Chapter 16
“I don’t want to go home yet. I’m looking for a quiet place to do homework.”
“Come with me.”
She hesitated for a second but eventually followed.
He led her back to the school infirmary. She paused in the doorway, “Why are we here? I’m not sick anymore.”
Sean tapped the desk. “It’s quieter than any study lounge. And safer.”
She thought about it. He had a point.
She set down her bag. “Alright. Hope I’m not imposing.”
She pulled out her textbooks and got to work.
Sean gave her a glance–cool and unreadable–then turned and stepped into the adjoining consultation/room, shutting the door behind him.
Time slipped by without her noticing. When she finally looked up, the sky had already begun to darken.
She spotted a nameplate on the desk with a photo. ‘So his name’s Sean.‘
“Done staring?”
Caught red–handed, Sadie blushed and quickly set the nameplate back. “I wasn’t snooping. I just happened to notice.”
“You finished your homework?”
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“Yeah. I skipped a few questions I didn’t know. I’ll ask the teacher tomorrow.”
Sean walked over, grabbed her notebook, and flipped through it. “You didn’t know these? They’re basic.”
Sadie flinched a little at the criticism, her eyes dropping to her textbook. “Yeah… I used to slack off. Got too caught up in other things and fell behind.”
“Listen carefully–because I’m only going to explain this once.
Sean picked up a pen and began working through the problem on scrap paper as he spoke.
Sadie stared, stunned. Watching him like this stirred up something complicated in her chest.
Because of Lorena, she didn’t have many friends. Even the teachers didn’t really like her.
No one had ever voluntarily helped her with homework before.
Sean glanced down, his tone calm and detached. “No wonder your grades are a mess–clearly, you spend every class daydreaming.”
Sadie snapped to attention. “Sorry. I’ll focus.”
As he saw how obedient she was, Sean’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, but he said nothing more and continued explaining the solution patiently.
The warm amber glow of the evening light settled between them.
Sadie sat quietly, while he stood beside her, one hand braced on the desk, working through the problems line by line.
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“Your brain only works in straight lines? Ever heard of flexible thinking? This is literally the same method as the last question.”
“You couldn’t spot this super basic trap? Are your eyes just for decoration?”
“Have you ever taken an IQ test? Are you sure you passed? Do it again- properly this time.”
His tone was flat, almost emotionless–but the words landed like jabs to the ribs.
Thankfully, Sadie had already been warned about his razor–sharp tongue. Otherwise, she might’ve crumbled right there.
But she held it together.
When she finally finished her assignments, she carefully packed her things. “Thanks, Dr. Francis. You’re amazing–can’t believe you still remember all this.”
Sean casually twirled her pen, eyeing her with a mildly curious look. “Your family never hired a tutor?”
Sadie pursed her lips. “I don’t want to owe them anything.”
Private tutoring was expensive. And right now, she didn’t have the money–nor the pride to ask the Douglas family for help.
Sean studied her pale side profile, eyes cast downward, emotions carefully hidden behind her lashes.
Sadie hesitated, then asked softly, “Dr. Francis, would it be okay if I came to you again… if I get stuck?”
He turned his head slightly, voice clipped. “I’m busy.”
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Even after being rejected. Sadie didn’t get upset. She quietly kept packing her things.
Sean tapped his fingers on the table, then added with an offhanded tone. “Depends on my mood.”
Sadie’s lips curled into a smile. “Thanks, Dr. Francis.”
Before he could respond, she grabbed her backpack and ran off
Sean narrowed his eyes, a lazy smirk tugging at his lips. He thought, Fine. Consider it a way to kill time.”
*****
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