Page 135 of A University of Betrayal

Okay, this might all be arranged, but it was a different level when a man could cook.

“Most of the free time I have I spend on the field playing American football, along with a few other sports like karate, boxing, and duel training.”

What sounded like a lot was not unusual for a Senseque. We had to burn off energy somewhere. I was part of the basketball team at Vanderwood and attended the gym at Vanderwood. And when Kieran was there, we always boxed together at Pavati Lake.

“Football.Did you hear that, Nash? I’m sure you’ll show him the team at Vanderwood,” Father tried to include Nash in the conversation.

“Definitely...” Nash growled, but luckily, our father seemed to be more focused on Mikhail.

“And what are you studying?” Father asked with interest.

I was amazed to see the interest in his eyes. Something he rarely showed, and when he did, only with Nash.

“I graduated with a master’s degree in economics two years ago.”

That didn’t surprise me if he was going to be the next Alpha. And of course he had already finished his studies. After all, he was already twenty-six.

“Just like his father, a businessman,” the Russian Alpha laughed and patted his son on the broad shoulder, who smiled proudly, albeit cautiously.

“He’s such an ambitious man,” Dimitrio continued.

Mikhail looked at me and scrutinized me again.

“Now, don’t bore the girl with things like that.”

“Tania...” Dimitrio cleared his throat in surprise.

“Excuse me, but if I were such a young woman, the last thing I’d be interested in is my potential partner studying economics.”

Tania didn’t know that I was very interested in economics and politics. After all, I was studyinglaw,with my focus oninternational law,and hoped to get a good job that would help my family politically. Not only in Blairville.

Alarik had to grin, and I noticed my father’s displeased look, which was only directed at him.

Tania seemed to be unsettled by Alarik’s grin because it took her a moment before she turned her attention back to me.

“Did you know that Mica plays the piano? He’s my best student.”

Now I wasreallysurprised. He played the piano, just like Julian.

Memories came flooding back... of Monday. He had just turned up here and his looks... They had been so unusual. Not hostile or reserved, but open and curious. He had completely thrown me for a loop.

“Tania,please.That’s not a quality that characterizes a young man.”

Tania looked at her brother with an indecisive expression, as if she wanted to say something else, but left it at that.

It seemed that Tania and I agreed. Playing the piano was something very beautiful, but I couldn’t do it. I was more someone who liked to listen to the familiar sounds of my childhood when I had been at the Bardots and Julian had played. He was talented. And now here was Mikhail, who first had to prove to me that hecouldactually play the piano.

“Tania’s right, Emely must be bored of me by now.”

“No, I’d love to hear you play,” I quickly blurted out and Nash raised his gaze. He was always so calm, but now he seemed to want to interfere.

“But we don’t have a piano, Emy.”

“The Jones have one,” I reminded him. “A very old grand piano.”

“And I’ve arranged for them to put it in our drawing room,” my father interjected, and I looked at him in surprise.

He looked at Tania, who smiled in gratitude.