Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
The sound of her mother’s voice interrupted her thoughts. Kassia turned towards it unthinkingly. She saw the exact moment Kimberley saw her, the older woman stiffening almost imperceptibly. And then her lips tightened, as if the sight of her own daughter was displeasing – no, Kimberley’s upper lip had curled ever so slightly now. There was no better way to make her disgust evident, and even knowing the kind of woman her mother was, Kassia was still rocked with pain.
Only now did she realize that even after all this time, despite knowing Kimberley’s true character, a small part of Kassia had still held out, hoping that by some miracle her mother would change.
“Ms. Summers, I don’t have all the time in the world.” The professor’s abrupt voice slashed through the painful void her mother created inside Kassia, and the sight of the professor striding away propelled her into moving.
The distance between them grew, and Kassia found herself hurrying, increasing her pace. Still, she was only able to catch up with the professor upon reaching his office. He stepped aside to let her pass.
She spun back to face him at the sound of the door closing. The professor asked without preamble, “What’s wrong?”
Kassia glared at him, but his gaze remained patient. They could stare at each other for as long as she wanted, the implacable look on his handsome face said, and still he wouldn’t budge until she told him what was wrong.
She lifted her chin. “It’s none of your business.” You made it so when you had sex with another woman, she thought, and the void inside her swelled.
Alessandro’s fists clenched at the sudden flash of pain in Kassia’s brown eyes. He knew exactly what she was thinking, and he realized then they would never go anywhere until he brought the truth out in the open.
“I saw you.” He kept his gaze on her face so he could punish himself with the inevitable look of betrayal in her eyes once she heard what he had to say. She started to speak, and he shook his head. “That day you had your exams, I came here as soon as I could.” His lips twisted in a humorless smile. “I wanted to give you support, but then I saw you in Jacob’s arms—-” His voice became harsh. “And so I reacted.”
Kassia’s world spun at the professor’s admission. For a long time, she could only stare at him, unsure about what to say.
He reacted.
“I don’t know if I want to laugh or cry,” she revealed shakily. Surely he knew what an understatement that was, how pathetic the words were at describing the ruthlessness of his actions. He had seen her in another man’s arms, and he hadn’t even thought to ask her first? She tried to place herself in his shoes. If she had seen him with that woman in the same circumstances, how would she have felt?
Betrayed.
She wouldn’t have been furious, wouldn’t have wanted vengeance the way he had.
Above all things, she would have been betrayed, but in spite of it, Kassia was sure she would have waited for an explanation, would have given him the benefit of the doubt.
He raised his hand then lowered it just as swiftly, as if he was uncertain of his right to reach out to her. Finally, he said, “I’m sorry.” A wealth of raw remorse underlined his voice, and she flinched, realizing that the professor had more than an inkling of how much pain his actions had caused her. As soon as the thought occurred, a bitter laugh tried to bubble out of her.
His actions.
Clearly, she also had the same gift for understatement, the two words just as pathetic at describing his decision to fuck another woman even when he had promised—-
A sob threatened to come out of her throat, catching her by surprise, and she spun away with a choking sound.
She didn’t want to cry.
She had already cried too many tears for the professor.
“Kassia—-”
She sensed him reaching for her from behind, knew this time he would really touch her. “No!” she cried out, moving away from him as fast as she could.
Alessandro whitened at the sound of distress in Kassia’s voice, and he immediately halted, not wanting to cause her even more pain. He watched her retreat until she stood behind the couch, seemingly finding relief in having something between them.
“I know you’re going to think I’m overreacting, but I really...” Her voice caught again. “I really loved you, Professor. It sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But I really did. Since t-the first day I saw you, it was like...every day was special. I was t-the happiest girl on earth when I realized I had a chance. I could have c-cried with joy when we first kissed. Stupid, right?”
The shame in her voice ripped through him. “Kassia—-”