Anovel of My motherś ex chapter 22 by authoress
Rylee slipped back into her dorm early the next morning, her cheeks flushed from the events of the previous night with Julian. The lingering warmth of his touch and the memory of their connection left her in a haze. As she shut the door behind her, she saw Carla sitting on the edge of her bed, wringing her hands nervously.
“I’m sorry,” Carla blurted out as soon as their eyes met.
Rylee hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Before she could say anything, Sophia stormed in, clearly still fuming.
“Don’t you dare start with your fake apologies,” Sophia snapped, crossing her arms. “You were a terrible friend, Carla. Do you even understand how much you hurt Rylee?”
Carla’s voice wavered. “I know, and I feel awful. I wasn’t there when she needed me. I made a mistake, but I want to make it right.”
Rylee finally spoke, her tone calm but firm. “Carla, I was really hurt by your absence. I needed you, and you weren’t there.” She sighed, glancing at Sophia, who still looked ready to pounce. “But I also believe in second chances. Just don’t let me down again.”
Carla’s eyes filled with tears as she nodded. “I won’t. I promise.”
Sophia rolled her eyes but didn’t say more. Rylee smiled faintly, hoping the tension would ease now that things were out in the open.
The following morning, Rylee was on her way to the bathroom when she spotted Theo standing by the staircase. A girl, clearly flustered, was pleading with him.
“Please, Theo,” the girl begged, her voice breaking. “Just give me a chance.”
Theo’s expression remained stoic. “I’m sorry, but I’m not interested.”
The girl’s shoulders slumped as she walked away, wiping her tears. Once she was out of sight, Rylee approached Theo.
“That was harsh,” she said, folding her arms.
Theo glanced at her but said nothing, his jaw tightening.
“Why did you turn her down?” Rylee pressed, genuinely curious.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Because I like someone else,” he admitted reluctantly.
Her eyes widened slightly. “Oh. So why not go after her?”
He shook his head, his gaze distant. “It’s not that simple. I can’t… not right now.”
Before Rylee could ask more, Theo turned and walked away, leaving her standing there with a sad smile. She continued on her way, her mind swirling with questions about who Theo could possibly have feelings for.
Later that day, after her final class, Rylee decided to seek out Julian. She had hoped to steal a few private moments with him, but as she neared his office, she paused.
Through the slightly ajar door, she could see Julian standing with the vice chancellor of the college, an older man with a commanding presence. Beside him was a younger man, who looked to be in his early twenties. His sharp features and confident posture made him stand out, but there was something cold about his demeanor.
“That’s Cole,” one of the students passing by whispered to her friend. “The vice chancellor’s son. He’s visiting from the main campus.”
Rylee’s curiosity piqued as she listened.
Inside the office, Julian seemed tense but composed as he spoke with the vice chancellor. Cole, however, leaned casually against the desk, his piercing eyes flickering between the two men.
Rylee couldn’t hear much of the conversation, but the few words she caught—“expansion,” “funding,” and “connections”—hinted at something official.
As Julian glanced toward the door, Rylee quickly stepped out of sight, her heart racing. She waited until the vice chancellor and Cole exited the office, their voices fading down the hallway, before stepping inside.
Julian looked up, his expression softening when he saw her. “Rylee, what are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk to you,” she said, closing the door behind her. “But I didn’t want to interrupt.”
Julian sighed, running a hand through his hair. “That was the vice chancellor and his son. They’re discussing some administrative matters.”
“Cole the party guy?”
She nodded, stepping closer. “You looked… tense. Is everything okay?”
Julian gave her a small smile. “It’s nothing for you to worry about.”
But Rylee could tell there was more to the story. She made a mental note to keep an eye on Cole. Something about him didn’t sit right with her.
That evening, as Rylee sat in her dorm, she replayed the day’s events in her mind. Between her encounter with Theo and the strange tension surrounding Julian and Cole, she felt as though she were on the cusp of uncovering something significant.
But for now, she pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the growing feelings she had for Julian. Their relationship was far from simple, but every moment with him felt worth the risk.