Chapter15
Chase’s pupils constricted, and his heart seized in his chest.
He never imagined that after four years, they’d meet again like this.
Sierra looked thinner now. She wore a black trench coat, sharp and serious, nothing like the wide-eyed girl he
remembered.
His gaze clung to her-hungry, filled with emotion.
“Sierra…” he murmured under his breath.
But she merely glanced in his direction-distant, indifferent.
As if she didn’t even know him.
That one look-cold, passing, impersonal-snuffed out the words on his lips.
Chase clenched his fists.
The Sierra in his memories was gone. She’d changed so much, he barely recognized her.
Still, he swallowed down the ache and kept watching her every move.
Sierra scanned the room, then tapped the box on her desk.
“For the next three years, you won’t be allowed any outside contact. Your identities will be confidential, and you’ll be required to surrender your personal phones.”
“I’ll issue you encrypted campus phones for internal communication only-military-grade network, strictly academic.”
She began distributing the new phones, calling students up one by one.
Chase stood at the end of the line, his heartbeat ramping up with every step he took closer to her.
The closer he got, the harder it thudded against his ribs.
Sierra was even more beautiful than he remembered-and colder than ever.
She didn’t look at him, didn’t say a word. Just handed him the phone and moved on.
Next was the icebreaker: self-introductions.
Everyone kept it brief.
When it was Chase’s turn, his voice cracked, rough and low. His eyes locked onto her.
“I’m Chase Walker. I transferred from Columbia’s athletics department. I came here… for someone.”
“I need an answer. A reason.”
He stared at Sierra, waiting-pleading-for something.
Chapter15
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She looked right back.
Calm. Emotionless. Blank.
The silence slammed into him like a punch to the gut.
Why did it feel like he was the only one still haunted by the past?
Sierra’s expression didn’t waver. It was as if she had erased it all-erased him from her memory.
If she’d truly forgotten him…
Chase didn’t want to think about it. It hurt too much to even imagine.
His body felt frozen in place until she waved a hand at him.
“You can sit down now.”
That was all.
He nodded numbly and took his seat.
He didn’t hear a word of the lecture.
Not until she mentioned setting up a class group chat.
The second the notification popped up, he joined without hesitation.
He checked her iMessage profile-her avatar was a sleek black cat.
Cool. Aloof. Just like her now.
He remembered when it used to be a cute cartoon cat. Just like her, back when she was warm and soft.
Four years, and everything about her had changed-her tone, her posture, even her profile picture.
She wasn’t the girl he once knew.
Still, he hesitated only a second before sending a friend request.
He watched her pause-eyebrows knit slightly-then she locked her phone without accepting it.
Class ended. She picked up the phone box and walked out.
Chase followed instantly.
“Sierra!”
