Fake Husband, Real Affair

Chapter 7

I snapped, "You gave it to me, so I have every right to do whatever the hell I want with it. That ring belongs to your Everstone family, and we're divorced. I don't want anything to do with it!"

Sean's face tightened. "Fine. If you don't want that one, I'll buy you a new one. A bigger one. Just come home with me, please?"

The security guards kept a firm hold on him as he desperately reached out for my hand.

Suddenly, a shrill voice cut through the night.

"Sean! Are you insane? That's your mother's ring!"

Mischa stormed toward us, her heels clicking hard against the pavement, her face twisted in fury.

"I saw someone sneaking around so early and thought it was some other tramp trying to steal my man. But look who it is. You again, Krystal. Your mother's dead, and you still haven't learned your place?"

I lost it. My hand flew before I even realized it, smack.

Mischa staggered back, clutching her cheek.

"Mischa," I seethed, "my mother raised you like her own for twenty years. She loved you. And this is how you repay her? You have no shame."

Her eyes blazed. "You dare hit me, you miserable bitch?"

She lunged at me, clawing at my face. Sean stepped in, grabbing her wrist and yanking her back.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he shouted.

Mischa clung to his sleeve, looking betrayed. "Are you taking her side now? Over me?"

"We're done, Mischa."

Her expression froze. "What do you mean done? Did you ever even love me? When I asked you to put that ring on my finger, you said you'd marry me! But then what? You gave it to her instead of me? Was that all just a lie?"

I didn't stick around to hear the rest. I turned and walked straight into my complex, not looking back once. Sean called after me, Mischa screamed, demanding answers, but I was done with both of them.

That night, after a hot shower, I stared at my phone. I scrolled up to the last message from my old professor. It was dated the day I graduated.

[Krystal, are you really giving up grad school?]

[Thank you, Professor, but I've made up my mind. I've met the love of my life,] I had replied.

[Well, good luck. But if you ever change your mind after marriage, your spot is still here,] he'd said.

As I set my phone down, a new message popped up.

[There's a medical conference tomorrow on this year's international developments. You should come.]

He followed up with the address a few seconds later. Something about it felt… off. I couldn't explain it, just a weird gut feeling.

Still, I went.

The next day, I arrived at the venue right on time. My professor spotted me as soon as I walked in.

"Krystal," he greeted me warmly before turning to the man standing beside him. "Let me introduce you, this is your new graduate advisor, Caleb Young. He'll be supervising you this year."

I froze.

The man beside him wore a sharp black suit tailored to perfection. His gaze was intense, almost predatory. He had that don't-get-too-close aura, and yet, it was impossible to look away.

Trying to stay composed, I extended my hand. "Nice to meet you, Professor."

"I'll let you two get acquainted," my advisor said with a smile before walking off.

Suddenly, it was just the two of us.

Caleb didn't say a word. He just stared at me with a gaze so piercing I felt my skin prickle. Needing to break the tension, I grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing server and turned to leave.

But he followed. Silently. Calmly switching out his glass for a fresh one.

Then he said, "I was the one who replied to your message last night."

His lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile. It sent a chill down my spine.

That cryptic message, now it made sense.

I gave a tight, awkward smile. "Oh. Thanks."

And I walked away.

But I finally understood what Ellie meant about Caleb Young. He was impossibly handsome, sure. But it wasn't just his looks. It was his presence. Commanding. Mysterious. Dangerous in that way that made people instinctively keep their distance.

And now, he was my mentor.