His hands moved to her hips, pulling her closer, their bodies pressed together in perfect alignment.

　　Angela's thoughts scattered as his lips trailed down her jawline, his breath hot against her skin. "You drive me mad," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion.

　　"Likewise," she managed, her fingers tangling in his hair. She gasped as his lips trailed down her neck, his touch igniting a fire that threatened to consume her. "Edmund," she breathed, her voice barely audible.

　　"Say the word," he murmured against her skin. "Tell me to stop, and I will."

　　But she couldn't. Instead, she pulled him closer, her body arching into his as if begging him never to let go.

　　A sharp knock at the door shattered the moment. Angela jerked back, her heart pounding as Edmund stepped away, his expression hardening, her cheeks flushed as she straightened her clothes.

　　Edmund, ever composed, adjusted his tie and called out, "Come in."

　　Mark, Edmund's right-hand man, stepped inside, his expression unreadable. "Sorry to interrupt, sir, but we need to leave for the meeting."

　　Edmund exhaled, running a hand through his hair as he straightened his tie and nodded curtly, his gaze flickering back to Angela. "I'll be there shortly."

　　Mark left without another word, and Edmund turned back to Angela, his expression softening.

　　Angela swallowed hard, her pulse still racing. She took a step back, her hands trembling as she smoothed her clothes. "I should go."

　　He caught her wrist before she could leave, his touch gentle yet firm. "I have to go, but this isn't over," he said softly, his eyes locking onto hers.

　　Angela nodded, still reeling from the intensity of their encounter. As he walked her to the door, he pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. "Stay out of trouble," he murmured.

　　As Angela stepped into the hallway, her mind swirling with everything that had just transpired, her heart still racing, she spotted a familiar figure in the distance. Elena stood at the far end, her eyes fixed on Angela with a sharp, probing gaze.

　　Angela's stomach twisted. The look in Elena's eyes was sharp, almost predatory.

　　"How long has she been there? What did she see?"

　　Elena offered a tight smile before disappearing around the corner, leaving Angela with a sinking feeling that their game of secrets and shadows had just grown even more dangerous.

　　As she exited the building, a sense of unease settled over her. Edmund's presence might have brought her comfort, but it had also drawn a spotlight on her life, one she wasn't sure she could escape.