Ex-Mate Wants Me Back (Seraphina and Mortimer) novel Chapter 281

Chapter 281

+15 Benus

Third Person’s POV

The holiday flew by, and before anyone knew it, people were already starting to return to work.

College students headed back to campus too, ready for a new semester.

The project teams led by Seraphina and Caldwell began prepping for the upcoming competition.

In the project office, Seraphina’s students and Caldwell’s students were all gathered together.

“Caldwell, I say you use your charm on Seraphina and get her to spill some details about their project. That way, we’ll know what we’re up against.” One of Caldwell’s students called this out with his hand raised.

Everyone burst out laughing, and the mood in the otherwise serious project team loosened up a little.

“Dream on. Our Professor Seraphina doesn’t fall for tricks that easily!”

“Seraphina, our professor is brilliant and handsome. We don’t believe you could stay completely unaffected if you gave him a chance.”

Seraphina found herself both amused and a little exasperated by the teasing.

“Alright, stop with the little schemes. You might actually scare your professor off.”

“How would that happen? Our professor would probably love the chance to try it on you. Wouldn’t you, Professor? “The student tipped his chin toward Caldwell.

Caldwell looked just as exasperated, though there was a smile in his eyes as he looked gently at Seraphina. “I wouldn’t mind trying it on Seraphina. I just don’t know if it would actually work on her.”

Seraphina glanced up on instinct and caught the affection he could no longer hide in his eyes.

She froze for a second, surprise and disbelief flickering across her face.

Then, as quickly, she looked away, composed.

Trying to smooth over the awkwardness, she gave a light laugh and teased back. “Do I really seem like someone who’s easily swayed? All right, everyone, back to work.”

She didn’t look at Caldwell again, turned to her own students, and got them moving on their tasks.

But inside, Seraphina felt unsettled.

Before that moment, she’d never seriously entertained the idea that Caldwell had feelings for her. But the way he’d just looked at her, like a man looking at the person meant to be his mate, wasn’t something she could explain

away.

She’d loved someone deeply once, so she knew exactly what that look meant.

Caldwell’s gaze had been almost identical to the way she used to look at Mortimer.

Realizing that left her at a loss, unsure how she was even supposed to react.

What she felt for Caldwell was friendship. Gratitude, since he’d saved her life. The bond of a senior colleague, a companion. Nothing romantic had ever been part of it.

That was exactly why the love in his eyes had rattled her so badly.

1/3

• 15 Berus

She could barely focus for the rest of the project discussion.

She didn’t notice when the meeting ended or when the students left the lab.

“Everyone’s gone.” Caldwell’s voice came from behind her.

His amused, teasing voice caught Seraphina off guard.

She spun around and found him leaning slightly toward her, smiling.

This close, the affection in his eyes was even harder to miss, gentle but unmistakably intense.

Seraphina turned her face away on instinct, but Caldwell cupped her chin gently and guided her gaze back to him.

“Why are you avoiding me?”

He asked with a smile, the feeling in his eyes impossible to hide.

“Huh?”

She stepped back without thinking, but the conference table was right behind her, pressing into her waist, leaving her nowhere to go.

“You noticed, didn’t you?”

He asked it plainly. His tone stayed gentle and even, but the depth of feeling behind it carried a quiet certainty that was hard to brush off.

“Now that everyone’s gone, how about you do me a favor and answer me again? Would my little trick actually work on you?”

She hadn’t expected him to be this direct. There was nowhere left to hide.

“Caldwell…” She pressed her lips together, trying to find the right words, wanting to be honest without hurting

him.

“I only just ended my mating bond. For now… I’m not planning on starting anything new.”

“I understand.”

Caldwell nodded, calm and steady.

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