Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire-Chapter 235: The Fleeting, Yet Unpleasant Sensation

<.Blossom Phoenix Middle School.>

"...Lari, are you a zombie now? Hey! Don’t sleep here!"

Lariette laughed dryly upon hearing Nora’s exclamation. Struggling to keep her eyes open, she lifted her gaze from her lunch to the female teacher sitting across from her. Another yawn escaped her lips.

The clock had struck a quarter before two, but Lariette and Nora had just had time to have lunch. Both of them were extremely busy today, attending to their respective classes.

The school cafeteria was generally quiet, especially the room where the teachers and other staff often dined. Most of the teachers, including all the students, were back in the classrooms.

"Why? Are my dark circles too obvious?"

Putting her fork down, Lariette touched the area under her right eye. She knew she looked weirdly today. The exhaustion from her lack of sleep tormented her throughout the hours she spent teaching in the classes.

Haha... She almost dozed off a few times before her students. Some of them asked if she felt under the weather due to the changing season.

Nora exhaled softly, unsure whether to laugh or not. Propping one elbow up on the table, she stared at Lariette with her lips tugged into a grin.

"Why?" Nora deliberately lowered her voice despite not having people around them. Her eyes gleamed with mischief as she asked further, "A hotter night with your husband, huh? He kept you awake all night?"

"..."

"Ouch! Why did you kick me? I’m just asking."

Ignoring Nora, Lariette tried to focus back to her unfinished meal. The former was still whining about her feet being kicked by Lariette, whose cheeks flushed red like apples.

’So sleepy... I wanna sleep.’

Lariette sighed inwardly as she couldn’t wait to get home as soon as possible. Fortunately, she didn’t have to stay longer even after the school hours had ended.

In the beginning, Lariette could tolerate her drowsiness, but as the day progressed, she found it more difficult to keep her eyes open. She almost slipped when walking earlier.

Luckily, no one was nearby to witness it.

"Anyway, are you really okay? About... yesterday? Those men... didn’t hurt you, right?"

Blinking, once again Lariette stared at Nora, who asked cautiously. She saw the look of concern, mixed with anxiousness on the latter’s face.

"I’m fine. Thank you for asking," Lariette put on a smile, wanting to reassure Nora, "You must have been surprised, huh?"

"Why are you asking me that?" Nora shook her head, shrugging, "You were the one who had to follow those scary men. Urgh... I didn’t know whether to call the police or not."

Lariette chuckled, understanding that Nora was still being worried about her, "Hehe, I had told you, right? That man’s my father-in-law. Though... he has a bad relationship with my husband."

Saying Ruediger and Chairman Alvord’s relationship was bad was an understatement. But Lariette had no intention to explain further. It was not her place to do it.

As expected, Lariette noticed more eyes looking at her today. Fortunately, no one dared to come forward and ask her about the little commotion that happened outside the school gate yesterday.

Everyone seemed to respect Principal Smith’s words—or warning.

As for Nora, Lariette didn’t mind her asking. After all, she was there when Chairman Alvord made his appearance. Nora also helped to divert the students’ attention when she faced the man.

"T-then, don’t think about him anymore!" Nora exclaimed. She tapped a finger next to Lariette’s plate, "Lari, eat. You have to finish your lunch."

Flustered, Lariette retorted, "What? Why don’t you finish your own plate first?"

"You don’t have class anymore, right? Go lie down somewhere," Nora narrowed her eyes as if warning Lariette, "Get a shut-eye first. Don’t worry. No one will tattle on you."

Lariette laughed in helplessness. Shaking her head, she stopped bantering with Nora. She focused back on eating while still fighting the urge to sleep right in this cafeteria.

After lunch, Lariette dragged herself to the language faculty room. She left her belongings there instead of in the teachers’ office. Nora hurriedly went to her next class.

"Oh? There’s no one here."

Arching her brows, Lariette looked at the empty faculty room. Usually, one or two language teachers would be inside. She quietly shut the door behind her.

Lariette sank herself into the couch at one corner of the room. She leaned comfortably against the armrest and the back cushion. As her eyes barely open, she took her phone out.

Without thinking, Lariette clicked on her private chat with Ruediger. A smile found its way to her lips once she read their latest text exchange.

[Ruediger: Still sleepy? Which one do you want for dinner? Maybe we should have something light tonight]

[Ruediger: Chicken potato soup with bread? Chicken congee? Or, sweet oatmeal?]

Lariette chuckled as she read the texts. She hadn’t replied to Ruediger because he sent these during her previous lesson.

Before her eyes closed out of sleepiness, Lariette quickly typed her replies. Her fingers danced smoothly on the touchscreen.

[Lariette: Chicken potato soup sounds good. I’ve just eaten lunch. Had some pasta]

[Lariette: So sleepy. Gonna take a nap for a bit. See you soon]

Letting out a yawn, Lariette covered her mouth. She didn’t forget to set an alarm lest she slept throughout the afternoon. Hugging a throw pillow, she slept while sitting on the couch.

The afternoon sunlight spilled over through the windows of the language faculty room, spreading its golden glow over the quiet space. The warmth settled over Lariette as she drifted to slumber.

Lariette’s breathing was slow and deep. She slept soundly, comforted by the stillness of the room. The occasional murmur of people passing by in the hallway, followed by distant footsteps, faded in the background.

Ring! Ring!

"...?!"

Then, the loud ringing of her alarm startled Lariette awake. She stirred, her lashes fluttering as she groggily opened her eyes.

"...I slept that long?"

Lariette stopped the alarm, finding the school hours would end in fifteen minutes. She laughed at herself, never expecting to sleep so soundly while still in school.

The room was still empty. Lariette’s drowsy mind believed no one had come inside from the time she began sleeping.

’I should wash my face.’

Pushing the throw pillow away, Lariette rose to her feet. She was rubbing her eyes when she suddenly halted in her tracks.

’...what is this feeling?’

A strange discomfort suddenly crawled into Lariette’s chest. Her mind inevitably recalled the faint bits of memory as if she was half-awake between her sleep earlier.

For some reason... she couldn’t help but feel as if someone was watching her. Like, watching her too close. And... why did she feel as if she heard hurried footsteps leaving this room?

The fleeting presence was now gone, yet, the faint, unsettling sensation remained.

’Nah. I just had a nightmare. Maybe the shock from yesterday, I guess.’

Shaking her head, Lariette patted her cheeks a few times. She rushed to the restroom at the end of the hallway.

Without her realizing it, a figure appeared behind the staircase, right next to the language faculty room. A pair of eyes watched her leave for the restroom before swiftly disappeared.