The Challenge

Cold sweat began to trickle down Amelia's temples. Nicholas's lips formed a thin smirk.

"You chose Physics as your major, but you can't even handle a problem like this," Nicholas whispered quietly, his voice filled with disappointment. His deep-set blue eyes bore into Amelia, conveying his frustration and disbelief.

Class time was over, and Amelia felt a sense of relief, thinking that her suffering had finally ended. However, she soon realized that things wouldn't go as smoothly as she had thought.

"Come with me to my office right now!" Nicholas commanded. His voice was firm and merciless.

Nicholas's office was a small, cramped space, measuring only two by two meters. The room contained a cluttered desk, a worn-out chair, and a dusty bookshelf filled with academic journals. He gestured for Amelia to sit in the black folding chair in front of him.

"Did you intentionally choose the same major as mine?" Nicholas inquired, his words direct and without any pretense.

"No, Nick—" Amelia began to explain, but Nicholas interrupted her sharply.

"Call me 'Sir' when we're on campus," he interjected, his tone stern. "I don't want you to slip up like earlier."

"Nick—Sir, it's all unintentional," Amelia quickly defended herself, her voice tinged with a mix of anxiety and confusion. "Besides, I didn't know you were a Physics professor at IU. Olivia didn't mention anything."

Upon hearing Olivia's name, Nicholas's face stiffened, his expression turning guarded. A tense silence settled in the cramped room, and the once vibrant spark in his striking green eyes seemed to dim.

"Oh, why did you choose Physics?" Nicholas asked again, his voice softer this time, as he regained his composure.

Amelia appeared hesitant, her eyes darting around the room as she searched for the right words. "Because... I followed Aiden, my childhood friend," she responded, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation.

Amelia lied. In truth, it was Aiden who had followed her, but she chose Physics with the hidden intention of staying connected to Nicholas and having a shared interest to discuss with him.

"What?" Nicholas's eyes widened in surprise and confusion.

"He's my close friend," Amelia explained, trying to maintain a composed facade while inwardly grappling with the complex web of emotions surrounding her and Nicholas.

Amelia's reason seemed noble, her intentions pure. However, Nicholas, who had always been driven by his sharp intellect and high academic standards, couldn't fully empathize with Amelia's decision.

"Okay. If that's the reason," Nicholas said, his voice laced with a mixture of frustration and determination, "you should switch majors!"

"Huh?" Amelia's eyes widened in surprise, her mind struggling to process Nicholas's unexpected suggestion.

"It's better for you to spend another year focusing on preparing for the entrance exams," Nicholas continued, his tone resolute, "than wasting time and energy here."

"But, Nick—Sir—" Amelia's voice wavered with a mixture of confusion and apprehension, unsure of how to respond to his insistence.

"Amy, maybe you don't know that being involved in a romantic relationship or marriage between a professor and a student in the same department violates the professor's code of ethics. Please understand my position. I'm a new professor here. What would happen to my career here if our marriage were to be exposed?" Nicholas' voice was soft but firm. He looked at Amelia with a serious gaze, without blinking. "If you don't want to switch majors, the other option is for us to get a divorce. What do you think?"

Amelia felt as if her world was crumbling around her, her heart pounding in her chest as she processed the weight of Nicholas' words. The word "divorce" echoed in her mind, reverberating with a sense of finality she never expected to hear. "Di—divorce?" she stammered, her voice trembling with disbelief.

"Yes," Nicholas replied, his tone steady and resolute. He met Amelia's gaze, his eyes conveying a sense of certainty. "After all, our marriage wasn't based on love, was it?"

Amelia's mind raced, desperately searching for a way to salvage their relationship. Panic surged within her as she thought of the repercussions their divorce would have on their families. "B—But what about Grandmother?" she pleaded, her voice laced with fear. "Please don't divorce, Nick. It would be tough for my parents too. Since Olivia's departure, my mom's health has deteriorated. If she finds out we're divorcing, her heart condition could worsen."

Nicholas's expression hardened, his resolve unyielding. "Well, we'll get a secret divorce, then!" he declared, his voice tinged with frustration. "As long as we have the documents, the rest can be arranged."

Desperation etched itself onto Amelia's face as she reached out for Nicholas's hand, seeking some semblance of connection. But her gesture was met with swift rejection as he pulled his hand away. The rejection cut deep, intensifying the turmoil in Amelia's heart.

"Please don't divorce," Amelia implored, her voice filled with a mix of anguish and urgency. "If our families find out, our lives will be at stake." She searched his eyes, desperately hoping to ignite a flicker of compassion within him.

Nicholas's gaze remained fixed on Amelia, his expression unyielding. He spoke with a hint of frustration, his words laced with cold logic. "Which one is easier, hiding our marriage from the many people in our department or hiding the divorce from a small circle of our family? Think about the consequences too. Family issues can be resolved more easily."

The weight of Nicholas's words hung heavily in the air. Amelia's heart sank as she processed the implications of his words. She couldn't help but wonder, with a tinge of sadness, whether her husband valued his career more than their family. The question lingered, hanging in the space between them, as they grappled with the difficult decisions that lay ahead.

"Huh?" Amelia's voice trembled, a mixture of confusion and disbelief. She couldn't comprehend how their bond had deteriorated to a mere calculation. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized the chasm that had formed between them. "Think about this logically!"

Amelia was taken aback. Nicholas's words were true. Amelia had indeed considered everything from an emotional standpoint. She didn't want to hurt her family, and she didn't want to let go of her husband despite her unrequited love.

"I don't want a divorce, Nick!" the girl whispered, her head bowed as she shook it slowly.

Nicholas exhaled sharply. "Fine then. If that's the case, you can withdraw from the Physics program and switch majors next year. Besides, you don't have what it takes. Your future here will be bleak. You might even become the most troublesome student here."

Her heart felt as if it had been stabbed with a blunt object. She knew she wasn't brilliant, but being labeled like that wounded her pride. "I don't want to run around like a headless chicken. Besides, anything can be achieved as long as there's determination, right?" she retorted flatly and irritatedly.

Upon hearing Amelia's last statement, Nicholas chuckled. He shook his head. "This is just the beginning, Amy! And you don't have what it takes to continue."

Nicholas glanced at his wristwatch, then stood up. "I have another online meeting with the company at ten. You can leave!"

Nicholas took a step towards the door, intending to leave the room. Just as he reached for the doorknob, Amelia stopped him.

"Give me some time, Nick!" Amelia exclaimed with a hopeful expression. "Just one semester. I will prove that I can get a good grade."

The magical words that came out of Amelia's mouth froze time.

Good grade?

It was so unreal.

Nicholas couldn't believe what his wife had just said. Even Amelia herself couldn't believe the overly-confident words she had just uttered.

"Uh, crap. What did I just say?" she asked nervously, pretending to forget. "Oh, forget it. Forgive me, Nick. You have an appointment, right? Hurry up and go! Don't be late."

Amelia was about to sneak out, but Nicholas's strong hand grabbed her wrist, preventing her from leaving.

"I agree. Your offer is very intriguing. I'll give you one semester, Amy. Prove that you can excel, or..."

"Or what?"

Amelia swallowed hard. Her heart was beating irregularly.

"Or I will divorce you," the owner of those emerald eyes murmured with a sharp emphasis on each word. "We'll get a divorce … secretly."