A Poor Scholarship Girl Tutored the Heir She Couldn’t Stand — Then He Became the Man She Never Expected to Love
Chapter 5
Sophia tried to distance herself.
She knew she shouldn’t fall in love with Adrian.
The difference between their lives was too large.
People would talk.
His family would object.
Her friends would assume she wanted his money.
And she couldn’t bear the thought of becoming someone else’s stereotype.
So she became colder.
Adrian noticed immediately.
“What did I do?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s the problem.”
“I’m busy.”
“You’ve been busy for three days.”
She looked at him.
“You should focus on your grades.”
“I am.”
“No, you’re focused on me.”
He smiled.
“Maybe.”
She sighed.
“Adrian.”
He became serious.
“Tell me to leave you alone.”
She couldn’t.
“Then don’t.”
She looked away.
“I don’t want to be a temporary part of your life.”
“You’re not.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
“Your family will never accept me.”
“They don’t have to live my life.”
She shook her head.
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand more than you think.”
He stepped closer.
“I’ve been watching you work two jobs.”
He paused.
“I’ve watched you take the bus in the rain because you didn’t have enough money for a cab.”
Sophia’s eyes filled with tears.
“I don’t want your pity.”
“It’s not pity.”
“What is it?”
“Respect.”
She looked at him.
He continued:
“You think I love you because you’re poor.”
She froze.
“I didn’t say…”
“I know.”
He took a breath.
“I love you because you’re the only person who has ever looked at me and seen something besides my last name.”
Sophia couldn’t speak.
Then she asked:
“When?”
“When did I fall in love with you?”
She nodded.
“Probably the day you yelled at me for wasting my education.”
She laughed through her tears.
“That’s romantic.”
“I have limited skills.”
She smiled.
He reached for her hand.
This time, she held his.
Their first kiss came outside the library.
It was quiet.
Almost shy.
Nothing about it felt like a billionaire romance.
It felt like two people who had been fighting something they couldn’t name.
When they pulled apart, Sophia whispered:
“I’m scared.”
“Me too.”
“Of what?”
“That this will end.”
She looked at him.
“Then let’s make it worth remembering.”
He smiled.
