Family Ch 5

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Chapter S

After leaving that house, I took a cab to the villa in the new district.[]

It was the house Dad left me.[]

Back when he got framed for academic fraud, he lost his job. Then the companies where he consulted slapped him with huge penalty fees for “breach of contract.“[]

He was getting screwed from every angle. Burned through all his savings and still couldn’t cover the debt.[]

I suggested Dad sell the house.[]

At least it would help with the immediate crisis.[]

But he refused.

He said this house was my safety net, my backup plan.]

So when life got shitty, I’d at least have somewhere to go.]]

Now I finally get how much Dad really loved me.[]

Back at the place, everything was exactly the same.[]

I dropped my bags and went to my little room.[]

Lying in bed, everything that happened came flooding back like a tidal wave.[]

I was just… exhausted.

That night, I slept like the dead.[]

Didn’t dream at all.

This kind of life wasn’t so bad.]

Just work and home, back and forth. No more dealing with a cold–ass husband and a kid who hated me.[]

Suddenly, every day felt worth looking forward to.]

A whole month flew by.]

Lucas called me twice.[]

The first time I answered. He didn’t say anything for the longest time. Just when I was about to hang up, I heard him ask all muffled: “Are you over being mad yet?“]

I almost laughed out loud.[]

Chapter 5

By this point, the divorce papers were signed and we’d already been to the courthouse.[]

And he still thought I was just throwing a tantrum.]

I didn’t bother answering. Just hung up on him.]

When he called the second time, I ignored it completely. Never picked up again.]

I work as an admin at a small private college.[]

Every day there’s a million things to deal with.[]

That’s the excuse Lucas always used.]]

Said I was too busy with work, so that’s why Sarah had to step in for the school events.[]

But before? I would’ve worked around the clock, no sleep, just to make sure I was there for Tommy’s activities.

Doesn’t matter now though.]

These days, I just want to focus on my job.]

Throw myself into work completely – maybe then I can forget all the shitty stuff that happened.]

Start fresh.

Soon as I got to the office, my coworker told me the Harvard professor who was supposed to give today’s lecture had to cancel. Some emergency came up.]

My heart sank. “The lecture starts this afternoon! Canceling last minute is too sketchy.“[]

My coworker shook her head.[]

“Harvard felt really bad about it, so they’re sending a replacement. Someone even better than Professor Chen, actually. Real rising star – just turned thirty and already made full professor. Everyone in academia says he’s like a once–in–a–generation genius!”

I got this terrible sinking feeling.[]

“Who is it?“]]

“Professor Lucas Hayes!“]

I’d never told my coworkers about my marriage, so he had no clue about my relationship with Lucas.[]

“Professor Hayes arrives at 2 PM. I’m sending two student council kids to pick him up. You’ll handle the rest of the reception stuff.“}]

I couldn’t help but sigh. Just my fucking luck.[]

I’d finally cut ties with Lucas completely, and now I had to see him at work.[]

531N

Mins Vie Landle Havens17 Sau Hallo to Your Litoare Daners

Chapter 1

Had to pretend everything was fine, like we were total strangers. This was gonna be rough.}

“I’ve got some stuff this afternoon. Maybe get another teacher to do it?“[]

My coworker wasn’t having it.[]

She counted on her fingers for like forever, then decided everyone else was busy that afternoon.[]

I was the only one free.]]

I had no choice but to take the job.]

Seeing Lucas again was awkward as hell.]

He handled it way better than me though.]

Stone–faced the whole time. Sarah was glued to his side, playing the perfect assistant.[]

Lucas coughed? She immediately handed him water and rubbed his back.]

Lucas frowned? She made me stop everything and started firing off questions.[]

Thank God I brought an intern teacher with me. Couldn’t avoid the awkwardness completely, but at least she could take some heat and deal with Sarah’s endless questions.[]