The lecture hall fell silent when Sophia raised her hand. It always did. After three and a half years of Advanced Ethics seminars, everyone knew what was coming.

“With all due respect, Professor Reid,” she said, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade, “that’s a completely reductive interpretation of Kant.”

Dr. Marcus Reid stopped mid-sentence, his jaw tightening. Twenty-one years old, top of her class, and Sophia Chen had made it her personal mission to dismantle every argument he presented.

“Is it, Ms. Chen?” His voice was dangerously soft. “Please, enlighten us.”

She stood, and Marcus hated the way his pulse quickened. Hated the way his eyes tracked...