Chapter 48: Deer Marie
Jin pulled up in his sleek black sedan and parked across from the Autumnvale Institute of Management. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the street as he adjusted his mask and sunglasses, settling into the driver’s seat like a predator lying in wait. Yesterday’s conversation with Abdul had yielded precious information: Marie Marigold, age 21, first-year student. The name alone made his blood boil with barely contained rage.
He had wanted to hunt her down immediately, but by the time he’d received the intel, evening had already fallen. So he’d returned to his villa, spending the night plotting his revenge in exquisite detail. Now he sat motionless, his eyes fixed on the institute’s main entrance, waiting for his prey to emerge.
The afternoon session ended with a flood of students pouring through the gates like colorful butterflies escaping their academic cocoon. Groups of young people chatting, their voices carrying across the street in cheerful waves. Backpacks slung over shoulders, textbooks clutched tightly, couples walking hand in hand—the scene painted a picture of carefree youth that would have been pleasant under different circumstances.
There were undeniably beautiful girls among the crowd, their laughter ringing like silver bells in the air. Normally, Jin would have been captivated by such a buffet of feminine beauty. But today was different. He had Sophie now—his perfect angel with pink hair and healing hands. These ordinary college girls couldn’t possibly compare to her divine presence. Well, they didn’t tempt him... much.
As the minutes ticked by and the crowd thinned, Jin’s patience began wearing thin. "Damn it, did I miss her? Did she not attend classes today?" His jaw clenched as darker thoughts crept in. "Sure enough, this kind of bitch is just like my ex—probably out sleeping with wealthy men while skipping classes."
Just as he was about to abandon his vigil, she appeared.
Marie Marigold emerged from the building like a delicate deer stepping into a clearing. Her long black hair cascaded down her shoulders, catching the afternoon light. Her dark eyes sparkled with innocent mirth as she chatted with her friends, her hands moving expressively as she recounted some amusing story. Despite the tiredness evident in her posture from a long day of classes, she radiated youthful energy and unbridled joy.
She was cute in that effortless way only college girls possessed—her laugh genuine and infectious, her movements graceful yet slightly clumsy, like a young fawn learning to navigate the world. There was something endearingly cartoon-like about her mannerisms, the way she bounced slightly on her toes when excited, how her eyes widened with exaggerated surprise at her friend’s jokes.
Jin’s expression turned glacial as he watched her carefree demeanor. "This bitch dares to have fun after making me suffer like this?" His hands gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. The audacity of this girl to smile, to laugh, to live her life normally while he had endured public humiliation and physical agony—it was unforgivable. He would make sure she never forgot today.
Slipping out of his car with predatory grace, Jin removed his sunglasses to avoid unwanted attention. He pretended to scroll through his phone while keeping his target in sight, his footsteps silent on the pavement. Most students had already dispersed, leaving only scattered groups saying their goodbyes.
After an animated farewell with her friends, Marie began walking toward her destination, still humming some cheerful tune under her breath. Her steps were light and bouncy, completely unaware of the cold, ruthless eyes tracking her every movement from behind. But then, as if some primal instinct had awakened, her deer-like senses seemed to kick in. She glanced back over her shoulder and froze.
Their eyes met for a split second—his burning with calculated malice, hers widening with sudden, inexplicable terror.