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Chapter 19: A Painful Distance
Last Updated:
2025-03-21 05:51:07
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The Price of A Bet Chapter 69: Whispers and Headlines
The whispers returned, not as loud as before, not as cruel, but they were there—lurking in the corners of the hallways, muttered beneath breath as Vivian walked by. They followed Ethan too, lingering in locker rooms and classrooms and stairwells where half-grown teenagers thought themselves clever.But something had changed.This time, Vivian didn’t flinch.She walked with her chin lifted and her eyes steady, heels clicking against the polished floors of Fairhaven Academy like the beat of a war drum—measured, proud, unapologetic.She had nothing left to hide.Still, there were murmurs.“She’s sleeping with a student.”“I heard she’s transferring schools anyway.”“I wonder if he really loves her or if it’s still just a game.”The last one hit harder than she expected. Not because she believed it, but because a small, insecure part of her—buried deep inside—still feared it.Was Ethan truly ready for the weight of her? For a relationship that broke every norm, bent every line?She didn’t
The Price of A Bet Chapter 68: Tidal Pull
The crisp afternoon sun filtered through the cafe window as Ethan stirred his coffee absently, the bitter scent wafting up without notice. His eyes were fixed on the screen of his phone, reading Vivian’s message for the fifth time.“The board officially cleared me. I start back next week. We need to talk before then.”It was the kind of message that hinted at something deeper beneath its surface—like the stillness before a storm. He tried not to overthink it, but that had never been his strong suit, not when it came to her.Adrian dropped into the seat across from him, dragging him from his spiraling thoughts.“You’ve looked like that for thirty straight minutes. Did she dump you over text or what?”Ethan shot him a glare. “She didn’t dump me.”“Then what’s up?”“She wants to talk. In person. Before she returns to school.”Adrian leaned back, lips quirking. “That’s either very good or very bad.”“I know,” Ethan muttered, rubbing his temples. “That’s what’s killing me.”Adrian studied
The Price of A Bet Chapter 67: A Love No Longer Hidden
The kiss between Vivian and Ethan outside the boardroom wasn’t planned. It wasn’t dramatic or flashy. It wasn’t even long. But it was real. Her lips moved against his in a gentle urgency, an exhale of tension and fear that had coiled inside her for weeks. He responded with a tenderness that made her heart seize, his hands rising instinctively to her cheeks like she was something fragile he was terrified to lose.The world around them seemed to pause—the rush of staff members exiting the building, the distant honking of cars, the birds flitting in the spring air. All of it dulled beneath the pounding of their hearts.Vivian broke the kiss first, breathless.“I’m sorry,” she whispered, pulling away slightly.“For what?” Ethan murmured, leaning his forehead against hers.“For waiting so long to do that in the open.”He smiled, his thumb brushing the side of her face. “You have nothing to apologize for.”She shook her head. “I’ve been hiding for so long… behind duty, fear, my father’s voi
The Price of A Bet Chapter 66: Breaking Point
Vivian’s world had never felt smaller.She sat hunched over the letter from the Department of Education, her trembling fingers gripping the edges until the paper crumpled in her hands. The words blurred through her unshed tears, each paragraph branding itself into her brain like a scar.Allegations of professional misconduct... evidence submitted anonymously... disciplinary hearing scheduled... immediate administrative leave.Her heart thundered in her chest, drowning out the silence of her apartment. The walls felt like they were closing in. Her breath came in shallow bursts. This wasn’t just about her career anymore. This was about reputation. Dignity. Her future.And Ethan.Someone wanted to destroy everything she'd rebuilt. And they were getting close.She reached for her phone with shaky fingers, scrolling until she found Ethan’s name.She hesitated.She hadn’t spoken to him since their painful conversation two days earlier. She’d asked him for space, for time, for understanding.
The Price of A Bet Chapter 65: Scandal's Last Echo
Vivian sat on a bench in the quiet courtyard of Fairhaven Academy. The sun filtered through the leaves overhead, casting dappled patterns on the stone pavement. The soft rustle of trees, the faint chirp of birds, the distant murmur of a teacher lecturing behind a classroom wall—it was peaceful. Almost.But not for her.Though she had been back for a week now, every step she took in these halls felt like walking through a battlefield after the war. The students were polite—some even smiled. The staff? Split down the middle. Some welcomed her. Others watched her warily, lips tight, judgment hidden behind professionalism.The scandal had faded from headlines but lingered in whispers.Vivian tried to ignore them.She pulled her cardigan tighter around her body as the wind picked up slightly. Her thoughts drifted—not toward the past, not toward Daniel or her father, not even toward the board that had barely let her back in—but toward Ethan.He had been a constant presence in her life since
The Price of A Bet Chapter 64: Scars Beneath the Smile
The next few days passed with an uneasy quiet. The media storm began to slow, but the scars it had left lingered like an echo in the corners of Vivian’s mind. Every glance on the street, every whisper she caught in passing, reminded her that she was still the subject of controversy.She told herself it didn’t matter anymore. But some days… it did.Vivian stood in front of her bathroom mirror that morning, running her fingers over the slight creases under her eyes. She had aged in ways no one could see. It wasn’t time that etched her — it was the judgment, the fear, and the guilt.Behind her, Ethan appeared in the mirror’s reflection, still shirtless, his hair tousled from sleep. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder.“You look like you’re thinking too much,” he murmured.Vivian met his eyes in the mirror. “I just… feel the weight of everything sometimes.”“I know.” His grip tightened. “But we’re still standing. Together.”She
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