Under Ian’s guidance, Susan successfully returned to the Faculty of Accounting. Besides that, she noticed the teacher that had caused her trouble was no longer around.
Consequently, she was delighted by the turn of events.
After she was done with her morning class, she received a call from Vivian at noon.
“Aunt Susan, let’s go for lunch. We’ll be waiting for you at the school entrance.”
“Okay,” Susan readily agreed.
Just when she left her classroom to seek out Ian at the Faculty of Finance, she saw Sigrun and Ian walking out of the faculty building side by side.
“Ian, let’s meet up with Susan before going over to the restaurant for lunch.”
“Yeah,” Ian agreed. It was evident that he very much approved of the arrangement.
The moment Susan saw both of them together, she stopped in her tracks.
Sigrun?
Suddenly, she felt like someone had poured cold water over her, dousing the happiness she had felt a moment ago and causing her mood to spiral into sorrow.
She was aware that Sigrun was his official girlfriend and was recognized by both families. Moreover, she had already reminded herself not to feel discouraged over it.
However, the moment she saw them together, she didn’t know how to handle the pain and sadness she felt.
She stood there blankly until both of them finally noticed her.
“Ms. Susan, I’m surprised to see you here!”
Sigrun was delighted to see her. Ignoring Ian, she rushed to Susan’s side without any hesitation.
“Ms. Susan, we were just heading over to your faculty to find you. Now that you’re here, we can head out together. Vivian and Kurt are already waiting for US at the school entrance.”
She hugged Susan’s arm in a familiar manner.
Even though the latter felt uneasy about it, she kept it to herself. Finally, she threw Ian a glance before the three of them headed to the school entrance.
It was early spring in Atlantius. The ice had already melted away while the trees on both sides of the campus were starting to bud, setting the stage for a gorgeous spring scene.
Just like that, Susan was led to the school entrance with Sigrun hanging off her arm.
“Wow, you guys are finally here! Get in quick. I’m famished.” Vivian, who had been waiting for a while, hurried them into the car.
Naturally, Sigrun pulled Susan over to her side.
Just when she arrived in front of the car, she suddenly glanced at it and suggested, “Ms. Susan, get in. You can see the scenery outside by taking the window seat.”
Since it seemed like a well-intentioned arrangement, Susan complied.
The moment she got in, Sigrun followed and sat by her side.
As a result, Ian had no choice but to sit next to Sigrun by the other window.
Meanwhile, Kurt didn’t say a word after glancing in the rearview mirror.
“Kurt, let’s go. I’m hungry.”
Vivian was even more oblivious of the situation.
After getting into the front passenger seat, she urged him to drive, her stomach rumbling in the background.
The drive to Adalyn’s house wasn’t that far. Nonetheless, their car drove over a hump on the way there.
Thump!
Even though the impact was slight, Sigrun’s entire body fell into Ian’s arms.
Both Susan and Kurt were rendered speechless.
“Ah, I’m sorry, Ian. I happened to have lost my balance. Are you all right?” Sigrun quickly sat upright as she explained apologetically.
Furrowing his brows, Ian shook his head calmly. “I’m fine.”
Sigrun smiled in delight.
After that, she took out her phone from her pocket and seized upon the opportunity to suggest, “Ian, I wasn’t able to beat the game I was playing yesterday. Can you teach me how to do it? I died many times trying.”
After handing her phone over, she leaned her head closer to him.
When Ian took the phone, a look of disappointment flashed past Susan’s face before she turned to look elsewhere.
Ian is a germophobe with an unsociable character. Thus, it isn’t easy for someone to get close to him. But now, he not only agreed to teach her how to play games but also doesn’t mind holding her phone.
As Susan’s anguish intensified, she felt her heart ache just from breathing while looking out the window. At the same time, the burning sensation in her eyes made the drive to Adalyn’s home a tormenting one.
After everyone alighted from the car, she headed to the washroom where she lingered alone for a long time.
“Oh? Where’s Aunt Susan? Where did she disappear to?”
“Let me find her. She might have lost her way.”
Sigrun swiftly got to her feet to look for Susan.
“Ms. Susan, why are you here? What’s wrong? Why do you look so pale? Are you sick?” she asked anxiously when she found Susan in the washroom looking unsettled.
