Chapter 4
My expression didn’t flinch. I spoke as calmly as ever. “The divorce papers are ready. Just sign.”
The air in the kitchen froze. Lucian’s brows darkened. With a loud clatter, he slammed the skillet down on the
stove.
“Margot, what the hell is this tantrum about now?”
“I’m doing this to redeem you.”
A crushing wave of exhaustion rolled over me. The man in front of me felt like a stranger.
Yes-I’ll admit it. When I first heard the rumors, saw Laney in person, I wanted her gone. There was
selfishness in that.
But when I first met her at that campus cafe-small, timid, a flicker of light in her eyes as she
she spoke about
her research-I saw the younger version of myself.
That’s why I chose to sponsor her. To help her study abroad.
I never imagined it would come to this.
I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. But even that didn’t hurt as much as the ache inside.
“Lucian, if I seek atonement, what better way than to set you free?”
“I tried to give Laney a brighter future. Since I clearly failed at that, I might as well give her a husband.”
“Let’s not pretend-your heart’s already gone elsewhere.”
The vein on Lucian’s temple twitched. His face darkened.
“You’re talking nonsense, Margot.”
“Laney is my student!”
His hand slipped. A sharp glass shard sliced across his palm, blood spilling freely. Laney let out a panicked cry and rushed over, eyes brimming with tears.
“Dr. Blake, please don’t say things like that. Everyone knows how much Professor Sullivan loves you.”
“He was just trying to help me. If you really want, I’ll leave!”
“You’re not going anywhere! We’re here for you, Laney!”
The front door flew open with a violent bang. A swarm of people poured in-angry, loud, relentless-followed by reporters wielding long lenses and blinding flashes.
An older, wiry man stormed forward and grabbed Lucian by the collar. Without warning, he punched him-
twice.
“So you’re Professor Sullivan, huh? Laney’s teacher?”
Chapter 4
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LOVE
“Figures. You perverted bastard-seduced Laney and then shipped her off like she was trash?!”
A heavyset middle-aged woman collapsed onto the floor, pounding her fists and wailing.
“She’s had it rough since she was a child-no parents, no safety net! All she ever wanted was to study her
way out of poverty!”
“And now she’s ruined. RUINED. Where’s the justice in that?!”
Lucian’s glasses were knocked askew. Cameras zoomed in, capturing every disheveled inch of him.
Laney scrambled to shield him. “Please, Mr. Jackson, everyone-this is all a misunderstanding!”
“Professor Sullivan was just trying to help me. He’s married! His wife is right there!”
Suddenly, every head in the room turned toward me. One reporter leapt forward like a bloodhound.
“You must be Professor Sullivan’s wife, Miss Blake?”
“We’ve confirmed that Laney Walsh wasn’t on any official grant program. She was sponsored-by you. Hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
“So tell us-was it really about talent? Or was there something else going on?”
He paused, letting the implication hang in the air. The disgust in his eyes said it all.
I rubbed my temple, bone-deep tired.
“Laney and I work in the same field. I reviewed her work-it was promising. My colleague, Professor Jonathan Smith at Harperfield, also saw potential in her.”
