Page 63 of Misconducts & Temptation

Keaton's eyes flicked toward me briefly before returning to the road. "Because you're my wife now. And no one disrespects my wife."

I wanted to argue more, to tell him that he didn't understand the complexities of my life, but the determination in his voice silenced me. The idea of someone standing up for me was foreign and unsettling.

He glanced at me, his intense blue eyes softening just a fraction.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice a bit softer now.

I sighed, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. "I'm not happy," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "My stepmother is going to?—"

"Not about that," he said, cutting through my thoughts. "Last night."

My heart skipped a beat. "The marriage, or…?"

He looked at me again, his gaze piercing. "Or," he stated firmly.

I felt my cheeks heat up and looked down, suddenly fascinated by the pattern on my skirt. "I… I'm okay," I managed to say, my voice trembling slightly.

Keaton grunted but didn't say anything more. The silence in the car grew heavy as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white.

I bit my lip. Last night had been intense and overwhelming in ways I hadn't expected. And now here we were, bound together by circumstances neither of us fully controlled.

The car continued down the road; the town blurring past us. The weight of unspoken words hung in the air between us.

We pulled into the school parking lot, the familiar sight of Crestwood Academy's ivy-covered buildings looming ahead. Keaton parked the car and turned off the engine, his intense blue eyes locking onto mine.

"Don't be such a fucking doormat," he said quietly but forcefully. "Don't let anyone treat you that way."

His words hung in the air between us, heavy with meaning. I looked away, feeling a lump form in my throat.

"You don't have to be so cruel about it," I snapped, grabbing my bag.

Keaton's hand shot out, gripping my face with firm fingers, fury in his eyes. "What do you expect? The world is fucking cruel. Deal with it. Push back."

"Fine." I shoved him back, and he let go, his hand dropping to his side.

We stood there, glaring at each other, the tension between us almost tangible. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, my heart pounding in my chest.

Without another word, I yanked open the car door and stepped out. The cool morning air hit my face.

"Maybe I'll fucking drive off," he snapped as I slammed the door behind me.

"It wouldn't be the first time someone forgot about me," I retorted over my shoulder. "I know how to survive, with or without you."

With that, I turned and walked towards the entrance of Crestwood Academy, clenching my teeth to keep from saying anything more. The anger bubbled inside me, each step a battle to maintain control.

The ivy-covered buildings loomed ahead, another reminder of the world I was struggling to navigate. As I approached the business building, I couldn't help but glance back briefly. Keaton was still sitting in the car, his face a mask of conflicting emotions.

I took a deep breath and pushed through the doors, determined not to let this morning's encounter derail me. My life had always been a series of challenges—this was just another one to overcome.

The halls were relatively quiet. It felt strange to be here after everything that had happened last night. But this was where I belonged, at least for now.

I made my way to class, forcing myself to focus on the day ahead.

I slipped into the back of the classroom, hoping to go unnoticed. Heads turned, whispers filled the air. Everyone's eyes seemed to bore into me, curiosity and judgment written across their faces. Class was a blur, words from the professor blending into an unintelligible hum.

My phone buzzed on the desk, drawing my attention. I glanced down and saw a text from Stephanie:

You conniving little bitch. Is this true?

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