Page 67 of Misconducts & Temptation

"You've ruined everything," the other one, the fat girl, pointed out. "William was going to save us."

"You're so selfish," Buck Teeth spat.

Elodie's shoulders stiffened. "I'm selfish? She was selling me?—"

"We both know William is the best you were ever going to get," Fat One interrupted. "He was rich. You would have been taken care of."

"I didn't love him," she said firmly. "He was twice my age. If you wanted out of debt, why didn't you marry him?"

A smirk tugged at my lips. This was what she needed—to stand up for herself. I leaned against the wall, watching the scene unfold but ready to step in if necessary.

"Love?" Buck Teeth scoffed. "You think love matters? You're such a child."

"Yeah," Fat One chimed in, her voice full of disdain. "This isn't some fairy tale. You had a chance to secure our future, and you threw it away for some…. I don't even know what."

Her eyes flashed with defiance. "It's not silly! I'm not going to marry someone I don't love just because you think it's convenient."

Buck Teeth's face twisted in anger. "You ungrateful littlebitch."

I pushed off the wall and took a step forward as Fat One cut in again, her voice sharp and malicious. "Your mother would be so disappointed in you."

Elodie's mother?

Elodie jerked back like she'd been slapped.

"That's enough," I said, my voice cutting through the air like a knife.

All three heads snapped towards me, eyes widening in surprise and fear.

"Why don't you both crawl back to whatever hole you came from," I said, my voice dripping with contempt. "You're not worth the dirt on my wife’s shoes."

Buck Teeth's face turned beet red. "How dare you?—"

"I dare," I cut her off, stepping closer. "You insulted my wife. So, get lost before I make you regret it."

Fat One opened her mouth, but nothing came out except a strangled sound of indignation. Both of them scowled, their faces twisted in anger and humiliation.

"Let's go," Buck Teeth finally managed to spit out, grabbing Fat One's arm.

They stomped away, their footsteps echoing down the corridor. I watched them go, feeling a grim satisfaction settle in my chest.

When they were gone, Elodie looked up at me, her eyes wide. "That wasn't very nice," she pointed out, her voice soft but steady.

I shrugged. "They insulted my wife. I'm not going to be nice."

She blinked, clearly taken aback by my bluntness. For a moment, neither of us said anything. The silence between us was thick with unspoken words and unresolved tension.

Finally, Elodie broke the silence. "Thank you," she said quietly, her eyes dropping to the floor.

I didn't respond right away. Instead, I reached out and gently lifted her chin so she would meet my gaze again. "You're my wife now. No one gets to treat you like that. That reminds me. Call your bitch of a stepmom. Tell her to have dinner ready for us. I want to meet her."

Elodie’s eyes widened, confusion etching lines on her face. "What?"

"You heard me," I replied, my tone leaving no room for argument. "For some strange reason, she and your ugly stepsisters think you should care that you were promised to some asshole before me. I intend to remind them that's not the case. I'll write her a check, and they can all fuck off from your life, just like I promised."

She looked away, her steps slowing as we walked through campus toward the parking lot. The sun was setting, casting long shadows that stretched across the pavement.

"What?" I asked, stopping to face her. "What is it? I told you I'd get you out of it, didn't I?"

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