Vanya's POV
I frowned and said firmly, "Alpha Cliff, we agreed to stay out of each other's way."
"Can you take care of yourself living alone?" Cliff looked at me, his eyes filled with doubt.
"I can," I answered without hesitation.
"Is this how you take care of yourself?" Cliff gestured towards my weakened body lying in the hospital bed, leaving me speechless.
I explained helplessly, "I just catch colds easily during the changing seasons, and this time, it's a bit more severe."
"There's no discussion about it," Cliff's attitude remained firm.
"Cliff!" I raised my voice, trying to change his mind.
"Vanya!" Cliff also raised his volume, coldly saying, "Don't you even listen to me now?"
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down, and said, "Alpha Cliff, attending Wolfe is my own decision. We are just a business marriage, in other words, a contractual marriage. I will be a dignified Mrs. Todd and Luna Vanya in front of others, but you can't interfere with me or harm my interests."
"Contractual marriage?" Cliff narrowed his eyes dangerously, his gaze making me a bit scared, "So that's how you see this marriage."
"Isn't it?" I looked him straight in the eyes.
From the beginning, we have been nothing more than a nominal couple.
Cliff was silent for a moment, then let out a deep sigh, saying, "Alright, I can let you live outside, but only when you are busy with your studies. Usually, I will have Elliot pick you up and take you home. It's not proper for a pack's Luna to live outside. If you don't want Veronica to know, I suggest you do as I say."
I wanted to say something more, but Cliff stopped me with a cold look in his eyes.
His voice seemed to be squeezed out from his teeth, "This is my bottom line."
Looking at Cliff's determined gaze, I knew very well that persisting would be futile.
If I continued to confront him, he might send someone to take me back to the Silver Moon Pack today forcibly.
I sighed helplessly and comforted myself in my heart. 'Revenge can be taken after ten years. For now, I will temporarily submit it.'
"I see," I said slowly, "I will be home at least twice a week. Is that okay?"
"Three times," Cliff was unyielding.
"Hey!" I almost blurted out my anger, but upon meeting Cliff's cold and unquestionable gaze, I swallowed my words and suppressed my inner rage.
I knew very well that the graduate studies at Wolfe were not very intense, and it was not difficult to go back three times a week.
I assumed Cliff had already inquired about the situation from the principal, which is why he made such a resolute request.
I tried to adjust my mindset and forced a very awkward smile, saying to Cliff, "Alight. Alpha Cliff, are there any other requirements?"
"My one phone call and you must come home. I will have Elliot pick you up," Cliff still spoke with a poker face.
I took another deep breath, my face still wearing that stiff smile. "No problem. Is there anything else?"
"Nothing for now," Cliff's words made my heart skip a beat. Nothing for now meant there would definitely be other demands in the future.
I suddenly realized that coming to Wolfe had given Cliff leverage over me.
After all, my attending school here could not be known to Veronica. She was not someone to be trifled with.
"I have matters to attend to at the company, and later, I will have Elliot take you back to school," Cliff stood up, as if suddenly remembering something, and said to me in a serious tone, "Stay away from Wilmot."
Wilmot?
I was full of doubts. Why did Cliff suddenly mention him?
I recalled the events before I fainted. Could it be... Wilmot and Cliff met?
In the afternoon, accompanied by Elliot, I came to school with a heart full of doubts.
I thought I would see Wilmot as soon as I entered the classroom, but to my surprise, everyone else was there except for Wilmot.
"Vanya, come in," Derrick called out to me as I stood at the classroom door in a daze.
I silently walked to the last row of the classroom and sat down, feeling a bit depressed.
I had planned to use this opportunity to attract Wilmot's attention and establish a good relationship with him, but Cliff's appearance completely disrupted my plan.
The Hammond and Todd families had always been incompatible competitors.
Being Cliff's wife, this identity could bring me some benefits, but it also came with many tricky troubles. If not handled with care, it could lead to a downfall from which there was no recovery.