Chapter 205: She’s Here... But Not Alone
Meanwhile…
Maya’s phone vibrated on the coffee table.
She picked it up and saw a message from Bryce in the Student Union group chat.
Everyone’s here. The bonfire party is about to start on the beach in front of the hotel. We’re just waiting for you, President.
Maya let out a small sigh.
Honestly…
She had no interest in attending.
If it weren’t for her responsibility as Student Union President, she would’ve happily stayed in the suite with Lucas for the rest of the evening.
Still…
She couldn’t simply disappear without showing her face.
After thinking for a moment, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
“If I have to go…”
“Then you’re coming with me.”
—
A few minutes later…
Maya arrived outside Lucas’s presidential suite and knocked gently on the door.
Inside the room…
Lucas was completely absorbed in an intense one-on-one ranked match of Call of Duty.
His full attention was locked on the screen as he exchanged gunfire with the last remaining opponent.
“…Got you.”
Victory.
Only after the match ended did he hear the knocking.
Lucas glanced at the clock.
“Huh?”
“Already back?”
He had assumed Maya had only left for a short while.
What he didn’t realize…
Three whole hours had passed without him noticing.
He laughed helplessly.
“…Time really flies.”
Walking over, he opened the door.
The moment he saw Maya standing there, a teasing grin spread across his face.
“Finished already?”
“Or…”
He leaned closer with a playful smile.
“Were you missing me that badly?”
Maya’s cheeks immediately turned pink.
Without hesitation, she lightly punched his chest.
“You’re so full of yourself.”
“Why would I miss you?”
Even as she said it…
Her eyes unconsciously avoided his.
Lucas only smiled wider.
He knew perfectly well she was lying.
Maya quickly changed the subject before he could tease her again.
“The Student Union is having a bonfire party tonight.”
“They’re all waiting for me.”
She reached out and naturally took hold of Lucas’s hand.
“So…”
“You’re coming with me.”
She tightened her grip slightly, almost as if she was afraid he might refuse.
Lucas looked down at their intertwined fingers before smiling.
“I wasn’t planning on saying no.”
“But…”
He glanced at himself.
“I should probably take another shower first.”
Maya nodded obediently.
“Okay.”
“I’ll wait.”
Five minutes…
That was the original plan.
Unfortunately…
The moment Lucas walked into the bathroom…
Maya somehow followed him inside.
The shower that should’ve taken less than five minutes…
Quietly turned into nearly an hour.
—
By the time they finally left the suite…
The sky had already darkened completely.
The ocean breeze carried the faint scent of salt through the resort.
Warm lights illuminated the winding pathways leading toward the beach, while distant laughter and music drifted across the night.
Maya walked beside Lucas with a satisfied smile on her face.
Without the slightest hesitation…
She slipped both hands around Lucas’s left arm and held it tightly against herself.
She had no intention of letting go.
Lucas glanced at her and chuckled.
“Comfortable?”
Maya lifted her chin proudly.
“Very.”
Then, arm in arm like a couple on vacation…
The two of them slowly made their way toward the bonfire party waiting on the beach.
—
Meanwhile…
Bryce had been waiting for Maya for what felt like forever.
He had already texted her three separate times, but she still hadn’t shown up.
His excitement had slowly turned into impatience.
“Where the hell is she…”
He checked his phone again.
Still nothing.
Just as he was about to send a fourth message…
A familiar figure finally appeared at the entrance leading toward the beach.
Bryce’s face immediately lit up.
“There she is…”
A smile spread across his face~
Only to freeze halfway.
His expression darkened.
Because Maya wasn’t alone.
She was walking side by side with Lucas.
Not only that…
She was holding Lucas’s arm so naturally that the two looked like an inseparable couple enjoying a romantic vacation together.
Bryce’s jaw tightened.
His fists clenched instinctively.
What the hell…?
Why did she bring him here?
This was supposed to be a Student Union gathering.
Lucas wasn’t even part of the Student Union.
He had absolutely no reason to be here.
For a split second…
Bryce wanted nothing more than to throw Lucas off the beach himself.
But reason quickly won over anger.
He couldn’t.
Not with everyone watching.
Especially not in front of Maya.
The surrounding male students noticed it too.
One after another, their expressions turned sour.
“Did Maya seriously fall for that guy?”
“I swear… Lucas must’ve put some kind of spell on her.”
“Or maybe she hit her head.”
The more they looked…
The more jealous they became.
Several of them were practically grinding their teeth.
“If only I were the one standing beside her…”
“Damn…”
“I need to get rich.”
“Forget studying.”
“Apparently money really is the fastest shortcut.”
Their eyes practically burned holes through Lucas.
If looks could kill…
Lucas would’ve died hundreds of times before reaching the bonfire.
Bryce took a deep breath.
He forced the frustration back down and walked forward with a smile that looked convincing enough.
In front of Maya…
He absolutely couldn’t lose his composure.
“You’re finally here.”
“We’ve been waiting for you.”
His tone sounded warm.
Only he knew how hard it was to keep that smile on his face.
Maya merely nodded politely before sitting beside Lucas near the bonfire without another word.
Watching the two sit together…
Bryce’s eyelids twitched.
He silently repeated a sentence over and over inside his head.
Stay calm…
If you can’t endure now… you’ll ruin everything later.
Tonight…
Everything had already been arranged perfectly.
So what if Lucas had money?
So what if Maya seemed close to him?
Bryce refused to believe Lucas understood romance.
Money alone couldn’t win a woman’s heart.
Real romance required planning.
Effort.
Atmosphere.
Emotion.
That was where Bryce believed he completely outclassed Lucas.
For tonight’s confession alone…
He had spent over $150,000.
The beachfront decorations.
The fireworks.
The professional event planners.
Even the timing had been rehearsed repeatedly.
Every detail had been carefully designed to create the perfect confession.
Bryce looked toward the darkening horizon.
The corners of his mouth slowly rose again.
Just wait…
When the fireworks light up the sky…
Maya will finally understand who the better man really is.