Orphan To Unbreakable Queen - Chapter 153: Chapter 153

September's heat was relentless. Though the military training at Rithol University wasn't particularly strict, standing at attention under the blazing sun all morning had everyone groaning in misery.
After a full day of military training that ended in the afternoon, Aubree was drenched in sweat. Like everyone else, her first instinct was to rush back to the dorm for a much-needed shower.
Aubree just come out of the bathroom when she saw Bowen had texted her.
He was waiting for her at the quieter back gate of campus.
"Hey, Aubree, wanna grab some food?" Karlie asked with a grin.
Too lazy to move, Natalie had Sally fetch her a meal.
"No, you go ahead. Got something to do," Aubree waved, grabbing her phone and heading out.
Karlie's eyes flickered.
Aubree jogged all the way to the back gate. Bowen had an extensive collection of cars, from flashy to discreet, but his usual choice was an elegant and understated black Maybach worth hundreds of thousands.
Parked in a quiet corner with few people around, it wasn't particularly conspicuous, unless one was looking for it, one'd hardly notice it at all.
Aubree jogged over, and by the time she opened the car door, her forehead was already glistening with sweat.
"What's the rush?" Bowen chuckled, reaching out to gently wipe the sweat from her brow. Up front, Ethan and Samson had tactfully gotten out and were now crouched under a nearby tree, keeping watch on the surroundings.
Bowen said, "I brought you some juice from home. Carol just made it. Have a taste."
The juice, kept in a thermos, was ice-cold to the touch. One sip, and it was pure bliss.
Aubree's eyes curved into a smile. "So good."
Aubree had just showered, but the walkover made her break out in another sweat, her sweat-damp clothes clinging to her now fuller figure. A far cry from the frail girl she once was.
Her curves were faintly visible through the damp fabric.
Still catching her breath, she didn't notice Bowen avert his gaze. Being uncomfortable suddenly, his throat went dry and itchy.
Bowen asked, "Was military training tough today?"
Aubree replied, "Not too bad."
"How's the juice?"
The blend Carol had made was sweetly fragrant and perfectly balanced. After a long, exhausting day, Aubree didn't have much of an appetite, but one glass of juice left her completely satisfied.
"Delicious. Carol's perfected her craft," Aubree replied, relaxing as the cool air chased away the heat. It was so comfortable that she didn't even notice Bowen's voice growing deeper and huskier.
Bowen watched as Aubree finished her juice, then leaned in, drawing her into their own private world, trapping her in his arms.
Aubree didn't hesitate. She capped the cup, set it aside, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed close with a contented sigh.
Amused by her playful vixen look, Bowen lifted her chin and lowered his head to kiss her.
He lingered and savored her lips, then deepened the kiss, tasting the sweet fruitiness.
"So sweet," Bowen murmured.
"It's the juice," Aubree replied, a little breathless.
Bowen grinned teasingly. "I was talking about juice, Bree. What did you think I meant?"
Aubree's cheeks flushed as she shot him a playful glare.
Bowen tried to hold himself back, but in the end, he couldn't resist. He cupped her waist and kissed her again. The car's AC was no match for the heat between them. Swept up by his intensity, Aubree found herself responding, her kisses growing bolder as she slowly took the lead.
Their lingering, breathless kiss finally broke apart.
Aubree suddenly remembered and asked, "What brings you to campus?"
"Missed my girlfriend, so here I am," Bowen replied.
Aubree rolled her eyes at him. "Smooth talker."
Bowen let out a couple of muffled laughs. "Just afraid someone might steal my girl away, so I came to check."
At that, Aubree gave a sheepish, slightly guilty laugh. "So you know?"
Bowen arched an eyebrow. "Know what?"
During today's platoon sing-off at military training, a guy from their platoon serenaded Aubree with a love song. Normally, it wouldn't have been a big deal, but since he actually used her name in the lyrics, it drew a lot of attention.
Even Alvin from the Fine Arts School came over during the break to ask her about it. Aubree hadn't expected the news to spread so far.
"What could I do? It's not like I could gag him," Aubree mumbled, though privately she wondered, Even if it caused a stir, how did Bowen end up hearing about it?
With that thought, she decided to ask him directly.
Bowen showed her his phone. "Your roommate told me."
It was Sally.
She'd filmed it and sent it straight to Bowen.
[Mr. Turner, a boy confessed to Aubree during military training today.]
[Is it a good idea to be dating right after starting university?]
Bowen simply replied: [Noted.]
On the very first day of school, Bowen treated her roommates to dinner, with Alvin in tow, deliberately positioning himself in an avuncular role.
Sally's words weren't exactly wrong, but... they did leave a bad taste in Aubree's mouth.
Bowen wasn't even her real guardian, and even if he were, it still felt like tattling.
"Don't mind them," Aubree said dismissively.
"I never planned to get close to them anyway. I'm moving out right after military training."
Aubree ran her tongue over her lips, a movement Bowen caught. His gaze darkened with unmistakable intensity.
Bowen offered to walk her back to the dorm, clearly wanting to publicly stake his claim on her. But Aubree knew that having a high-profile figure like him showing up in the dorm would cause a stir. Even if he kept his identity under wraps, his striking looks alone would attract plenty of trouble. So she turned him down.
Bowen sulked like a scorned lover. He grabbed Aubree and stole several deep kisses before finally letting her go.
As Aubree stepped out of the car, she spotted Ethan and Samson crouched under the big tree, serving as mosquito bait. They looked so bored that they'd practically ripped up every blade of grass around them.
None of them noticed the figure lurking in the shadows, eyes fixed on them.
The watcher didn't know who was in the car, but she recognized whose bodyguards were crouched nearby.
She thought, 'A guy and a girl alone in a car... What could they be up to?
When Aubree stepped out, were her lips a little red?'
She quickly pulled out her phone and snapped a photo of the scene.
Bowen's gaze lingered on Aubree until her figure faded into the distance. Only when she had completely disappeared from view did he finally look away, start the engine, and drive off.
When Aubree returned to her dorm room, she found only Natalie there. She'd just broken out in another sweat, her clothes clinging uncomfortably to her skin, so she took another quick shower.
When Aubree came out, the other two roommates had also returned. Sally kept her head down, looking flustered and uneasy, while Karlie was humming a tune, clearly in good spirits.
Military training at Rithol University lasted two weeks. Each day followed the same routine: standing at attention, marching drills, and platoon sing-offs.
Bowen didn't visit Aubree every day, but when he couldn't make it, he'd send Alvin with some cool drinks and snacks to help her beat the heat.
Every day, Aubree was so exhausted that she could barely lift her arms. The only time she had the energy to chat with Bowen was briefly before bed.
During military training, the campus forum was a hotbed of gossip. After the Freshers' Welcome Party, Natalie from their dorm skyrocketed to the top of the trending topics.
"Wow, didn't know you were this good. Your classical dance was amazing!" Karlie exclaimed.
On the way back to the dorm, Karlie showered Natalie with praise, as if she'd completely forgotten their earlier argument.
Natalie smirked at her. "What, did you expect anything less from me? I've been dancing since I was little. If my family hadn't wanted me to study finance for the company, I would've been a professional dancer."
Karlie curled her lips and thought, 'Who does she think she is?'
Karlie was scrolling through her phone when she suddenly gasped, "Aubree, isn't this you?"
"Huh?" Aubree looked up from checking the latest GrabCheap platform updates Birgitte had sent her.
"Look! Someone posted photos of you and Alvin on the forum! They're saying the heartthrob of Fine Arts school is after you. Some people even think you two are already a couple!"
"What kind of nonsense is this?" Aubree muttered, exasperated.