My Toxin

Chapter 3

I couldn't keep this up much longer—not without addressing the growing tension between us. Marjorie and I spent countless hours together—studying, attending debates, and sharing quiet moments in the library. Every day, my feelings for her burned stronger, consuming me like a fire I couldn't put out. But Marjorie... she had changed. She had become more affectionate, more physical—or was I imagining it?

She hugged me more often, her fingers brushing mine when we walked, her lips grazing my cheek, sometimes far too close to my own. It felt like she was testing me, seeing if I'd keep my promise not to pursue her. I couldn't understand it. She insisted she didn't want me, yet she kept offering me these small gestures of affection. I savoured every touch, every smile, and every moment, but it only made me crave more.

One afternoon, we were sitting beneath a large oak tree on campus, our books spread out around us. Marjorie was lost in her notes, her brow furrowed in that adorable way it always did when she was focused. I couldn't help but watch her, mesmerised. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating her face and making her brown skin glow. She was beautiful, and looking at her like this made my chest tighten with longing.

"Marjorie," I murmured, breaking the peaceful silence between us.

She glanced up, her warm eyes meeting mine. "Yes, Alex?"

"I just wanted to say... I'm proud of you," I said, my voice filled with sincerity. "You're doing so well in law, and the debate team really values everything you bring. You've been working so hard for so long. I know you'll achieve everything you're aiming for."

A smile spread across her face, soft and genuine, and it made my heart ache. "Thank you, Alex. That really means a lot to me."

We fell into a comfortable silence after that. I reached out to play with her braids as she continued reading, a small, intimate gesture that she allowed. These moments, when it was just the two of us, felt precious—like they belonged to me alone. For a while, I let myself pretend that this was enough.

As the afternoon turned into evening, the campus was bathed in golden light. Elmdonbury University was beautiful, with its manicured gardens, tall trees, and a peaceful lake nearby. Across from us, the lake reflected the colours of the sunset, its surface dotted with lily pads and the graceful movements of swans. For a moment, I let myself feel calm, soaking in the beauty of the scene and the comfort of Marjorie's presence.

"Alex," she said suddenly, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah?" I asked, my heart racing a little.

"Do you ever think about the future?"

"All the time," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "What about you?"

She sighed and closed her book, turning to face me fully. Her expression softened, and I could see a hint of worry in her eyes. "Sometimes it scares me. There's so much pressure to succeed. I'm glad I chose law—I want to focus on human rights—but I always worry I'll mess up."

"You won't fail," I said firmly. "You're one of the strongest people I know, Marjorie. But you don't have to carry everything on your own. It's okay to lean on other people sometimes."

Her eyes softened further, and for a moment, I saw her let her guard down. "Thank you, Alex. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'll never have to find out," I whispered, leaning in to place a gentle kiss on her forehead.

For a while, everything felt perfect. The golden light made everything around us glow, and Marjorie leaned into me slightly as she read. I wanted to freeze the moment, to stay like this forever.

But my peace didn't last long. Across the campus, I saw him—Andre Livingston. The guy from the party, the one who had made Marjorie laugh. He was talking to one of our professors, his face all smiles and charm.

I'd already looked into him. After that party, I'd asked one of my father's private investigators to dig into Andre's background. Normally, the investigator worked on potential business deals for my father, but I offered him enough money to convince him this was worth his time. He found exactly what I needed—enough dirt to ruin Andre's reputation.

It was a shame, really. Andre could've had a great university experience, but he'd made one fatal mistake: making Marjorie laugh like that. The moment I saw her light up at something he said, I knew I couldn't let it go.

From where I sat, I could see Andre smiling as he spoke, completely unaware of what was coming. For a second, I hesitated. He looked so innocent. Maybe I didn't have to go through with it.

But then I remembered the way Marjorie had laughed at his joke, the way she'd given him her attention, and all my pity for him vanished. Nobody—nobody—was going to come between us.

"Alex, are you okay?" Marjorie's voice pulled me back.

I forced a smile, hiding the storm of jealousy and anger brewing inside me. "Yeah, just thinking."

She nodded and turned back to her notes, oblivious to the turmoil in my head.

As she rested against me, I couldn't shake the thought: Marjorie was mine, and I wouldn't let anyone take her away. Not now. Not ever.