All Chapters of My Student's Father is a Secret Trillionaire: Chapter 31 - Chapter 34

POV: ClaireThe streetlights of Greenwich Village blurred past the window, rhythmic flashes of amber cutting through the dark interior of the car.I’d just dropped Shannon off at the school gates so she could grab her bike. Now, driving toward the estate alone, the familiar weight of the Desmond name began to settle back onto my shoulders. It felt like returning to a high-security prison after a few hours of parole.Eight p.m.I turned into the long, winding driveway. The grounds were swallowed in shadow; no garden lights, only the cold, automated glow of the porch lamps.I’d hoped they’d be out late. Some charity gala or another soul-sucking dinner in the city. But as the garage came into view, my stomach did a slow, nauseating flip.My father’s black Bentley was already there. The engine gave a faint, metallic tink as it cooled—he hadn’t been home long.Damn it. They were early.I killed the ignition. For a long minute, I just sat there, my fingers white-knuckled against the leather

POV: Claire Click. I turned the deadbolt twice. Leaning my forehead against the cool wood of the door, I finally let out the breath I’d been holding. My lungs felt like they were on fire. Outside in the hallway, I heard the rhythmic tap-tap-tap of Mother’s heels. She was pacing. A warden doing her rounds. The footsteps stopped right outside my door. I held my breath, my heart hammering against my ribs. A few seconds of silence passed—heavy and expectant—before the footsteps faded toward the master suite. I opened my eyes. My room was a cavern of shadows, sliced into ribbons by the moonlight filtering through the heavy drapes. "Time to go," I hissed to the empty room. I reached for the top of the wardrobe, dragging down a small, nondescript carry-on. I lowered it slowly, bracing the weight so it didn't