Chapter 34
Elena’s POV:
Whispers rippled through the lecture hall the moment I started walking down the aisle, heading for the exit. It was like stepping into a current of judgment, sharp and merciless. I heard the hissed words clearly from a few girls on my left, not even trying to hide their voices.
“Seriously?… slut.”
The heat rose up my neck like wildfire, burning up into my ears. I kept walking, jaw clenched, arms folded tighter around my books. I’d known people had disliked me for being with Dmitri. He was one of the richest, most desirable guys on campus–on paper, at least. That kind of attention always made me a target. But after what had happened with Nikolai? With him being his brother?
Yeah, Now it was open season.
“What’s next? The fucking professor?” guy shouted with a crude laugh as he stepped past me toward the door. I stopped for half a second, stunned. My breath caught in my throat, and I stared down at the tile like it could swallow me whole.
Okay. That was going way too far.
I tried to brush it off, tried to keep walking–but then I felt it. A hand. Fingers curling around my wrist and tugging me back.
My head snapped around, fury blooming so
fast it left me breathless. Lazar.
Of course it was Lazar. Disgust curled in my gut. If it had been anyone else I’d have let it go. But not him. Not a fucking Morozov.
His smug grin faltered the second he met my eyes, and without thinking twice, without caring, my palm satisfying smack that echoed in the quieting room.
whipped across his face with a loud,
Gasps erupted around us.
He staggered back a step, a hand going to his cheek, blinking like he couldn’t process what had just happened. anyone would ever dare slap him.
“Don’t ever touch me again,” I hissed, my voice low and dangerous.
Like
he genuinely
couldn’t
The buzz of whispers turned into a roar in my ears. But before I could even take another breath, I turned–and found myself staring eyed expression of our professor, standing just outside the lecture hall, frozen like someone had dumped ice water over his head.
Shit. I thought he’d left.
Just great.
al
the wide-
“Ms. Kovalyova,” he said, regaining composure quickly. His tone was clipped. Professional. But I caught the undercurrent of disapproval. “Please meet me in the faculty lounge when you’re done with your next class.”
I groaned internally, barely managing to nod. Great. What now?
I glanced one last time over my shoulder. Lazar still stood there, palm on his cheek, lips parted in surprise. He wasn’t smirking anymore. Good.
When my next lecture ended, I followed the polished hallway to the lounge. My shoes echoed against the tile, each step slower than the last as my nerves built.
I didn’t want this. Not today. Not when I already felt like I was walking around with a spotlight over my head and a giant red target painted on my
back.
The lounge door was open when I arrived. My professor–a strict, priest–like man in his late fifties with silver–rimmed glasses and a voice made for documentaries–gestured for me to sit.
“Take a seat, Elena.”
I did, adjusting my bag awkwardly onto my lap.
“Let’s start with your project,” he said, folding his hands together over the desk. “You’d chosen the design adaptation of personal cars for disabled individuals, yes?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir. My prototype design and presentation slides will be ready by the end of this week.”
He nodded slowly, tapping his fingers once against the desk. “Excellent, You’re a bright student. Consistent. Which is why I didn’t expect this from you.”
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8:41 PM
Chapter 34
My stomach turned.
“Sir?”
His expression shifted. The
Ah.
armth disappeared from his eyes. “This scandal.”
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“I understand you have a personal life,” he continued, choosing his words carefully. “I was surprised enough when word reached me about your engagement to Mr. Dmitri Vetrov, and now to learn that you’ve married his brother?”
I looked down at my lap.
“Elena,” he sighed, “whatever is happening in your family is your business. But please, don’t drag the university into it. These kinds of rumors… they spread fast. I don’t want unnecessary problems. I hope you will apologize to Mr. Morozov and sort things out with him tomorrow.“,
I clenched my fists under the table. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to cause problems. I–I should’ve kept my personal life private.”
He nodded. “That would be best. Don’t give people ammunition. You have potential, Elena. Don’t let it be overshadowed by tabloid headlines.”
The shame crawled all the way up to my scalp. I hated the fact that I couldn’t blame this on Lazar, because I knew the professor would say that I overreacted. I couldn’t afford to offend him by arguing either, not when my grades depended on him. But he wasn’t wrong about keeping my private life private. I needed to be careful.
“You can go,” he said finally.
I stood and bowed slightly in respect before heading for the door.
Outside the lounge, I paused, back pressed to the wall, eyes closed.
Honestly? I hadn’t expected any
of
this.
Not Dmitri proposing to me on his birthday, like some rom–com cliche with a hidden twist. At the time, I had been stunned, nervous, overwhelmed. But I’d said yes. Because back then, I still believed.
Believed he cared. Like George did for my mother.
Believed that the version of marriage he wanted might somehow align with mine. Because age didn’t matter when in love right?
But what I didn’t realize was that to him, marriage was just a milestone. A box to check. Wife, kids, legacy. The holy trinity of manhood. It didn’t mean loyalty. It didn’t mean being present or being faithful.
He would’ve expected me to smile and cook, raise our children, sacrifice everything–my body, my time, my dreams–while he gallivanted around in the name of providing.
I could already see it. After what he’d said last night.
Me growing heavier with pregnancy, tired and anxious, only for him to flinch away and say, “You’ve changed.”
Then, he’d cheat. Blame it on biology. On manhood.
The thought made me want to throw up.
I had spent so long thinking I regretted finding out he cheated. That if I hadn’t gone looking, I could’ve stayed blissfully unaware.
But now? Now I wanted to go back in time and slap myself for ever wishing that. For ever believing ignorance was better than truth.
Yes, it hurt. Yes, it nearly broke me.
But last night? Last night confirmed it.
Choosing Nikolai over him wasn’t just a safer option. It was salvation. He saved my mother, and in turn me.
Even if Nikolai was complicated. Even if our marriage was temporary. Even if I still didn’t know exactly what we were–I knew this.
Anything was better than the life I would’ve had with Dmitri.
And I was done apologizing for choosing myself.
Even if the whole damn university whispered about it.
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