Page 308 of In Love with a Cruel Billionaire

1D A student and a member of either the faculty or administrative body*

*Both parties are required to disclose their relationship to the university and file a Conflict of Interest declaration form.

Together

DIANA FELTsick.

And the closer she got to the faculty building, the sicker she felt, and she could only feel dimly thankful the moment raindrops struck her skin, and her pain turned invisible amidst the skies' own tears.

She could only muster half a smile for the professor's secretary when she came barging in, and either she looked too terrifying or pathetic, but Mrs. Montez didn't even say a word, much less stop her from walking straight into the professor's office.

Matthijs was on his feet the moment he saw the distraught expression on her face. "Diana?"

She tried to speak, but it was just still too much, and she could only look at him and hurt.

He was so, so beautiful, with nothing in this world able to lessen the flawless symmetry of his face.

So beautiful.

It was just too damn bad he had turned out to be a modern-day Dorian Gray, and almost as if he heard her heart shattering anew, he suddenly stiffened. "You know." His voice was without emotion, and so was his too-gorgeous face, which was no longer anything but just carved edges and grooves now.

"That Helder Meer has no rules on fraternization?" A choking laugh escaped her, but she couldn't even find satisfaction in the way the sound made him flinch. "Yes, I know.And it's just...I should've known..." Oh God, she couldn't stop laughing. "I really should." Didn't dare stop. "Congratulations, Professor de Graaf. You really did a number on me—-"

"Diana—-"

She saw him move towards her, and she stumbled back as laughter turned into a desperate cry."Don't touch me!"

The professor froze, the fear in her eyes slicing into him like a blade plunging deep and hard into his heart.

"Was it really that fun," she asked brokenly, "watching me make an ass of myself—-"

"I have never wanted to hurt you," the professor said tightly.

"And yet reality states otherwise."

"Believe what you want." The professor's jaw clenched. "It's your choice—-"

---