All Chapters of Teach me to desire : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

The Weekend AwayGetting away for the full weekend was a logistical miracle that required three separate, ironclad lies. Killian had told his father he was attending an intense, mandatory, and highly confidential financial seminar hosted by a consulting firm in Boston—a necessary networking event for his future role. He had even booked a non-refundable, first-class train ticket and immediately canceled it, sending a convincing screenshot of the confirmation to his father’s assistant.The actual destination was a secluded property Igor owned hours away from the city, nestled deep in a wooded area. It wasn't opulent; it was minimalist, built of stone and glass, designed for absolute privacy.We arrived late on Friday evening. The moment the car turned up the long, dark, winding driveway, Killian felt the years of accumulated tension in his shoulders begin to dissipate. When Igor opened the door and the rush of cool, fresh pine air hit his face, he realized he hadn't truly breathed in mo

Mr. Davies's Suspicion GrowsThe event was a discreet, invitation-only reception for the top university benefactors and the senior faculty advisory board. It was held in the small, rarely used Faculty Club lounge—a space designed for quiet, consequential conversation, not the grand spectacle of the Founders’ Day Mixer.Mr. Davies, a seasoned member of the university board and a former business partner of Killian’s father, was circulating with methodical efficiency. He had known Killian since the boy was in short trousers, and he had noticed the recent, unsettling changes in the heir’s demeanor: the high-wire tension, the overly polite exhaustion, the sudden, transparent lie about the financial review that had caused him to miss the Vance dinner.Davies was sipping a glass of water, watching Igor Thorne—in his element, commanding attention—when Killian entered the lounge. Killian looked visibly strained, carrying the weight of his high-stakes performance like a physical burden. He move

The Public SceneI sat rigid at the head table, the harsh, white light of the ballroom reflecting off the polished silver and the endless array of glassware. The annual Chairman's Gala felt less like a celebration and more like a live, televised interrogation. Every smile had to be precise, every nod had to convey agreement, and every word spoken had to reinforce the narrative: Killian Hayes and Serena Vance, the perfect, powerful couple.I was wearing a suit that felt like armor, stiff and uncomfortable, and I realized it was the costume I wore for my father, and for the world. My body was here, my hands resting correctly on the linen, but my mind was nowhere near this room. It was hours away, back in the quiet safety of Igor’s penthouse, running over the details of our last stolen weekend. I kept repeating his confession—You are my reality—like a secret prayer, trying to use it as a shield against the suffocating pressure of this life.Serena, next to me, was a masterpiece of contro

The Emotional Break DownI was supposed to be on the practice field. The State Final was forty-eight hours away, and Coach expected me to be running the offense, perfecting the plays, leading the team. Instead, I was sitting in my car, parked three blocks away from the Hayes mansion in a quiet, tree-lined side street. I had driven away from the university right after practice, ignoring the insistent buzzing of my team phone, ignoring the cold, calculated terror that Marcus had ignited.The refusal to throw the game, the defiance I had shown him—it felt like a moment of pure strength in the locker room. But the minute I stepped back into the sterile silence of the real world, the courage evaporated, replaced by a profound, agonizing wave of fear and exhaustion.I leaned my head back against the leather headrest, closing my eyes. I couldn't go home. I knew my father was there, likely reviewing my schedule, anticipating my arrival, ready to scrutinize my every move after I had dared to f

The RingI had managed to sneak back into the mansion using the side entrance, moving like a thief in my own home. I had told Igor I just needed an hour to collect my essential documents and a few personal things before making the final, clean break. That hour felt like a lifetime. The moment I crossed the threshold, the air felt heavy, cold, and accusing, completely undoing the sense of safety I’d just found in Igor’s arms.I was halfway up the main staircase when my father’s voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the silence.“Killian. My study. Now.”It wasn’t a request. It was an order, delivered with that low, dangerous tone that signaled extreme displeasure. My heart immediately started hammering against my ribs. I knew he was waiting for me. He always knew. He had eyes and ears everywhere, and skipping football practice—the one activity he truly valued—was an act of open defiance he would not ignore.I walked the rest of the way with slow, deliberate steps, trying to compose