It turned out that from some unknown point in time, he had already fallen deeply in love with her.

He had treated her genuine heart as a game and used her love as a bargaining chip, only comprehending in hindsight—now that she had vanished entirely—that in this meticulously engineered trap, the person who had fallen the deepest was himself.

A week later, he was released.

Julian stood up, a rare flash of absolute resolve appearing in his eyes.

The moment he stepped outside the detention center, his phone rang.

"Sir, we have found Serena. She is currently in Italy, enrolled at an art academy, and we have verified the exact campus address and her contact information!"

Julian's heart thrashed violently against his ribs, blood rushing straight to his head as the accumulated remorse of the past days instantly materialized into an overwhelming wave of longing.

He spoke up immediately.

"Book the earliest flight available. I am leaving right now."

Hanging up the phone, he raised his hand to press against his temples, his mind entirely consumed by images of Serena—the gentle, the stubborn, the wounded...

He would look her in the eyes and say he was sorry.

He would tell her that he knew he was wrong, that he had realized he loved her long ago.

As the plane ascended into the sky, Julian looked at the city shrinking beneath the clouds, a single conviction anchoring his heart.

No matter how long it took for her to forgive him, he would never let go again.

This time, he would expend every ounce of his strength to chase her back.

The following day, Julian stepped off the plane and rushed toward Serena's academy without a single pause.

As he turned the corner of the academic building, a display wall lined with student photographs caught his eye.

Julian's gaze locked onto one frame.

In the photo, Serena was wearing a cream-white dress, standing before her award-winning exhibition piece, the corners of her lips curved into a faint, gentle smile.

"This is Serena, right? She's easily the finest flower in our department; the real person is even more stunning than the photo!"

Two male students in casual clothes had gathered by the display wall, their voices low yet carrying clearly into Julian's ears.

The other student nodded, his tone filled with genuine admiration.

"Tell me about it. She's been here for over a semester, and I've never seen her exchange a single unnecessary word with any guy. I’ll wager five hundred euros that no one can break her guard."

"Five hundred euros? You have terrible judgment." The first student let out a chuckle. "Haven't you noticed she's been constantly spending time with Sean from the fine arts department since last week? I heard Sean comes from an excellent family and even helped her secure several exhibition venues. I just saw them heading out to a restaurant near campus for a date, it's likely a done deal."

"A date?"

Julian violently snatched the speaking student by his collar, his voice laced with volatile fury. "What date did you say? Who is she on a date with?"

Chapter 14

The student was startled by the sudden confrontation, instinctively struggling to break free. "Who the hell are you? A psycho? Let go of me!"

"I asked you a question!" Julian tightened his grip, a dark rage swirling in his eyes. "Who is Sean? When did they go on a date?"

"Get your hands off my friend!" The other student snapped, instantly swinging a fist toward Julian's face.

Julian ducked to the side, evading the blow, and countersunk a heavy punch directly into the student's chest.

The young man stumbled backward, crashing into the display wall and knocking several photographs to the floor with a loud clutter.

In an instant, the three of them were locked in a chaotic brawl.

Thudding punches, angry shouts, and the sharp gasps of nearby onlookers blurred into a single commotion.

Julian fought like an unleashed predator, every strike driven by a ruthless intensity.

The ocean of remorse and agony he had suppressed for months erupted all at once, and he welcomed the brutal release to numb the tempest in his chest.

Meanwhile, Serena was having lunch with Sean.

Sean used a pair of serving chopsticks to place a few delicate pieces of seared cod into her bowl. "The cod here is incredibly tender. Give it a try. It's lightly seasoned, so it should be exactly to your taste."

Serena looked up, offering a soft word of thanks.

Three months ago, she had completely lost her way on her very first day reporting to the academy, and it was Sean who had stepped in to help her.

She had been standing in the courtyard, turning a campus map over and over in confusion, when a gentle voice called out to her from behind.

"Are you lost?"

A young man dressed in a light gray sweater stood a few paces away. He was tall, with a gaze so clear it carried not a single trace of hidden intent.

Serena nodded, the comfort of hearing a familiar language instantly washing away her anxiety. "I can't seem to find the direction of the dormitories."

"I'm Sean, from the fine arts department."

The young man instinctively extended a hand, then quickly caught himself and drew it back with a polite smile, pointing toward a path on the left.

"It happens to be on my way. Let me walk you over."

His demeanor was courteous without being overbearing, instantly putting her at ease.

Serena offered a small nod and fell into step beside him.

Along the walk, Sean asked nothing about her background or personal history. He simply offered light descriptions of the passing architecture, speaking with the easy warmth of an old friend, entirely devoid of invasive curiosity.

When they reached the dormitory entrance, he came to a stop and pointed toward the main doors. "Here we are. Just register at the front desk inside and you'll be all set."

Serena smiled. "Thank you so much for your time."

"It was nothing." Sean rubbed the back of his neck, a faint flush creeping up to his ears as his eyes brushed her face before looking away. "Um... I don't have any more classes this afternoon, so I'll just wait down here. If you need help with anything else or want to get familiar with the campus, I'd be happy to show you around."

Serena was slightly taken recent by the offer, and just as she was about to politely decline, he quickly added to reassure her.

"Please don't feel pressured. I just thought it might be overwhelming since you've only just arrived. If you'd rather have some time to yourself, I can leave right now."

His absolute sincerity and profound respect softened something in Serena's chest, and she found herself nodding in agreement.

By the time Serena finished unpacking her belongings, it was already late in the afternoon, yet Sean was still waiting downstairs exactly as he had promised.

He took her to a quiet restaurant nearby, and after they finished their meal, he suddenly stood up, his expression turning solemn.

"Serena, I fell for you the moment I saw you. Would you allow me to court you?"

Serena had only ever known the suffocating intensity of Julian's presence; she had never experienced a declaration so completely honest and grounded.

She wasn't ready to step into another relationship, but before she could voice her refusal, he spoke again.

"I know you might have your own reservations, and I promise never to push you. If you're willing, we can just take our time to get to know one another. If you find that you don't feel the same way in the end, just tell me plainly. I will never bother you, and I won't let it interfere with your studies or your life here."

His words carried no hidden demands, only a deep reverence for her boundaries. Unlike Julian's possessive enforcement, Sean placed the choice entirely in her hands.

Looking into the unclouded earnestness of his eyes, the tightly locked gates of Serena's heart seemed to crack open just a fraction.

She remained quiet for a few seconds, then gave a soft, gentle nod. "We can try."

From that day forward, Sean would be waiting precisely outside her lecture halls to walk her to class, often helping her compile missing course notes.

When she struggled with the language barrier and advanced art history, he volunteered to tutor her, maintaining a flawless sense of respectful distance even when they were entirely alone.

In the warmth of this quiet, restorative companionship, Serena's defenses slowly began to unravel.

"Serena?"

Sean's voice gently pulled her from her thoughts.

"There's a documentary premiering at the theater near campus tonight. Would you like to go with me?"

Serena looked at the quiet anticipation shining in his eyes and opened her mouth to reply.

Suddenly, a blonde student came running toward their table, her face flushed with panic.