Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man - Chapter 55: Chapter 55
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The two men locked eyes, the air between them crackling with hostility.
"Stay the fuck away from Aurelia, or I'll report you to the administration for disrupting classified research and get your ass expelled."
Isaac delivered his threat with ice-cold precision and walked away without waiting for a response.
He'd been wandering campus after dinner, his mind churning with worry about Aurelia, when he'd ended up at the women's dorms.
Watching Luigi corner and harass her had made Isaac's blood boil, but he'd forced himself to stay hidden.
This was Aurelia's battle to fight, and she'd probably be mortified if she knew he'd witnessed her private breakdown.
So he'd waited in the shadows like a guardian angel, making sure she got inside safely before Luigi could hurt her any more than he already had.
Luigi stared at Isaac's retreating figure, then looked back up at the dormitory building with desperation clawing at his chest.
"Aurelia, please," he whispered to the darkness. "Don't fall for someone else. Not when I finally found you again."
As a guy, Luigi could read Isaac's intentions from a mile away—the protective hovering, the obvious devotion, the way he looked at Aurelia like she was something precious.
And Luigi had no fucking clue how Aurelia felt about any of it.
The uncertainty was eating him alive as he trudged back to his own dorm, feeling like his world was crumbling.
Meanwhile, Aurelia was completely oblivious to the testosterone-fueled standoff happening beneath her window.
The moment she collapsed onto her bed, her phone buzzed with a message from Professor Xavier:
Take the team to Arizona tomorrow morning. I'll fly directly from Boston to meet you there.
She sent back a quick confirmation and immediately forwarded the details to the graduate student group chat.
As she was closing the app, Luigi's friend request caught her eye—still sitting there like a persistent stain.
Without hesitation, she hit reject and blocked him permanently.
The past was dead and buried. She refused to let anyone drag her backward.
Early the next morning, Aurelia assembled the new students for their Arizona expedition, her professional mask firmly in place despite the emotional chaos of the previous night.
Just as they were loading the van, Isaac came jogging over with a duffel bag.
Aurelia stepped out of the driver's seat, immediately concerned. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Her worry was automatic, instinctive—which made Isaac's heart skip despite the circumstances.
"Nothing's wrong," he said, slightly breathless. "I got approval from Professor Xavier to assist with this trip. First field research for new students—I was worried about you managing everyone alone."
Aurelia felt a rush of relief she hadn't expected. Professor Xavier had messaged that morning about his Boston research running longer than planned, and she'd been quietly panicking about handling six graduate students solo.
Isaac's presence felt like a lifeline she hadn't known she needed.
When she moved toward the driver's seat, Isaac smoothly intercepted her.
"Absolutely not. Van full of dudes and you think you're driving? Passenger seat, boss lady. I've got this."
He slid behind the wheel with easy confidence, and despite everything, Aurelia found herself smiling as she climbed into shotgun.
"Everyone, this is Isaac Orlando, one of our senior researchers. He'll be assisting with the expedition."
The engine roared to life, and immediately the students started exchanging loaded glances and barely suppressed grins.
Within minutes, someone called out from the back: "Yo Isaac, are you trying to get with our TA? Because you two are together like, constantly. That's not normal mentor-student energy."
"Right? Since we're all trapped on this campus with zero outside contact, are we supposed to find love within the program now?"
The van erupted in laughter and good-natured ribbing.
Isaac caught Aurelia's eye in the rearview mirror and grinned. "I mean, I'm definitely interested, but your TA has standards. There's probably a waiting list of guys trying to date her."
"Isaac!" Aurelia's cheeks flushed as she smacked his arm. "You're being ridiculous."
Their playful dynamic was obvious to everyone—including Luigi, who was sitting in the back row watching their interaction with murderous intensity.
His hands were clenched into fists, his jaw so tight it ached, as he watched the woman he'd spent four years searching for laugh and flirt with another man.
The casual intimacy between them was like acid in his veins.
One of the other students nudged Luigi, oblivious to the storm brewing beside him.
"Dude, you've been dead silent this whole time. What's your deal?"
"Didn't you say in your intro that you came here for some girl? Any luck finding her?"
"Better move fast, man. The dating pool here is tiny—if you don't make your move, someone else will snatch her up."
Luigi's expression grew progressively darker, his voice coming out strained and barely controlled.
"I already found her."
"Stay the fuck away from Aurelia, or I'll report you to the administration for disrupting classified research and get your ass expelled."
Isaac delivered his threat with ice-cold precision and walked away without waiting for a response.
He'd been wandering campus after dinner, his mind churning with worry about Aurelia, when he'd ended up at the women's dorms.
Watching Luigi corner and harass her had made Isaac's blood boil, but he'd forced himself to stay hidden.
This was Aurelia's battle to fight, and she'd probably be mortified if she knew he'd witnessed her private breakdown.
So he'd waited in the shadows like a guardian angel, making sure she got inside safely before Luigi could hurt her any more than he already had.
Luigi stared at Isaac's retreating figure, then looked back up at the dormitory building with desperation clawing at his chest.
"Aurelia, please," he whispered to the darkness. "Don't fall for someone else. Not when I finally found you again."
As a guy, Luigi could read Isaac's intentions from a mile away—the protective hovering, the obvious devotion, the way he looked at Aurelia like she was something precious.
And Luigi had no fucking clue how Aurelia felt about any of it.
The uncertainty was eating him alive as he trudged back to his own dorm, feeling like his world was crumbling.
Meanwhile, Aurelia was completely oblivious to the testosterone-fueled standoff happening beneath her window.
The moment she collapsed onto her bed, her phone buzzed with a message from Professor Xavier:
Take the team to Arizona tomorrow morning. I'll fly directly from Boston to meet you there.
She sent back a quick confirmation and immediately forwarded the details to the graduate student group chat.
As she was closing the app, Luigi's friend request caught her eye—still sitting there like a persistent stain.
Without hesitation, she hit reject and blocked him permanently.
The past was dead and buried. She refused to let anyone drag her backward.
Early the next morning, Aurelia assembled the new students for their Arizona expedition, her professional mask firmly in place despite the emotional chaos of the previous night.
Just as they were loading the van, Isaac came jogging over with a duffel bag.
Aurelia stepped out of the driver's seat, immediately concerned. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Her worry was automatic, instinctive—which made Isaac's heart skip despite the circumstances.
"Nothing's wrong," he said, slightly breathless. "I got approval from Professor Xavier to assist with this trip. First field research for new students—I was worried about you managing everyone alone."
Aurelia felt a rush of relief she hadn't expected. Professor Xavier had messaged that morning about his Boston research running longer than planned, and she'd been quietly panicking about handling six graduate students solo.
Isaac's presence felt like a lifeline she hadn't known she needed.
When she moved toward the driver's seat, Isaac smoothly intercepted her.
"Absolutely not. Van full of dudes and you think you're driving? Passenger seat, boss lady. I've got this."
He slid behind the wheel with easy confidence, and despite everything, Aurelia found herself smiling as she climbed into shotgun.
"Everyone, this is Isaac Orlando, one of our senior researchers. He'll be assisting with the expedition."
The engine roared to life, and immediately the students started exchanging loaded glances and barely suppressed grins.
Within minutes, someone called out from the back: "Yo Isaac, are you trying to get with our TA? Because you two are together like, constantly. That's not normal mentor-student energy."
"Right? Since we're all trapped on this campus with zero outside contact, are we supposed to find love within the program now?"
The van erupted in laughter and good-natured ribbing.
Isaac caught Aurelia's eye in the rearview mirror and grinned. "I mean, I'm definitely interested, but your TA has standards. There's probably a waiting list of guys trying to date her."
"Isaac!" Aurelia's cheeks flushed as she smacked his arm. "You're being ridiculous."
Their playful dynamic was obvious to everyone—including Luigi, who was sitting in the back row watching their interaction with murderous intensity.
His hands were clenched into fists, his jaw so tight it ached, as he watched the woman he'd spent four years searching for laugh and flirt with another man.
The casual intimacy between them was like acid in his veins.
One of the other students nudged Luigi, oblivious to the storm brewing beside him.
"Dude, you've been dead silent this whole time. What's your deal?"
"Didn't you say in your intro that you came here for some girl? Any luck finding her?"
"Better move fast, man. The dating pool here is tiny—if you don't make your move, someone else will snatch her up."
Luigi's expression grew progressively darker, his voice coming out strained and barely controlled.
"I already found her."
End of Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man Chapter 55. Continue reading Chapter 56 or return to Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man book page.