Elena’s POV
The atmosphere in the lecture hall felt entirely different today, but for once, it wasn't because of the whispering students in the rows around us.
It was because of the wall between Evan and me.
He was sitting in his usual seat directly beside mine, his broad shoulders occupying half the space, his faint scent of cedar and rain brushing against my senses. But ever since he dropped those icy words in the car last night.... “don't confuse the act for something real"... a cold, heavy shield had settled over my heart.
I knew this was a fake relationship. I knew it was performative. But the sheer brutality of how hard he had pushed me away when no one was watching still stung like an open wound. If he wanted strictly professional, I was going to give him strictly professional.
