Chapter 78: Frederick at My Campus

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Frederick at My Campus

~Reynold’s POV~

I stood by the curb, checking my phone every few minutes and wondering how much longer I would have to wait. Just as I was beginning to lose patience, a familiar car pulled up beside me.

The window rolled down, and Alden looked over at me.

"Hey, why aren’t you with your car today?" he asked, looking at me curiously.

"I... I just didn’t feel like driving," I lied, avoiding his gaze.

"Come on, get in. I’ll give you a ride," Alden offered, gesturing toward the passenger seat.

I hesitated, wanting to refuse, but the rideshare was still taking forever to arrive. Eventually, I gave in and walked over to his car, getting into the passenger seat.

On the way home, his phone rang through the car’s Bluetooth system. It was his boyfriend calling to check on him. Hearing their easy, affectionate conversation immediately eased the tension in my chest. It was clear that Alden wasn’t trying to hit on me or expecting anything in return. He was simply being kind and giving me a ride.

He dropped me off at the estate gates. I thanked him, got out of the car, and walked into the house.

When I stepped inside, I found Frederick sitting in the living room, his expression stiff and forbidding. I tried to walk past him toward the stairs, but I forced myself to stop and offer a quiet greeting.

"I’m back, Mr. Corvin."

He didn’t respond. Instead, his dark eyes immediately turned toward me, and the first thing he asked was, "Why didn’t you take your car?"

I froze, surprised that he had bothered to ask. "I... I couldn’t drive today. My hands kept shaking too much."

Frederick narrowed his eyes, his tone sharp. "Why didn’t you tell me?"

"Because..." I swallowed hard, looking down at my shoes. "Because you won’t speak to me."

He stared at me for a long, heavy moment before asking, "Who was that man who just dropped you off?"

"It... it was my senior," I answered honestly. "He helped me because I was having trouble booking a ride."

"And you couldn’t call me?" Frederick demanded.

"I’m sorry," I whispered, my voice breaking.

He didn’t say another word. He abruptly stood from the sofa and walked past me, heading upstairs.

My heart clenched. He hadn’t spoken to me in days, and although he was still angry with me, hearing his voice again, hearing him finally acknowledge me, sent a strange, painful wave of relief through my chest.

He kept his distance for the rest of the day. We barely exchanged a word until it was time for us to go to bed.

Later that night, just as we turned off the lights, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was Alden, calling to check if I was okay. I answered briefly, thanked him quietly, and hung up. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

In the dim light, Frederick turned his head toward me.

"Who was that?"

"My senior," I answered quietly.

He didn’t say anything else. Without another look, he turned his back to me and went to sleep.

The next morning, I dressed quickly. Alden called to let me know he was already on his way to pick me up. I went downstairs, ate a quick breakfast, then headed outside to wait for him.

A few minutes later, Alden arrived. I got into his car, and he drove me to campus. Once we arrived, we went our separate ways to our respective lecture halls. After another exhausting day of classes, with the whispers still following me wherever I went, I walked out of the building and found Alden already waiting for me.

I got into his car, and he drove me back to the estate.

When I stepped inside the house, Frederick was sitting in the living room again.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Corvin," I greeted softly.

He said nothing. He didn’t even glance in my direction.

I swallowed the ache in my throat, turned around, and walked upstairs to our room.

As the day went on and evening came, I sat on the sofa while Frederick rested on the bed. Alden called to check on me and talk for a few minutes. We spoke briefly before I ended the call.

Frederick said nothing, but I knew he heard our conversation.

Later that night, just as we were about to go to sleep, Alden called again. I answered quietly and spoke with him for a few minutes before ending the call.

From the darkness beside me, Frederick’s low voice cut through the silence.

"Who was that?"

"My senior," I replied, turning toward him.

He remained silent for a long moment before his cold eyes settled on me.

"Do you truly love me... or do you just love my money?"

The question hit me hard. My chest tightened with shock, but I looked straight into his eyes and answered honestly.

"I love you," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I don’t care about your money. I never did. I love you, Frederick, and all I want is for you to believe that. I’ll do anything—anything—to prove to you that my feelings for you are real."

Frederick stared at me for a long moment, as though searching my face for the truth. He didn’t say a word. Finally, without showing any warmth, he turned his back to me and closed his eyes.

The next morning was Friday.

When I came downstairs for breakfast, Frederick was already awake. He had left the bed before I woke up and was already sitting at the table, drinking his coffee. As I approached, he suddenly looked up at me.

"How many classes do you have today?"

I blinked, surprised by the question.

"Just one."

"What time will you be done?"

I paused, confused by his sudden interest, before answering, "Around noon."

He said nothing else and returned his attention to his coffee.

I sat down at the dining table and finished my breakfast. By the time I was done, Alden had arrived to pick me up. I grabbed my bag and headed outside, getting into his car.

He drove me to campus, and once we arrived, we went our separate ways. I headed to my lecture hall while he made his way to his own.

I sat through my only lecture, my mind racing the entire time. When the professor finally dismissed the class, Julian immediately hurried down the aisle toward my desk, clearly wanting to talk to me.

I kept my head down, quickly packed my bag, and ignored him completely. Before he could reach me, I pushed past him and walked out of the lecture hall.

Just as I stepped into the hallway, my phone buzzed in my hand.

It was a text from Frederick.

I’m outside waiting for you.

I read the message twice, my breath catching in my throat.

Frederick is outside? Here? On my campus?

Shock and surprise rushed through me. I didn’t waste another second. I turned and hurried toward the main campus exit.

As I stepped outside into the bright afternoon sunlight, I immediately noticed a crowd gathering near the entrance. Students were staring toward the same spot, their excited voices filling the air.

"Oh my God, is that Frederick Corvin?"

"He’s so handsome!"

"Wait, he looks even better in person."

"I’ve only ever seen him on TV. I can’t believe he’s actually here!"

"Look at him! He’s so tall."

"Seriously, he’s gorgeous."

"Why is Frederick Corvin on our campus?"

Some students were already pulling out their phones, snapping pictures while others stood around simply staring at him. A few even moved closer, hoping to get a better look or speak to him. Everyone seemed excited to see the billionaire they usually only saw in interviews, magazines, and on television.

I hurried across the pavement, and there, beside a sleek, ultra-luxury black car, stood Frederick.

He was dressed entirely in crisp white, which stood out sharply against the dark vehicle. Dark sunglasses covered his eyes, while his towering height and immaculate posture made him impossible to miss. He looked completely at ease despite the attention surrounding him.

I pushed through the murmuring crowd, my heart pounding as I hurried toward him.

Sensing my approach, Frederick turned his head toward me. The moment I stepped in front of him, his gaze settled on me through the tinted lenses.

Behind me, the students immediately started whispering among themselves.

"Is Frederick here for Reynold?"