Page 278 of In Love with a Cruel Billionaire

What she saw -no,what she thought she saw...

It wasn't real.

It just had to be a mistake.

But hope continued to drain out of her as she watched the professor zip his pants and walk to his desk. He moved with languid grace, something she would've admired before, but now it just seemed like a vicious attempt to draw blood. He was deliberately making her wait as if it were to draw a point home.

And what point was that, Diana wondered numbly. Could it be that he had only been having fun with her because she had been so obviously infatuated with him?

Matthijs unfolded his length into his chair, his casual movement effectively masking his tension. He met her gaze, his lips twisting in a purposely crude smile even as his chest clenched at the brightness of her eyes.

"Your assistance was much appreciated, Ms. Leventis."

"M-My assistance?"

"I can only commend your willingness to go to such extraordinary lengths to keep your place in my class."

The insinuation behind his words finally became clear, and Diana felt faint.

"If you still wish me to be your adviser, I am of course at your dispo—-"

"Why are you being like this?" she whispered.

Dazed, dark eyes pleaded with him, but he hardened himself against the sight, burying his guilt under a sardonic expression. "Barring a possible episode of senility, but have I made you any promises that I've failed to recall?"

He waited for her to speak, but this time she was silent, and it was as he expected.

"In the interest of making things absolutely clear - what happened earlier was a one-off thing." He spoke with insolence that was as much an attack as a way to protect himself, and his reward-slash-punishment was the way she flinched.

Her eyes begged him to stop, but he couldn't.

Just fucking couldn't, not with parts of her heart still intact.

"I won't lie, Ms. Leventis. I find you extremely attractive, and I've been driving myself crazy wondering how you would look naked since the first time I saw you. Even so, I hadn't any plans to act on it...untilyouor ratherthishappened. Not that I'm complaining, of course. The whole thing was kinky as hell—-"

"Please stop."

"But ultimately, the whole encounter—-"

Diana could barely breathe. "P-Please—-"

"Was a matter of favors being exchanged. That's all there is to it." The professor leaned back against his seat. "I hope that clears things enough, Ms. Leventis?" No answer yet again, nothing except a pair of eyes that had become dull with the absence of hope and life, and his chest almost caved in,

God. Damn. This. Life.

God fucking damn this life.

He had the craziest urge to sink to his knees and beg for her forgiveness and barely managed to restrain himself from doing so. One act of stupidity for this day was already one too many, and it wasn't like he was doing this just to hurt her.

More than anything else, he was doing this for her, and he had to fucking remember that.

Even if it was a truth she wasn't to know, it was enough that he knew.

You're doing this for her, goddammit.

So stick to the fucking plan.

"If you've nothing else to say, Ms. Leventis—-" The professor gestured towards the door with a pleasant smile. "I'll see you in class."

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