Page 36 of His Infatuated Wife

There clearly isn't a need for a press release about my marriage, with how fast news of it has already spread.

"You're not the type to make rash decisions, son," Dean Garrison says quietly. "So what happened?"

"Broderick Sterne."

"What about him?"

"My wife and Broderick. You don't know about them?"

"What's there to know?"

A humorless smile twists over my lips. "I guess that answers my question."

Dean Garrison, however, immediately takes exception to this. "I know everything that goes on in my department, Jacques. Everything," the older man stresses. "And that's why I know nothing has ever gone on between those two."

"You may think you know everything, but I trust the person who told me this---"

"Even when it causes you to lose trust in your own wife?"

My jaw clenches at the note of disapproval in his tone.

"We all know Riri was in love with you from the start, Jacques. But we pretended not to because we knew it would make you uncomfortable."

Dean Garrison's words are completely unexpected, and unease stirs inside of me. Everything that used to be completely clear started getting murky.

"We knew you were likely to stay away if you realized we were aware of what was unfolding before us. So we pretended. And when we found out that the two of you got married, we were all overjoyed. We were even planning to surprise both of you with a celebration, but Riri ended up surprising us instead."

Silence stretches between us, and Dean Garrison lets out a heavy sigh.

"At least tell me why, son. Why do you insist on seeing Riri in a bad light, Jacques?"

"I am not insisting on anything," I say tautly. "I just don't care to live a lie any longer. Riri and Broderick---"

"How many times must I say there is nothing going on between those two?"

"I can ask the same of you," I bite out. "Why the hell are you so convinced that I'm wrong?"

"Because she's always been in love with you," Dean Garrison exclaims in an exasperated tone. "And yes, if you feel hearing this will make any difference---it is true that the boy likes her. We all know this, too. But Riri has never led him on. She's made it clear to him from the start that she sees him as a friend, but it didn't make any difference to his feelings. And that is how it is with love, isn't it? Not everyone wins."

"That's still not enough proof---"

"We also have security cameras all over the university," Dean Garrison points out. "And as the heavens would have it, youactually have access to those cameras. So why not watch as much footage as you need? Follow their every move."

"What about what they're doing outside---"

"Watch some footage first then get back to me on that. Because I am telling you, son. You only have to see them together once, and it will be enough."

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

The older man is starting to get to me.

And I don't fucking know if it's something I should be happy or pissed about.

"Will you tell me now, Jacques? Who spoke to you?"

"It doesn't matter---"

"It does, son. You know it does. So be kind to this old man, and tell me the truth. Who told you?"

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