Vivian sat in her car, her breathing uneven, her fingers gripping the steering wheel as if letting go would send her spiraling. The classroom, the desk, Ethan’s hands on her—it all replayed in her mind in vivid detail. She had let it happen. She had wanted it to happen. And now, she didn’t know how to move forward without crossing the point of no return.
Her phone vibrated, breaking through the chaos of her thoughts. A message from Ethan.
Ethan: Tell me you don’t regret it.
She squeezed her eyes shut. She should say yes. She should put an end to this before it went any further. But when she pictured his face, the way he had looked at her—not just with desire, but with something deeper—she hesitated.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she finally typed back: I don’t know.
She stared at the screen, half-hoping he wouldn’t respond, but her phone
Vivian sat on the edge of Ethan’s couch, her hands resting on her lap, clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. The air in the apartment was thick with tension, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on both of them.Ethan stood a few feet away, watching her carefully, his jaw tight. He had expected her to run after what happened last night, to send him a message saying they had crossed a line and it would never happen again. But she was here. And that meant something.“Why did you come?” Ethan asked, his voice low and controlled, though his heart pounded against his ribs.Vivian inhaled deeply, struggling to find an answer that made sense. She had tried to fight this attraction, tried to remind herself that she was the teacher, and he was the student. But with every encounter, every glance, every moment where his fingertips brushed against her skin, she felt herself unraveling.“I don’t know,” she finally admitted, looking up at him. “I just... I can’t stop thinking about y
The morning light crept through the blinds, casting golden streaks across the tangled sheets. Vivian stirred first, her body instinctively recoiling as awareness dawned on her. The warmth beside her, the slow, rhythmic breathing—it all came crashing down in an overwhelming realization.Ethan.She turned her head slowly, her heart slamming against her ribs as she took in the sight of him. He lay beside her, his dark hair tousled against the pillow, his bare chest rising and falling with each deep breath. He looked so peaceful, so content—as if last night had been inevitable, as if he had no regrets.But she did.The heat from his body still lingered on her skin, the memory of his hands, his lips, burned into her mind. A shiver ran through her, not from cold but from the weight of what they had done. What she had allowed to happen.Carefully, she shifted, pulling the sheet over her chest as she sat up. Her movements were slow, calculated, as if one wrong step would shatter the fragile m
Vivian sat in her office, her hands clenched around the edge of her desk. The events of last night played in a relentless loop in her mind—the warmth of Ethan’s hands on her skin, the way his voice had dripped with longing, the way she had crumbled under his touch. She had left his apartment thinking it was the right decision, the logical decision. But then why did she feel so hollow?A knock at the door startled her. She took a deep breath, steeling herself before answering. "Come in."The door opened, and for a brief moment, she thought it would be Ethan. But instead, her colleague, Claire, peeked in with a soft smile. "Hey, you okay? You looked a little out of it during the meeting this morning."Vivian forced a tight-lipped smile. "Yeah, just didn’t sleep well."Claire stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "Are you sure? You seem... different."Vivian's heart pounded, but she nodded. "Just stress. You know how it is."Claire hesitated but let it go. "Well, if you need to ta
Vivian paced her dimly lit apartment, her thoughts warring with her heart. She had spent the entire day trying to bury the emotions swirling within her, to convince herself that she had done the right thing. But Ethan’s voice echoed in her mind, raw and laced with frustration.This isn’t over.A shiver ran down her spine as she wrapped her arms around herself. Her rational mind screamed at her to leave it alone, to keep her distance, to pretend that she hadn’t spent the night in his arms, surrendering to the undeniable pull between them. But her heart—the traitorous thing—was already steering her towards the door.She didn’t even realize she had driven to his place until she was standing outside his apartment building, her fingers curled into her coat. The crisp night air did little to cool the fire raging beneath her skin.One last time.That was the lie she told herself as she knocked.A Dangerous InvitationEthan answered almost instantly, as if he had been waiting for her. His sha
Vivian awoke to the soft glow of dawn filtering through the curtains, her body tangled with Ethan’s. His arm draped over her waist, his steady breaths fanning against the nape of her neck. For a moment, she allowed herself to revel in the warmth of his embrace, the sense of peace that had been so foreign to her for so long.Then reality crashed down like a tidal wave.Her breath hitched as she carefully slid out of his grasp, her heart pounding against her ribcage. What have I done? The weight of the night’s passion clung to her like a brand, searing into her skin, impossible to ignore.She hastily gathered her clothes, her hands trembling as she buttoned her blouse. Every nerve in her body screamed for her to stay, to allow herself just a little longer in the intoxicating haze of his presence. But she knew better. This wasn’t a fairytale—it was a disaster waiting to unfold.As she reached for the door, Ethan stirred behind her. "Running away again?"His voice was husky, laced with sl
Vivian stood in front of her mirror that evening, studying her reflection as if searching for answers. Her lips were still tingling from the ghost of Ethan’s words, his presence lingering in her mind like an intoxicating whisper she couldn’t shake. I’ll wait, Vivian. For as long as it takes.Her hands clenched into fists. She couldn’t allow this to continue. The longer it did, the closer she came to the edge of something dangerous, something irreversible. She needed to put distance between them before it was too late.Avoidance and TemptationThe next morning, she was determined to act as if nothing had changed. Her resolve was ironclad as she strode into the classroom, shoulders squared, face impassive. But as soon as she stepped through the door, her breath caught.Ethan was already there, lounging in his seat at the back of the class like he owned the world. His gaze locked onto hers the second she entered, a slow, knowing smirk tugging at his lips. Damn it.She ignored him and sta
Vivian had spent the entire night tossing and turning, replaying Ethan’s words in her mind. You can fight it all you want, but sooner or later, you’ll come back to me. The worst part was, he wasn’t wrong. The more she tried to distance herself, the stronger the pull became.She sat at her desk the next morning, sipping her coffee, willing herself to focus on her work. The school day had barely started, but she already felt exhausted. The sleepless night had done little to help her resolve. She needed to put an end to this, once and for all. She couldn’t keep getting caught in this dangerous cycle. But deep down, she knew—she was already in too deep.A knock on the door broke her thoughts. Before she could respond, Ethan stepped inside, closing the door behind him."You’re not supposed to be here," she said, her tone firm but lacking the conviction she desperately needed.He leaned against the door, arms crossed over his broad chest, a smug grin playing on his lips. "Since when do I fo
Vivian couldn’t shake the weight of Ethan’s presence no matter how hard she tried. Every look, every word, every stolen moment between them felt like an invisible force pushing her closer to the edge of a dangerous abyss.She knew she should be stronger, that she should fight harder against whatever this was. But deep inside, she was already losing the battle.That evening, as she stood in front of her bathroom mirror, her reflection showed a woman who was struggling with something she couldn't name. Her fingertips ghosted over her lips, still tingling from the way Ethan had looked at her that morning. It was ridiculous how much power he had over her, and yet, she wasn’t running away. Not really.A sharp knock at her door startled her out of her thoughts. Her heart skipped a beat. No one ever came to her place unannounced. With a shaky breath, she walked to the door and hesitated before unlocking it.The moment she pulled it open, her breath caught in her throat. Ethan stood there, hi
Evening was a gossamer skim stretched over raw emotion. Ethan and Vivian didn't say much after returning to her apartment. Residue of the confrontation with Daniel hung in the air—rich, intricate, and trembling with unspokens.Vivian had her arms crossed over her chest standing by the window, watching the city lights shine in the distance. The tension between them vibrated with warmth, but not with passion, but with strain. Ethan remained in the doorway, his jaw set, smoothing his hair back with his fingers as he stood there and watched her."You haven't spoken since we left," he breathed finally, his voice low and husky.Vivian spun away from him, her eyes obscured. "What do you want me to say to you, Ethan? That I was humiliated? That my father hates me? That Daniel treated me like some. stranger in his life?"Ethan stepped off the door, advancing on her with slow, deliberate steps. "You don't owe anyone an explanation. You don't owe anyone anything—not him, not your father."She la
Vivian sat alone in her apartment, huddled on the couch cushion, knees drawn up to her chin. The city's light filtered through the high windows, creeping into the room in broken reflections off the polished hardwood floors. A half-full cup of tea had cooled next to her, left behind. Her phone lay on the coffee table, its screen dark, though she hadn't ceased checking it every five minutes.Ethan hadn't called.After everything that had happened—the kisses, the declarations, the emotional tug of war and push—no calls. Not since the last good-bye they'd shared at the train station with surreptitious touches and aching hearts. She'd told him she needed space, clarity. Clarity was a punishment now.Her heart thudded with a weight she could not define. Vivian had built walls her whole life, tough and impenetrable, made of rules, reputation, and control. Ethan had burst into her life with a tempest, with his wild heart, and shattered everything she believed she knew about herself.She recal
Vivian rested against the counter of Rose's Diner, wiping down a stack of menus for the hundredth time that morning. Her apron was sticky with syrup and sneakers stuck to the greasy floor slightly whenever she moved her weight. She didn't mind. The sore in her calves and the numb tingling in her shoulders felt like badges of pride. For the first time ever, she was starting something from scratch.The doorbell over the door buzzed, and she was distracted from the menus. Her smile, now second nature, dropped like a reflex onto her lips."Morning! Booth or counter?"The tall, mid-forties, charcoal suit-wearing man who strode in was conspicuous as a bruise in the modest diner. His hair was slicked, his shoes gleamed, and the very atmosphere around him appeared to weep money.His gaze locked onto hers.Vivian's stomach dropped."Ms. Blake," he said coldly.Her hold on the menus was a vice.No. Not here. Not now."You're mistaken," she replied tightly. "I believe there's been some confusion
The sun beamed through the filthy blinds, casting lines of illumination across Ethan's chest. Vivian awoke, her eyes squeezed shut against the light, and sat up on the edge of the bed. The apartment was quiet save for the soft groan of the ceiling fan and the distant honk of traffic below.For the first time in days, she slept peacefully, without a feeling of foreboding closing her chest.No yelling downstairs.No calls from her mom.No threats.Just Ethan.She opened her eyes and stretched, muscles sore from sleeping in a new bed, but heart somehow at peace.Behind her, Ethan groaned and rolled over, face planted in the pillow. His words were muffled but teasing.**"You get up early nowadays? Who are you and what have you done with Vivian?"**Vivian smiled, her voice gentle but playfully protective.**"I didn't exactly sleep well with your arm lying across my entire back."**He sat up and screwed his eyes at her.**"You mean my loving hug?"****I mean your Hulk-strength grip,** she s
The rain continued unabated.It beat against the hood of Ethan's truck like an angry drummer as they cruised through the tight streets, out of the gold cage of Vivian's past and into a future she and Ethan could barely imagine.Vivian hugged herself, looking out the window.She had no suitcase. No clothes. No clue.Nothing but the clothes on her back, the shattered phone in her pocket, and the boy sitting next to her.But for the first time in her life, she didn't feel trapped by what she lacked.She felt free.Ethan's hand brushed against hers along the bench, hesitant.Vivian intertwined their fingers without hesitation.He smiled, weak, tired smile, and squeezed.They traveled in silence for a great length of time, the only sound the repetitive slap of the windshield wipers and the rush of water underneath the tires.Finally, Ethan cleared his throat.**"There's not much at my place,"** he said. **"But it's dry. And it's ours."**Vivian's throat tightened.**Ours.**As if a promise
The rain-tossed world outside was gray and shaking, but within Ethan's arms, Vivian was warm for the first time.For a few precious minutes, they just stood there in the doorway, clinging to each other like shipwreck survivors.Breathing each other in.Recalling.Vivian didn't want to move.Didn't want to break the magic.But the real world, as always, was in no mood to wait.Her phone buzzed wildly in her coat pocket. Again. And again.Ethan recoiled, his face darkening.Vivian pulled out her phone.Forty-two missed calls.Texts upon texts piling up like a tidal wave.From her mother. Her father. Daniel.Her chest tightened painfully.She knew what they were saying without even looking.Where are you?What are you doing?Come back now.**You don't have to answer them,**" Ethan breathed, his gaze on her face.Vivian hesitated.The weight of years of obedience was crushing her shoulders.But then she remembered the dead-eyed girl looking back at her in the mirror at the dress fitting.
Vivian woke to the soft touch of fingers trailing down her naked back.For a moment, she was still, eyes closed, soaking up the feeling—the warmth, the gentleness, the safety.For a moment, she permitted herself to believe that this could be forever.But reality was a cold, unwelcome guest.The engagement.Her family.Daniel.Vivian's heart hurt badly.She opened her eyes slowly.Ethan lay on his side next to her, propped up on an elbow, his brown hair mussed, his blue eyes warm and impossibly wide as he looked at her.**"Good morning,"** he murmured, voice rough with sleep and affection.Vivian swallowed the sob in her throat and smiled.**"Morning."**For a few minutes, they just lay there, silent except for the sound of their breathing and the faint rain tapping against the windows.Ethan traced slow circles on her shoulder.**"You’re quiet,"** he said gently.Vivian stared at the ceiling. She could still feel him everywhere—on her skin, in her blood, woven into her bones.She wa
The days following Vivian's public commitment to Daniel Ashford were like navigating through heavy, sticky fog.Ethan had trouble faking indifference. He teased his friends. He flirted with women. He played the part of the charming, unattainable Ethan Carter.But inside, something was leaking, raw and ugly.Every time he looked at Vivian—her thin hand on Daniel's arm, that civility stretched so tight across her face—something inside him cracked a little more.And Vivian?She felt every inch of that space, too.She sat at the back of her classes these days, mute, mechanical.Her laughter was gone. Her smiles artificial.The fire that had once blazed between them was reduced to furtive glances, agonized silences, and heavy stares that said everything and nothing simultaneously.---Late one afternoon, when the spring rain lashed against the windows and most of the students had long since deserted the halls, Ethan found her.Vivian was sitting in the library, books spread out in front of
The darkness was heavy with a suffocating tension as Ethan sat on the steps of the faded bleachers at the rear of the school gym. The field was painted in hues of gold by the sunset, and the gentle thrum of the cicadas vibrated in the night. His elbows on his knees, he drew a hand through his rumpled hair, gone into his mind. His universe had tilted, and for the first time, he had no idea how to get his balance back.Vivian.Her very name sent a searing pain through his chest. All that time with her had blurred the lines between the game he'd started and the feelings he couldn't deny any longer. The bet had been stupid, childish, and callous. And now? Now it was like a knife twisting in his guts whenever he even considered it."You're here," came a soft voice from behind him.Ethan stiffened, then turned. Vivian stood a few feet away, her arms wrapped across her chest, her expression wary but her eyes spilling over with emotion. The fading light made her seem almost ethereal, her dark