I didn't like the distance Cecilia and I were forced to share since she lived in a dorm. I still didn't get a dorm room number from her, and even if I did, the security there seems tough. At least I knew Alison was there by her side.

But Cecilia had a stubborn streak sometimes. She'd still walk by herself and get caught in the rain.

As I drove to the campus, I looked around to see if she was out here again, walking around by herself, being rebellious.

But I knew better. She left a few hours ago, so she wouldn't be out here.

Parking was a pain to get, but I managed to find something near the classroom I was going to teach in. Once inside the classroom, I unpacked my briefcase, looking at the planned lectures I had to give today.

Being a teacher was a humbling experience. I was prepared to keep teaching, just at a different school. Maybe somewhere like a high school, where I could get kids ready for life.

My phone slid out from a handful of papers and hit the desk.

"Fuck, how did I miss that?" I scolded myself. Grabbing my phone off the desk to inspect it for a shattered screen, I turned it on and saw two missed texts. They were from Cecilia.

She was near my place?

Right as I went to dial her number, Ms. Hawthorne spilled into my classroom, her awful cloud of perfume leaching in before her.

“Yes? May I help you?” I asked, irritated with her presence.

“Now that you’re going to be free from that pesky brat clouding your mind, I thought we could start again.”

“Pesky brat?”

She threw her hands on her hips and leaned over, her cleavage showing. “That Cecilia character. You don’t want her. She’s a whore—sleeps around with any guy she can find.”

“Ms. Hawthorne, Cecilia could have never existed and I’d still pass you over. Even in a different lifetime.”

Ms. Hawthorne’s lips and nose flared, and her body shook. What was this obsession with me?

“Ms. Hawthorne. There are many men out there dying to have you. Go look for them, because I’m not one of them, and I never will be. Now out!” I pointed to the door. Students started to pour into the classroom and I internally thanked their presence. She clacked her heels out of my classroom and I was able to draw in fresh air again.

Five minutes before class officially began, the dean popped his head into my class and motioned for me to come over. He didn’t have the jovial look on his face that I’d seen in various pictures. Maybe I could ask him what he had to say to Cecilia.

And if I could guess why he was here in the first place, it was probably Ms. Hawthorne. How in the fuck had that woman kept her job this long? Connections? I didn’t remember Hawthorne being a big name like the Dents and Wards.

I went outside the classroom with the dean.

“Something wrong?”

“My office—we’ll talk more there.”

We went down to his office, and inside, he had his laptop up and open, facing toward me. He sat down behind his desk and played a video clip. It was me and Cecilia going into my apartment.

“She was there for a long time, Mr. Dent. Care to explain yourself?”

“Ms. Hawthorne. She gave you this, didn’t she? We can get messy if you’d like.”

Dean Heech inhaled sharply. “Yes, we can. Stay away from the girl, or else I’ll make sure you don’t get that inheritance and that Cecilia can’t step foot in another educational institution ever again. Am I clear?”

“She’s innocent!” I shouted.

“She’s involved,” he countered. “I’m removing her from your class. Don’t test me. Now leave.”

I shot out of his office and slammed my fist against the wall, putting a dent in it. I had the ability to make this very messy, but then I’d only be thinking about myself. Cecilia would be affected and that wouldn’t be fair to her. I promised myself that I wouldn’t venture down the path my grandfather took, having people killed.

But the temptation danced on my tongue, luring me with the sweet taste of revenge and the satisfaction that came with it.

Cecilia would be dragged into a scandal, and I’d have opened an old wound in the Dent family. We didn’t need press. And Cecilia . . . she didn’t need me.

Not with a bunch of shit tied to me.

I ignored her calls and resumed teaching my class useless math they probably wouldn’t use in life unless their jobs were in the science or computing fields. Solely being in the math field was rather bland, and all numbers did was repeat themselves. A couple of times through the lecture while I took breaks, I resisted the urge to call her, or even to check to see if she’d left another message.

Ms. Hawthorne was obviously following us too closely.

During my lunch break, I called Jeff.

“Hey, what’s up, G?”

“Heard anything from the judge?”

“Why? Did you get yourself into trouble?”

This wasn’t the time to eat. I could hardly focus, so I popped a mint into my mouth as a lousy replacement for food.

“I need you to watch Cecilia, make sure no one harms her. Do that until the end of this semester, okay?”

“What happened? Shit, did you two get caught? George—”

“Jeff, shut up. I need you.”

“Fine, I’ll make sure she’s okay. Gotta find her first. Where is she?”

“I got a text that she was at the Morgan Supermarket.”

“Good, I’ll swing by and update you. Take it easy. You need to get this inheritance or else your younger brother, Roshman, will get it. We do not want that happening.”

“Got it. Thank you, Jeff.”

“Yeah, yeah. What’re friends for?”

I hung up and tried to pick at my lunch.

Roshman . . . my evil half. He’d be the perfect mirror-image of my grandfather if he had that amount of money and contacts.

This whole town would be corrupted within days, and the streets would run rampant with crime. Then once again, the Dent name would be destroyed, and no one would want anything to do with us. Family members would lose business, stocks would go down, and even I would’ve had to move.

* * *

I taught another round of classes, hoping to numb my mind from all the shit that had happened within the past hour.

Cecilia was ripped away from me with a filthy threat. That man, Heech, must've said something in particular to upset her that day.

Was it the same threat as he’d given me?

Then why did he—ugh, I needed to stop replaying this conversation in my head.

There was nothing I could do now without making bad decisions.

The students worked on their lessons I gave them and the class ended without a hitch. Ms. Hawthorne didn't bother to come in, and I had a good suspicion as to why.

She did this thinking that she'd be the only alternative. It'd show her right if I showed attention to another female teacher here who looked and acted like a proper lady.

Revenge. One taste of it, and I'd end up no better than Roshman. I focused on my breathing to relax me and packed up to go home. There was no word from Jeff yet, and I couldn't help but worry. Here I was, a Dent, yet I could do nothing.

Complete bullshit.

The only highlight of my day so far was not having to look at Ms. Hawthorne's face again.

I slipped into my car and gunned off for home. Dinner wasn't going to be anything fancy. As a matter of fact, this simmering depression of mine was calling for one of those greasy pizzas with extra cheese.

I arrived home and parked my car in a different spot from the usual. I had no doubts that Ms. Hawthorne was still following me or had someone following me.

Cecilia was sitting beside my door, sleeping, waiting for me to arrive.

I wanted to reach out and scoop her up, bring her inside.

But that would've only sealed her fate in the worst way possible. Instead, I shattered my heart into pieces by slipping inside quietly and closing the door.

Which I failed to do without making that loud clunking noise.

"George?" she mumbled, waking up. I set down my briefcase and walked to my office.

She knocked on my door.

"George? Please, we need to talk!"

The phone in my back pocket vibrated. I looked, and it was her. I sent her a text.

Cecilia, leave. We can't do this anymore. It's too dangerous.

"George!" she yelled. "I don't care what you say. I'll sit here and starve if you don't open this door!"

At this rate, her threat and her tantrum were going to cause attention.

Deep down in my heart, there was a barrage of razors and needles, slashing away at me. She threatened to starve herself, and she was serious.

Jeff sent me a text soon after.

Let her in, he said.

That was odd. He was the cautious type, overly cautious. If anything, I expected him to say the opposite.

What? I texted back.

Let her in. The girl really loves you. Can't stop that.

I smiled. Cecilia must've said something to him. She had that effect on people. I ran to the door, opened it, and saw Cecilia in tears.

"I thought you were going to abandon me," she cried.

I grabbed her inside and kept her up against my chest.

"I'm so sorry," I said, feeling my heart break. "The dean spoke with me today, and he threatened your academic livelihood if we didn't—"

"I don't care. I'm dropping school! I can't do it anymore. I was just living a lie, and that wasn't fair. Plus, the dean isn't anyone upstanding himself. He tried to pull some moves on me." She sniffled.

"Moves? Did he touch you?"

She looked back up at me, flashing those lovely eyes at me. I gripped her waist. "Tell me, darling."

She nodded her head. I took my phone out because Jeff was going to have some skull cracking to do.

Cecilia put her hand over my phone before I could hit Jeff's speed dial number.

"Don't. I have it under control. After tonight, he's not going to be able to bother anyone again!" she said. Strength blossomed in her eyes.

This was the other side of Cecilia. The strong side.

"Pray tell, darling. What will you do?"

I kissed her forehead.

"Hey, I'm not that helpless. I just wanted to see you and tell you that I'm going to go to another school that's cheaper and take up English as a major."

"Really? I'm proud of your decision. How much do you think this degree will cost?" I asked.

"I don't know yet, but I'll work and get a few loans. I'm adamant about this. Plus, at least my math skills have improved. I should be able to pass any math entrance tests pretty easily!"

Cecilia looked at the time on her phone and pouted. "Well, I have to go. I have some reputation crushing to do."

"Please tell me Alison is involved."

"She is!"

"Well there go my worries," I joked.

Cecilia bounced out of my apartment a happy rabbit again. But what was this plan?

I dialed Jeff.

"Yeah?" he answered.

"Follow her. I mean it. She's got some plan up her sleeve to get back at the dean. But I don't want her hurt."

"Will do."

Before I hung up, I remembered those texts Jeff sent me. "By the way, Jeff. What did Cecilia say to you to make you text me about opening the door?"

"Well, she didn't say anything. She gave this homeless man some food and money. Goodhearted. Rare to find. If she were the kind after your money, she wouldn't have the heart to do what she did. That's all."

"I like that eye of yours. Call me if anything happens."

"Sure thing, George."

I hung up and went to take a shower. There was a particular set of black clothes I owned but never wore. Tonight would be the night I wore them.