Page 122 of Teacher's Pet

"You'd never get the chance," I snap. “If I ever find out you’ve touched her, or anyone else on this campus again, I will end you. I don’t give a fuck who your family is or why you took this job.” I lean in, voice dropping to something lethal. “Unlike you, I love Ana.”

His muscles go rigid.

“You’re lucky you’re not leaving this damn classroom with a broken nose.”

I expect him to fire back, to throw some half-assed excuse in my face. But instead, he just stares at me.

Expression unreadable.

Then, so quiet it almost doesn’t register, he mutters, “You don’t know the first thing about me.” His voice is cold, flat. “You have no idea what Ana means to me.”

“If she ever meant anything to you, you’ll never fucking speak to her again outside of class.” I scoff.

His brows knit, but I don’t let him interrupt.

“I’m giving you one chance to break this off and keep your job,” I continue, voice steady, unwavering. “Mercy is the last thing you deserve, Noah.” His name leaves my lips like a curse.

His eye twitches.

“But the last thing I need is for her to have a breakdown because of your absence. So, you end this, and I will pick up the pieces. I will take care of her.”

I shove him back with a hand to his chest.

“You will do your fucking job.”

He doesn’t move. Doesn’t react.

Just watches me, unreadable, calculating.

Then, at last, a crack in the armor.

“You truly think Ana is suffering?” His voice is different now, thick with something unnameable.

The look in his eyes makes my stomach turn. For a moment, I almost second-guess myself.

But no.

This isn’t real.

This is manipulation.

The same kind of manipulation he used on Ana.

He does not care.

This is all a game to him.

“She’s drowning,” I say, my voice softer now, but no less cutting. “The question is, are you going to stop dragging her under?”

His jaw tenses. The air between us turns suffocating.

Then-

“Mr. Ackerman?”

The voice shatters the moment.

We both turn in unison.

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