Chapter 19

Chapter 19 

Kent's POV 

My hands clutched the steering wheel as I drove to the club. I had been so close to walking into the room, looking into her eyes for the first time since that day. And even then I had chosen to leave when I didn't need to. 

It had been a message from Mason, asking me to come meet him at the gentleman's club. Lunch was far from over so there was still time for us to have some drinks before school, I needed them desperately. 

A few minutes later we were sitting across each other, a glass in his hand and his eyes on me. “You did what?" He asked. 

I sighed, taking a sip of the hot drink I had ordered, not even the ice helped. “I saw her there on the ground, it was serious. There's no way you thought I'd just leave her there?" I gave him a questioning look. 

He shook his head, “You're right but even then. What if anyone else saw it and they know?" He leaned in closer, “Gareth? Even Freya could tell her family that you're still with the girl. You should have stayed away" 

My hands began to tighten around the glass as I stared at him in anger and disbelief. I couldn't even imagine leaving her there. “How the fuck would I leave the poor girl there? What if something happened to her?" I hated the way my heart tightened at the thought. 

Mason paused, staring at me for a while. He raised a brow as if he had seen something before nodding slowly, “Alright man. Let's be done with that. Classes start in twenty minutes, we'd best enjoy this free time" 

Minutes later as I walked to my first class, my mind went to finding her sitting there until I remembered she wouldn't be there. A part of me hated it and suddenly it felt like class wasn't worth it, I just wanted to go see how she was. 

Just before I entered the class, I spotted Freya. She was leaning on her locker, Gareth whispering something into her ears. As soon as our eyes met, she stood up straight and leaned away from him. 

Without another glance, I stood up and walked away. I didn't care what she did with whoever she did it with. As long as the news didn't reach either of our families. In fact, if it meant her staying away from me then I'd encourage it. 

One of the female student's stopped me, she blinked up at me, eyelashes fluttering, "I'm sorry for stopping you professor Kent but I need some help in my mathematics and statistics. Can I come to your office later for help?” 

The answer was already preprogrammed, "I'll be at the library every Wednesday during lunch breaks. You can find me there” and then I walked away without another word. 

"These students”

At the end of the day, I was ready to leave. Mason was at my door, waiting for me. "Come on man, can you pack a little faster” he leaned back against the wall. 

The image of her alone at the sick bay came to me and I shook my head, "I think I'll go see her before I leave. You can go home. We'll meet at the bar later" 

He turned around to look me in the eye. “Do you know what you're doing?" 

The question was simple but the answer didn't come easily. I couldn't hold his gaze for long, “It's simply concern. She's my student, it would be weird to just leave her there. I need to make sure-" 

He raised a hand to stop him, “We both know I can't stop you" he began to walk backwards, shaking his head every few seconds. “I really hope you know what you're doing" 

And then he was gone. 

I refused to think about what he meant and instead made my way directly to the sick bay. The nurses were still there but looking a little tired. 

My eyes gravitated to the waiting door, anxious to opening it while I asked them questions, “How is she now?" 

The younger nurse with kinder eyes answered me, “She's much better now. A few more hours of rest and observation and then we'll let her go home” 

I nodded, "Let me go see how she is” 

I had just begun to walk to the door when my phone rang in my pocket. The sound broke the silence and I picked it quickly, hoping to send whoever away, "Look I'm in the-”

"Kent, come home now" my father's voice broke through, surprising me. 

My steps halted, “What happened this time? I know grandfather isn't sick so don't even" 

“Just come home, it's an emergency. Your grandfather expects you back in a few hours. I don't know what will happen if you're not here but you should know" and then he was gone. 

My hands balled into fists beside me. I stared at the door in front of, knowing I couldn't go in. When I turned back to the nurses, I hoped my face was as neutral as it could be. "I'm sorry, something really urgent came up. Just please make sure she's okay” I dropped a stash of cash before rushing to my car. 

The whole drive back home was contemplating what could have possibly happened to require my attention so quickly. As far as I knew, I had agreed to everything they wanted. What else could they possibly want?

Instead of letting myself drown in my thoughts, I turned the radio on and let some music play to fill the car. It was much better with it. 

This time when I parked in the garage, there was no haste in my steps. I made my way to my mother's room first, her being the only one I wanted to see. 

She rushed over to me when she saw me, pulling me into a warm hug. “Oh, you're here. I thought you wouldn't come or wouldn't make it" she smiled up at me, “I didn't prepare your favorite dish this time for you to take back" 

I shook my head, “You know you don't really have to. It was in a haste that they called me. Do you know why they did any way?" I asked. 

She looked hesitant for a minute and i knew she wouldn't answer me honestly. “You should find out for yourself" 

“Fuck" I wasn't ready for their bull. I hugged her and whispered into her hair instead, “I'll see you later" 

My father, grandfather and another familiar man were sitting in his office. They seemed to be talking casually especially with the glasses on the table in front of them. 

They all turned to look at me when I walked in, "You're here” 

"Just as you requested”

"Take a seat” it was my father. 

I walked to the table, taking the chair farthest from all three. "What is the occasion?” 

My father slid a document over to me, "All that is needed is your signature” 

I took the document and began to read it. Every single thing in it, the conditions, legal implications, all of it. Every single word sent a wave of fresh anger through me. My hands tightened around the pen until I could feel it engrave itself onto my palm. 

When I was done, I looked up at all three, “What is this?" 

Before my father could speak, Arthur did, “The document you must sign to make it official and consensual. Or else, you know what it means" 

My eyes must have been burning with rage because my father didnt hold my gaze when I looked at him. “This document that basically signs my rights off to one decision and that is marrying Freya?" 

The third man spoke this time, “Before you pledge yourself to my daughter, I must make sure you mean it" he shrugged, “Even if it means that" he glanced down at it and up at me. 

As I stood up, the chair behind me fell to the ground. “You can't be serious. You expect to sign everything away for her?" 

“It won't be signing it away if you keep your word" 

“There's no way-" 

“Sit down" Arthur's voice was sharp and commanding. His eyes blazed as he looked at me, daring me to say anything else. 

I picked the chair back up and sat down slowly, grinding my teeth as I did so. If not for the restraints I had, I wouldn't have taken his words and they all knew this. 

“You either sign it and agree or lose everything, the choice is all yours"