Albrecht felt a twinge of irritation as he watched Tabitha walk away without so much as a second glance. He felt a surge of excitement at her new, detached demeanor. The cold indifference in her stare intrigued him, igniting a spark of something unfamiliar. He cleared his throat, disguising his reaction with a smirk. "Excuse me, students," he muttered before slipping away from the crowd, intent on catching up to her.
But as he rounded it, he halted, taken aback by the sight before him. Tabitha was laughing freely with another man, her carefree energy radiating in a way he hadn't seen in a long time. The guy, someone her age, seemed entirely at ease with her, bantering easily as he teased, "Tabby, look at you!" the guy exclaimed, running around her in excitement. "It's like I've got my old
