SWNOVELS Chapter 24
Emmaline was walking through the hallways absentmindedly. She tried to stabilize her mind but it kept drifting back to Damien.
The broken look in his eyes.
His crestfallen face.
And the red streaks that started to form in his eyes the moment she stepped up to leave him.
She knew what she had done was a necessary move. How can she develop feelings for the person who had only given her pain? But if that’s the truth then why his longed face bothered her so much?
Suddenly something caught her eye that made her stop dead in her tracks.
Emmaline started to shake in her shoes. She hadn’t paid the fees for this semester yet and to pile up her embarrassment, her name was at the top of the list of fee defaulters.
Her heart jittered as it was a huge stain on her pride.
After receiving the salary, the first thing Emmaline used to do was to pay her fees. She never missed it but today her empty pocket turned her helpless.
Emmaline broke out in cold sweats. Today her name was on the defaulter’s list, and after a few days, she would be kicked out of the campus. It is because she doesn’t have a single penny nor any deposits in the bank. Where in the world she is going to manage to pay such a hefty amount in such a short time?
“Emmaline Richard Dawson.”
Emmaline jolted on spot at the mention of her name. She turned around only to come face to face with Sir Andrew, head of the student welfare department.
Emmaline had a good reputation in her university so her name was at the tip of every teacher’s tongue. And being a prodigy in mathematics, she was the favorite student of Mr. Andrew.
But the circumstances today had chiseled away her self-confidence. She couldn’t even look into his eyes and lowered her head. Because of the way Andrew called her, she knew she would be getting an earful from him.
“Why haven’t you paid your fees yet?” He said with a frown but Emmaline could hear the concern in his voice.
She fiddled with her fingers nervously. She was feeling too ashamed but hiding the truth won’t do any good to her. Taking a deep breath, Emmaline then looked at Andrew and decided to be honest with him.
“I-I lost my job, Sir. I don’t have the money.” She said and quickly sealed her lips in a thin line. Tears burned at the back of her eyes but she swallowed them. It was insulting to her.
Mr. Andrew was taken aback. He knew Emmaline inside out. He was the only person in the university who knew that Emma was on her own and used to work part-time jobs for a living.
His gaze softened, “You should have told me, child.” He spoke politely and lovingly patted her head.
Emmaline blinked away her tears. She was feeling too vulnerable at the moment. A slight concern was enough to shake her resolve.
“Sir, I am trying my best to get a job. I will try to pay fees next month but please do consider my request.” She spoke but her heart drop when Andrew averted his gaze.
“I wish I could Emmaline. You know you’re my favorite student and I know your situation well but the thing is that I don’t have a say in this matter. The only way I could help you is to pass your application regarding this issue to the authorities but I can’t guarantee you that they would consider your request.” He spoke earnestly, not beating around the bush. She needs to know that there was no way out of it.
Emmaline nodded in defeat, understanding him. Andrew felt bad but his hands were tied. He didn’t want to give her any false hope.
Andrew then held her shoulders and made her look at him. Emmaline was taken off guard but his meticulous gaze washed away all her doubts. He genuinely looked worried for her.
“Emma, you’re like a daughter to me. I would never want to lose such a great student like you. If you’re facing trouble, I will pay your fees for this semester.”
His words fell on her body like a brick.
Emmaline instantly denied but Andrew cut her midway.
“I know you don’t like taking favors but kid, I am sorry to say but you don’t have any option. You only have two days to pay the fees or your name would be struck off. It’s the only option child but I assure you that won’t burden you with my debt. Once you get the job, pay me back and we’ll be equal.” He said with a smile, trying to cheer her up.
Emmaline was overwhelmed. No one had ever thought so much for her.
But her self-confidence compelled her to push her luck one last time. Maybe Moon Goddess would show her mercy and give her a job that would help her solve her problems.
Putting on a fake smile, Emmaline looked at Andrew and nodded, “Sir, I am grateful to you for thinking so much about me. But also, I don’t want to disappoint you. I want to try one last time and come up with a solution. And if I failed this time, I will definitely accept your offer.”
Emmaline didn’t want to accept Andrew’s help but she also didn’t dare to blatantly refused him. So, out of reverence, she accepted his offer.
Andrew’s smile widened at her response. “Sure, my child. Your acumen will definitely help you get a job. You might doubt yourself but I have full faith in you.”
Emmaline smiled at him and bowed to him. Andrew then patted her head and left.
But the moment he left; her smile faltered.
Though she promised Andrew to get a job, she knew very well that her devil had closed all the doors for her. She had already walked her feet off in search of a job but was rejected everywhere.
Frustrated, Emmaline grabbed her head in her palms.
“What am I gonna do?” She said and closed her eyes releasing a few tears. She tried to stay strong but as if the entire world had planned to make her kowtow.
The feeling of helplessness and rage took a toll on her sanity.
Emmaline looked up and glared at the ceiling with maddened eyes, “What do you really want from me? Am I that ill-fated that you’re giving me all the troubles of the world while cherishing my enemies? Why huh? What’s my enmity with you? First, you took my family away then my friend, and now when I learned how to survive on my own. When I finally became dependent on myself, you’re forcing me to take favors. To beg and cry for affection, the way I used to do in past. I left everything behind only to earn a name for myself but you just can’t let me live in peace?”
She shouted and that’s when her dam broke. Slumping to the floor, Emmaline buried her face in her palms and started crying like a child.
“Why me? Why always me? What have I done to earn so much pain in my life?” She asked only to earn silence in response.
Emmaline was bawling her eyes out but deep down she was also relieved that it was lunch time so there was no one in the hallway to see her shattered self.
But she was again proved wrong.
’Cause, a pair of bluish-green eyes that were following her from the moment she left the cafeteria had already witnessed the whole scene.