---- walked toward me, reaching for my hand. I jerked backward, dodging his touch. "Go back? To watch you and Sophia being all lovey-dovey in front of me every day?" His face went rigid, and then he got angry. "Elena, we're supposed to be mates! Stop being ridiculous. What's the point of you running off to the north and us being long-distance?" His shameless behavior made me laugh bitterly. " Adrian, Sophia is your mate! Her name is on the mate certificate and she's the one you actually care about. Can't you just leave me alone?" His face turned dark as he said through gritted teeth, " The mate certificate was filled out wrong. We can change it back. I know I screwed up before, but I won't do it again." Those words hit me like ice water. He had said the exact same thing dozens of times in my previous life. And every single time, he would go right back to doting on Sophia like it was hardwired ---- into his DNA. I was done talking. I turned to Caleb pleadingly. "Mr. Pole, I really want to continue studying here. Please don't make me withdraw!" Caleb had been watching everything unfold. He looked at me sympathetically, and then turned to Adrian. "Mr. Northgate, you have no authority over Ms. Elena. You cannot withdraw her from this institution." I breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Caleb gratefully. Adrian started to argue, but Caleb was already escorting him towards the door.