Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Kent's POV 

My father walked over to the other side of the room that would be considered my grandfather's sitting room. He found something close to the leather chairs and I didn't see what it was clearly until he was in front of me. 

He didn't look at me, almost as if at that moment I didn't exist. “Just as you asked father. It's all recorded in here" 

In the shock of everything, my mouth had fallen open. I closed it and asked, “Can someone tell me what is happening right now? What do you mean by a contract?" I shook my head, it all felt too surreal. 

“During this interaction, you were recorded, both audio and video wise and your agreement to the marriage was recorded as well. It is enough for that to be evidence in any legal seating” his eyes were shining with mischief while I boiled with rage. 

It seemed he wanted to say more but I was unable to hold back any longer. "How dare you?” I looked at my mother by the door. "You all call me here to force me into a marriage with a woman I barely know, my student at that" my voice rose slowly. 

“It's unbelievable actually, that you would stoop so low to get something when you could have simply asked my opinion first" I finished. 

Arthur nodded but he looked absent minded. He dropped a hand on my shoulder, “Come on now, there's no use crying over spilt milk anymore. What has happened, has already happened. It can't be changed and she is officially your fiance" 

Even with the way my fists curled into balls and my breathing had begun to get heavier, I nodded, "Is that all there is then?" I looked him in the eye, “May I leave?" 

He smiled, “Well of course you-" 

I didn't wait for him to finish his words before turning around and walking towards the door. My mother was there, looking at me with something I couldn't recognize in her eyes. I didn't let it move me since she was a part of all this. 

“Wait, Kent, don't forget your fiance. She's come all the way from there alone. Why don't you both go back together" Arthur, my grandfather said in his old and commanding voice. 

He wasn't clever because i sensed clearly how it was a command and not a request. Still, I wasn't going to let it happen easily. "You've already forced me-” 

"Please sir,” a soft, young and feminine voice broke in. I turned around to find Freya looking at me through her quiet, green eyes. "I don't have a car to go back home with. My driver was called back to school”

I opened my mouth to refuse but stopped myself. This was an opportunity to find out something, I could maybe use it to my best interest after all. With heavy hesitation, I finally nodded before turning back around again, "Alright then. Three of you please refrain from contacting me anytime soon” I was about to walk off but stopped. 

"Especially if it's fake news and anything like this” and then I was gone. 

Thankfully, she wasn't far behind me. Once the car was open, she was there as well. She smiled politely at me and I simply nodded, looking away from her and focusing on the road. 

The ride was silent and awkward at first. Even as I drove, I felt her eyes on me. It was both annoying and angering. Almost as if she was satisfied with everything that had happened today. That my parents had trapped me into marriage. 

I could already imagine Mason's reaction when I told him. In the morning when I left school, I had left it single and freshly a non virgin. Now, I had come back engaged to marry and most likely fucking every other day. 

The thought of me annoyed me more than I thought. Every time I imagined having to kiss and savor the woman beside me, it didn't water my mouth like she had. The appeal wasn't strong, almost as if I didn't like it at all but I knew I did. 

Once I had enough of the silence, I broke it and asked, “How did this happen? Why did you agree to that? Didn't you know they were calling you to be engaged with me?" 

She didn't answer immediately and I didn't push. After a while, she spoke. 

“My father had promised me a good marriage and of course I didn't refuse it." For the first time she looked away from me. “I know that nobody else is going to marry me and so I knew you were my best option" 

For a brief second, I looked away from the road and faced her. “What do you mean by that?" 

Her head dropped, “Nothing, please don't mind me" her firm voice had softened even further. “I didn't exactly have too many choices so I took this" 

It wasn't enough for me, “So you're going to marry me? You know I'm a professor in your college? Do you know what your fellow students will think if they ever find out?" I shook my head as I imagined the outcome. I couldn't let that happen. 

"They can't find out” I rushed out, not giving her a chance to reply to me. 

She replied quickly, "Why sir?” 

The word sir jarred me but I let it slide. "It's a professional environment, I can't let personal life come in between. Too many rumors may spread in school and I'm not ready to combat all of them” I looked at her through the side of my eyes, "I don't think you are either” 

She sighed, "Alright, then they won't”

Even with the agreement, I felt discomfort in my guts. A part of me warned me that she was lying but I couldn't be sure. 

After that, the rest of the ride back was quiet. By the time we made it back to school, the day had only an hour left for lectures to end. The only reason I had come back to school was to get the bag I had come with that day. 

I opened my door, stepped out and went to her side where I opened her door for her. Once she was out, I let her walk further away before starting back to school. The risk I didn't want to take was walking in together. 

Just as I walked into school, my eyes fell on the curly and familiar dark hair as it swooshed behind her just before she disappeared from sight. 

I stood frozen in the middle of the hallway in shock. 

It was the first time I had spotted her in weeks. The urge to run up and catch up to her was strong but somehow I held still, managing to walk to my office instead.