Page 68 of Forbidden Professor

“You’re free now, Eve. You can be free from trying to reach some sort of perfection for your father. You won’t have loans to repay. I’m so pleased it all worked out so well.”

“I’m incredibly blessed,” I say.

“You are,” she agrees. “In fact, I might go so far as to say you have a guardian angel looking out for you.”

I get goosebumps at her words, my mother’s sweet face flashing in my mind. Tears stream down my face as I smile at Clarissa.

“I certainly hope so,” I whisper.

When I leave a few minutes later, it feels like I’m walking on a cloud. I can’t wait to tell Carter. I imagine the look on his face and my heart swells.

It’s his love and support that’s enabled me to do this, to be strong enough to see it all through. I never expected writing that essay about my mother would fund my education entirely and the shock is still fresh.

I can barely feel my feet as I stumble through campus. Not having to worry about where my tuition is coming from — and in the absence of my father’s controlling bullshit — will open my mind up to become the best doctor I can be.

The fact that I can concentrate on my dream, with no distractions, is hugely uplifting.

I feel lucky. I feel blessed. And yes, I feel like someone else is walking with me every step of the way as I make my way back to Carter’s house to tell him everything.

When he opens the door, welcoming me in just as he always does — with his arms outstretched and ready to pull me into his warm and loving embrace. I can’t help but wonder if my guardian angel has been guiding this scenario along as well.

I’ve always thought my mother’s guidance through the difficulties in life was one of the biggest losses I’ve been saddled with.

And as Carter wraps me tightly in his arms, I sob.

I’m crying because I finally realize that maybe I was wrong all along. Maybe she’d been there the whole way through, holding me up when I didn’t know it. Maybe she’d brought Carter to me when I needed him the most.

“You’re crying again,” Carter points out.

I nod, the tears streaming freely down my face. I don’t care. It feels good. Like, a river of emotion finally released and bathing me clean.

“They’re good tears,” I reassure my love.

He bends his head, kissing them away with his warm, gentle lips. I turn my face up to him, letting him kiss them all away.

“So, tell me then,” he says. “What has happened that’s so amazing that it made you cry like this?”

I stare up at him, my heart full of pure love and joy.

“I got a full scholarship to med-school. Well, almost. I have to get a very small loan. But basically, a full ride for everything.”

“Seriously? My god, Eve, that’s incredible!”

“I know,” I whisper, incredulously. “I can’t believe it.”

“Woohoo!” He yells, before grabbing my hips and picking me up and twirling me around and around. I giggle, my hair flying out around us, and lightness filling my heart.

When he finally puts me back down and beams down at me, I can’t stop smiling.

“I’m so proud of you, princess,” he says, bending his head to kiss me. “How did this happen?”

“I wrote an essay about my mother. I didn’t tell you. I didn’t think it would make a difference. But I guess it did. A private donor is sponsoring most of my education, Carter! Can you believe it?”

“Of course I can believe it, you’re amazing. I’ve always known that. Anyone who knows you, knows that.”

“Why are you so good to me?” I ask, smiling up at him. His arms are wrapped around my waist, keeping me close.

“Because you deserve it, babe. You’re a wonderful woman, Eve. You deserve everything good in the world. I’m not surprised at all that someone else recognized your greatness. They’d have to be blind not to.”

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