### Chapter 44 The atmosphere in the office shifted abruptly as the bodyguard pulled Avery aside with a swift motion, drawing the attention of everyone present. The air crackled with tension, and all eyes turned toward the doorway. Elliot, just a few paces from his desk, felt a rush of recognition wash over him when he caught sight of Avery's delicate figure. He stood up, a mix of surprise and confusion etching his features as he asked, “What are you doing here?” Avery, shaking off the bodyguard’s hold, adjusted her clothing with practiced grace and stepped boldly into the office. “I’m here to see Professor Hough,” she announced, her gaze flitting toward Elliot. “Are you here to see him, too?” Professor Hough, adjusting his glasses with an air of curiosity, turned to examine the two. “Do you two know each other?” he queried, sensing the charged atmosphere. Just as Avery prepared to clarify their acquaintance, Elliot interjected with a newfound urgency. “Professor, please ensure our previous discussion remains confidential.” “Absolutely,” the professor responded, his tone all business. “Doctor-patient confidentiality is paramount.” Elliot nodded curtly, edging toward the exit. As he strode past Avery, their eyes met for a fleeting moment, yet his lips betrayed no words before he disappeared from the room. Avery stood there, momentarily lost in thought. Why hadn’t he answered her? What enigmatic conversation had he had with the professor? What truths was he concealing? “Are you here to see me, Miss?” Professor Hough’s voice pulled her back from her reverie. “I must leave in about ten minutes. Do you have a question for me?” With newfound determination, Avery retrieved the meticulously prepared documents she had brought. “I apologize for the interruption, Professor. My name is Avery Tate, and I’m a senior medical student here at Avonsville. I’ve written a paper on some of your previous clinical cases. Due to the limited information available online, I've had to draw my own conclusions regarding many cases. I would greatly appreciate it if you could review it and point out any mistakes.” Taking the paper from Avery’s hands, Professor Hough began to flip through the pages, his expression a mixture of interest and concentration. Meanwhile, in the confines of his car, Elliot’s thoughts raced. Was Avery truly a medical student? His recollection painted her as an art student. Had the background report been misleading? He hastily dialed Chad’s number. “Chad, the background check you provided indicated that Avery was an art student. Now I see her here in the medical department. What’s going on?” Chad’s response came quickly, almost too eager. “She is, in fact, an art student. I verified that with the university myself.” “Then why did I just encounter her in the medical department?” Elliot pressed. “Are you referring to the medical department at Avonsville University?” Chad asked, surprise lacing his voice. “Yes,” Elliot confirmed. “I’ll look into it immediately,” Chad assured him before pausing. “By the way, I’ve sent you the reservations for the recital. It’s slated for 4 p.m. today.” “Understood,” Elliot replied, his mind still swirling with questions. Shortly after, Chad called back, having done a bit more digging. “Mr. Foster, it turns out Miss Tate is majoring in arts while minoring in medicine.” Elliot processed this new information, a flicker of admiration breaking through his initial confusion. “I see. I didn’t anticipate her being this remarkable.” With that, he ended the call, the wheels of his mind spinning faster than ever. At noon, the bustling atmosphere of a nearby restaurant welcomed Avery as she met Tammy for lunch. Once they settled into their seats, Tammy thrust the menu toward Avery, her tone teasing. “You’ve really transformed, Avery. You used to be so eager to join me every time I called, and yet last night was the first outing we’ve had in ages—and you bolted faster than the speed of light! What’s changed?” “Tammy,” Avery began, her brow furrowing with curiosity, “was the party last night a singles event?” “Yes, it was! Why do you ask?” Tammy replied, her excitement palpable. “Please refrain from inviting me to parties like that in the future. I’m not single anymore.” “What?!” Tammy’s eyes widened with shock. “Didn’t you just end a relationship not long ago? How on earth did you move on so fast?” Avery’s heart raced as the conversation unfolded, and she felt a mix of exhilaration and trepidation brewing inside her—her world was changing in ways she never expected, and she was ready for whatever came next.