Chapter Four

Sarah's POV

 

 

I thought letting go of Joshua would be easy—like walking away from the club and everything that happened there would somehow burn away the love I had for him. But I was wrong. Every time I replayed the image of him with that woman, tangled in sheets like I didn’t exist, the pain came back sharper than before.

 

 

Sleep barely came. My thoughts dragged me around all night until I had no choice but to take a sedative. I needed at least a few hours of rest, not just for my sanity but for work. Mondays were always hectic, and I could not afford to show up drained and unfocused.

 

The loud buzz of my phone snapped me awake the next morning.

 

I didn’t need to check the screen to know it was him—Joshua. He had made a habit of calling me every morning like clockwork, asking pointless questions like, "How was your night? "What’s on your agenda today?"—the same boring routine we used to do like we were something special.

 

"Asshole,” I muttered, turning the phone face down, my lips curling in disgust.

 

The sleep had washed him out of my system.

 

"He’s not worth it. I'll survive this," I told myself firmly, sitting up in bed.

 

But deep down, I hated myself for loving someone who clearly never loved me back.

 

 

However, I had been through worse. What’s more painful than having the person who brought you into this world look you in the eye and tell you she never wants to see you again? Those words hit harder than any breakup ever could, which I survived.

 

The phone started ringing again before messages started pouring in.

 

Reluctantly, I picked it up, scrolling through them with a scowl.

 

"What's up, babe?"

"Why aren’t you picking up?"

"You're making me scared at this point. What's wrong?"

 

"What's wrong?" I snorted, lips curling with a mix of disgust and amusement. If I had not shown up unannounced the previous day, I would have still been living in blissful ignorance, thinking he was in love with me.

 

"I can’t wait to see the look on his face when I throw his little secret back at him," I muttered to myself, a smug grin tugging at my lips.

 

My thumb hovered over my phone screen before I typed out the message: "We need to talk. Come to my house after work.”

 

And with one tap, it was sent.

 

It felt good. Too good. But I was not done. I needed him gone for good. Then, I yanked down the group photo of us that I had set as my wallpaper and replaced it with something plain. Then, one by one, I deleted every picture of him in my gallery—personal shots, group photos, every last one.

 

The final act of defiance was turning off my phone entirely.

 

But that was not enough. Hence, I decided to deal with things that had to do with him still in my possession once I returned home from work later.

 

With a groan, I rolled out of bed, my body feeling heavier than usual. I dragged my feet toward the bathroom, knowing I was already behind schedule. Mondays were hard enough without all this hanging over my head.

 

I thought I had left it all that happened last night behind, but apparently, the universe had other plans because there he was!

 

Standing right at the front of the classroom where I was teaching freshmen was that annoying kid. The same one with the smirk that seemed permanently glued to his face, like he knew something I did not. We crossed paths earlier, while I was waiting for my ride, and I remember being irritated then too.

 

But this? Seeing him here? My heart dropped like a stone in my chest, and for a moment, everything froze. Out of all the people I expected to see today, he was at the very bottom of the list. But there he was, smirking like he had won something.

 

I then forced a neutral expression on my face.

 

He looked far too comfortable, like he belonged here.

 

"You lost, young man?" I asked, my tone clipped and eyes sharp.

"What are you doing here?"

 

His grin widened, and I hated it. "I'm a new student, ma'am," he said, hands in his pockets like he owned the place.

"This is my class."

 

No way! My eyes widened in shock instantly upon realising that I would be teaching the same kid that had tried to hit me up twice in the space of twelve hours on different occasions.

 

 

He pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and gave it to me after closing the gap between us. 

 

"Have it, ma'am," he said with a faint smile.

 

I remembered the principal had mentioned a transfer student would be joining us today when my eyes caught the school’s stamp on the paper.

 

"Don’t just stand there,” I said after a gulp, trying to regain control of the situation.

“Come inside.”

 

I stepped aside, letting him in while silently cursing Jason for getting me into last night's mess. If I had not witnessed him cheating on me, I would not have run into this kid. I would not have been stuck in that awkward, borderline humiliating moment where he had seen me at my lowest.

 

Once he was inside, I forced myself to act like a professional.

 

"Everyone, this is Anderson," I announced, trying to keep my tone steady.

I got to know his name from he content of the paper.

"He's a transfer student from Crestfield College."

 

I saw a few students' eyes widen. Crestfield College was the top school in Starford City, known for its rich kids and 'elite' status.

 

He then introduced himself like he had done this a hundred times.

 

“My name is Anderson Holt,” he said with that same grin I hated.

"I’m glad to be here and hope we all get along.”

 

He glanced at me as he said it. I locked eyes with him, refusing to flinch.

 

Then, I cleared my throat.

 

"Anderson, that is Liam Carter, the class president, and Sofia Reyes, the vice president," I said, pointing at them in turn.

 

"If you need anything, talk to them or anyone, really. We are a friendly bunch." My eyes lingered on him, a warning hidden in my gaze.

 

Afterwards, I pointed to a seat at the back, far from my line of sight. "Take a seat."

 

As he walked past me, I felt his gaze trail on me like a heatwave. My jaw tightened, but I didn't react. Not yet. I would deal with him later. Right now, I have a class to teach.

 

But the peace did not last long.

 

"Miss Cole," a girl named Chelsea called out with a mischievous smirk on her face as I went back to teaching.

"Did you wake up with a hangover this morning?" she asked.

 

Her words hung in the air like a match hovering over gasoline as laughter and soft snickers broke out from a few students.

 

My head snapped toward her, eyes narrowing.

 

"Excuse me?" I said slowly, eyes sharp as a blade.

"Nothing, ma'am," she said, biting back a grin.

 

My gaze darted to Anderson, and I caught the way he leaned back in his chair, smirking.

 

I slammed my palm on my desk, and the laughter died instantly.

 

“Listen up,” I said, my voice low but firm.

"If I hear one more irrelevant, foolish question, I promise you, you’ll regret it. And that goes for everyone.”

 

The silence that followed afterwards was absolute.

 

"Good." I muttered.

 

But every time I glanced Anderson's was as I returned teaching, I caught him staring at me as if he was studying me, his grin never leaving his face.

 

My patience was wearing thin. If he thought he could play games with me, he was wrong. I needed to make it clear to him that he's a student and I'm the teacher, and whatever happened between us had to end.

 

A moment later, I noticed a shadow in the doorway.

 

I looked up and saw the principal standing there.

 

He gestured for me to come over.

 

“Sir, I’m in the middle of my lesson,” I said, hoping he would leave.

 

“Now, Miss Cole,” he insisted.

 

I glanced at the class, sighing in frustration. "I'll be back. Stay on task."

 

My eyes lingered on Anderson for a second longer than necessary as if telling him not to do anything funny.

 

I followed the principal down the hallway. Each step made my confusion grow.

 

"Sir, can you just tell me what this is about? My class is still in session," I asked him but no answer.

 

“Sir?” I tried again, my voice sharper this time.

"You’ll understand soon. Just follow me," he replied, not even looking back at me.

 

Tension crawled up my spine as I wondered what this was about.

 

When we reached his office, he opened the door and gestured for me to enter.

 

Immediately I stepped in, my gaze instantly locking on the two officers seated inside.

 

The air shifted as my heart rate kicked up as both officers rose from their seats, their eyes landing on me with intent.

 

“Here she is,” the principal announced.

 

I blinked as my gaze flicked from him to the officers, my brain working overtime to make sense of it.

 

“Her?” I echoed, my voice tight with confusion.

 

One of the officers then stepped forward, his expression unreadable.

 

"Sarah Cole, we need you to come with us. We have some questions regarding your involvement in an ongoing investigation."

 

I I took a step back, shocked. "What? An investigation?"

 

After taking a moment to collect myself, I let out a nervous laugh. "I'm sorry, you have the wrong person."

 

The second officer stepped forward, his eyes harder than the first. "We'll explain at the station. It’s in your best interest to cooperate.”

 

I glanced back at the principal, searching for an explanation, a hint, anything. But he didn’t look at me.

 

Knowing I had no choice but to comply, I agreed and followed them as they walked beside me, my heart pounding so hard it echoed in my ears.