Chapter 478

I was grading papers when a commotion broke out behind me.

Looking up, I saw Professor An Jing leaning uncomfortably close to Ethan Roscente, her painted lips stretched in a calculated smile. The low-cut dress she'd chosen for today exposed too much pale skin that gleamed under the classroom lights.

"Mr. Roscente, you're so charming," she cooed, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness. "Professor Lowell talks about you all the time—how handsome and considerate you are."

Ethan didn't even glance up, his long fingers tapping an impatient rhythm on the desk.

Undeterred, An Jing inched closer. Her red-polished nails "accidentally" brushed against his sleeve. "We educators are quite open-minded. If you're ever interested—"

A shrill scream cut through the classroom.

My head snapped up to see An Jing sprawled on the floor, Ethan's hand clamped around her throat. The glacial look in his eyes sent chills down my spine.

"Ethan!" I rushed forward, prying his fingers loose. "Have you lost your mind?"

He released her with a disgusted flick of his wrist. "She asked for it."

An Jing clutched her neck, coughing violently. Her perfectly styled hair now hung in disarray. After one terrified glance at Ethan, she scrambled away on unsteady heels.

The classroom fell deathly silent. Students in the front row ducked their heads, pretending not to witness anything.

"What were you thinking?" I hissed under my breath.

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "She tried rubbing her foot against my leg."

My protest died in my throat. An Jing had a reputation for flirting with male colleagues, but this was brazen even for her.

"That doesn't justify—"

"Oh?" His voice dropped dangerously. "You think I should have entertained her advances?"

The icy tone made my skin prickle. Suddenly, I remembered exactly who stood before me—the heir to the Roscente empire, the ruthless business magnate whispered about in hushed tones across New York.

"I didn't mean that." I drew a steadying breath. "But this is a classroom."

Ethan's sudden smile chilled me to the bone.

"Sophia," he murmured, drawing out my name, "you seem awfully concerned about your colleague."

I instinctively stepped back. His gaze reminded me of a predator sizing up prey.

"I just—"

A choked sob interrupted us. An Jing stood trembling in the doorway, her neck visibly bruised.

"Professor Lowell," she whimpered, tears streaking her makeup, "I'm reporting this to the dean!"

Ethan's expression darkened. I quickly positioned myself between them, bracing for another outburst.

"Professor An, it was a misunderstanding," I attempted to mediate.

Her tearful demeanor vanished, replaced by venomous spite. "You planned this, didn't you, Sophia? Bringing him here just to humiliate me!"

The accusation stunned me. Before I could respond, Ethan let out a soft, terrifying laugh.

"Professor An," he purred, his voice deceptively light, "are you certain you want to file that complaint?"

All color drained from her face. She opened her mouth, then closed it, fleeing without another word.

Silence reclaimed the classroom. As I exhaled in relief, I found Ethan studying me with unsettling intensity.

"Seems you have your own troubles here," he remarked cryptically.

My pulse stuttered. There were layers to that statement I couldn't decipher.

Outside, clouds swallowed the sunlight, plunging the room into shadow. An inexplicable sense of foreboding settled over me.