Page 1 of Forbidden Professor

ChapterOne

Eve

I takea deep breath and knock on the door. Excitement flutters in my chest. The Seattle breeze tickles my skin as I wait, balancing a basket of muffins on my hip.

The door swings open. Olivia stands there, disheveled and tired. Her eyes light up when she sees me. "Eve? Oh my gosh, what are you doing here?" She pulls me into a warm hug. She smells like baby powder and vanilla.

"Surprise!" I laugh, stepping inside. "Thought I’d pop over from the East Coast and pamper you a bit. New moms need some TLC, right?" I wink, hoping this visit will distract me from my own chaotic life.

My brother Aiden appears from the kitchen with a dish towel over his shoulder. "Well, well, if it isn’t my little sis." He grins, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. "A heads up would’ve been nice, Evie. We could’ve rolled out the red carpet for your surprise visit."

I roll my eyes playfully and hand him the muffin basket. "Where’s the fun in that? Besides, I come bearing gifts. Blueberry muffins. Your favorite."

He chuckles, shaking his head. "Bribing your way in, I see. Some things never change." There’s a hint of weariness in his voice that catches me off guard.

Olivia loops her arm through mine. "Ignore him. I’m thrilled you’re here. Goodness knows I could use some pampering. This little one is running us ragged." She nods toward the nursery, her face a mix of love and exhaustion.

"Say no more." I squeeze her hand. "Auntie Eve is here to save the day. You just sit back and let me work my magic." My mind buzzes with ideas. Bubble baths, homemade meals, maybe a girls’ day out. Anything to lift some weight off their shoulders.

We settle into the living room and catch up on life. We coo over baby pictures. I keep noticing the shadows in Aiden’s eyes. He glances at me now and then, like he’s trying to understand why I showed up unannounced. I flash him a reassuring smile, but I feel uneasy inside. Maybe I should have called ahead. But I’m here now.

I scoop Maggie into my arms, marveling at her soft cheeks and curious eyes. She gurgles happily, her tiny fingers reaching for my hair. "Oh, aren’t you just the sweetest little thing," I coo, nuzzling her nose. A fierce wave of longing hits me, catching me off guard. "I could just eat you up."

Olivia chuckles, sinking into the couch beside us. "She’s pretty irresistible, isn’t she? I never knew love like this existed until she came along."

"I can only imagine." My voice catches. "Seeing you with her... it makes me want one of my own someday." The words slip out before I can stop them.

Aiden raises an eyebrow and smirks. "Careful what you wish for, sis. Babies are a lot of work. I thought you were all about going to school these days."

I give him a defiant look, even as my cheeks warm.

"Speaking of school..." I take a deep breath. "I got into the University of Washington School of Medicine. I start this semester."

Silence fills the room. Olivia’s jaw drops.

Aiden’s eyes narrow as he studies me. "You’re serious?"

I nod, feeling a thrill of pride. "Dead serious. I know it’s competitive and the tuition’s insane, but?—"

"How are you going to pay for it?" Aiden interrupts, ever practical.

I shrug, trying to sound casual. "Dad, of course. He just doesn’t know it yet."

Olivia frowns, concern in her eyes. "Eve, are you sure that’s a good idea? I know things with your dad are… complicated."

"That’s putting it mildly." I can’t keep the bitterness out of my voice. "But trust me, it’s the least he can do after everything. And I’m not giving him a choice."

Everything being my entire childhood of tiptoeing around, doing everything I could to manage Dad’s moods, and still getting verbally raked over the roaring fire of his anger. I’m getting out, just like Aiden did. I just need Dad to finance my taking flight.

I tickle Maggie’s belly, making her giggle. Her infectious joy cuts through the tension. As I watch her, I feel a flicker of hope. Maybe this is my chance to finally break free from my dad’s grip and build a life on my own terms, a life filled with love, purpose, and family.

But Aiden looks at me with concern and skepticism. I know it won’t be easy. I’ll have to fight hard for my dreams and confront the demons of my past. The question is, am I strong enough to see it through?

I take a deep breath, bracing myself. "There’s something else. I’ve finally broken away from Dad. This is it. I’m moving out of the house, starting my life in Seattle."

Aiden’s eyes widen, a mix of surprise and relief crossing his face. "Really? How did he take it?"

"About as well as you’d expect." I roll my eyes, recalling the argument that shook our home. Dad’s anger is truly something terrifying to behold. But I’m not letting him make my decisions anymore. "He’s always been controlling. But I’m done letting him run my life."

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