Page 89 of Forbidden Professor

My heart races, but I hold her gaze. I bob my head, but don’t speak. I know she isn’t done yet.

"The apartment I pay for?" Her tone is icy. "I expect you out by the end of the week."

The ultimatum feels like a blow. Part of me wants to argue, but I know it’s useless. Her mind is made up.

I nod slowly, feeling a mix of sadness and resolve. "I understand. Thank you for being clear."

I glance around, taking in the chandeliers, the white tablecloths, the polished silverware. The restaurant feels suffocating. The soft murmurs and clinking glasses grate on me.

“Carter,” her voice softens, and I look back, surprised by the concern in her eyes. “I know you think you’re following your heart. But please, reconsider.”

She reaches across the table, resting her hand on mine. “I sacrificed a lot to give you the best opportunities. Your father would have wanted?—”

“Don’t,” I interrupt, my voice tight. “Please don’t bring Dad into this.”

“Carter,” she calls, her voice softer, filled with resignation. I pause, looking back. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

I nod, my throat tight. “I do, Mom. I really do.”

Mom pulls her hand away, pats her lips with her napkin, and stands up.

“Call me when you realize that you’ve made a mistake.”

Then she picks up her designer purse and walks away. I heave a frustrated sigh. That went exactly as badly as I thought it would. So far I’ve pushed Mom, Aiden, and Eve’s father away.

And god help me, I have one more chain to break before I’m free.

ChapterThirty-Six

Eve

I can't tearmy eyes away from Carter as he stands at the front of the classroom. His confident posture commands attention. His warm brown eyes sweep over the room, and for a moment, he locks eyes with me. A flicker of something undefined passes between us before he clears his throat and starts the lecture.

"Today, we'll discuss neurotransmitter release at synaptic junctions," Carter announces, his voice rich and engaging.

I lean forward, hanging on his every word. The way he explains complex ideas with such clarity always impresses me. As he dives deeper into the topic, I lose myself in the rhythm of his voice and his animated gestures.

Suddenly, Carter pauses, his gaze finding mine again. "Eve, can you explain the role of calcium ions in this process?"

My heart skips a beat. I take a steadying breath, hoping my voice doesn’t reveal my nerves. "Calcium ions are crucial. They trigger the fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane," I begin. "When an action potential arrives, voltage-gated calcium channels open, allowing calcium to enter. This influx releases neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft."

Carter smiles warmly. "Excellent explanation, Eve. Can you also describe the proteins involved in this fusion?"

As I answer, pride and confusion mix inside me. Why is he focusing on me? Is he showing favoritism? Or am I reading too much into it?

Throughout the class, he directs question after question at me. With each answer, I feel proud but also uneasy. My classmates’ curious glances make me wonder if we're drawing too much attention.

When the lecture finally ends, I exhale slowly, my mind racing. As much as I cherish these moments with Carter, I can’t shake the feeling we’re on thin ice. How much longer can we keep this up?

The room fills with the sounds of students packing up, eager to leave. I move slower, hands trembling slightly as I put my laptop away, the adrenaline still coursing through me.

"Well, well, well," says Vi’s familiar voice beside me. "Looks like someone’s the teacher’s pet."

I look up, my stomach dropping at her teasing grin.

"What do you mean?" I ask, trying to stay calm.

Vi leans in, her eyes twinkling. "Oh, come on, Eve. Dr. Morgan couldn’t take his eyes off you. And all those questions? You were the only student he cared about."

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