Chapter 1347
With Oliver's departure, Audrey finally exhaled, a wave of relief washing over her. She hadn't expected him to simply leave. He certainly possessed a certain charisma, a stark contrast to the sleazy Quentin. If she weren't already married… the thought trailed off, unspoken.
After a few minutes, the numbness in her buttocks began to recede, replaced by a dull ache. She gingerly made her way to the bedroom and retrieved her nightgown, peeling off her damp clothes and slipping into the soft cotton. Twisting, she examined her backside in the mirror. A few angry red scrapes marked the spot where she'd fallen. It had been a nasty tumble. Thankfully, nothing felt broken. Another sick day would have been a disaster.
She tossed the wet clothes into the bathroom hamper, intending to wash them in the morning. Glancing at the clock, she noticed it was past ten. Odd. Kevin usually came home much earlier. She was about to call him when the front door opened, revealing Kevin, covered head to toe in mud and water, looking like he'd crawled out of a ditch.
"Kevin! What in the world happened to you?" Audrey rushed towards him, her voice laced with concern. "Were you caught in the storm? Go change, quickly!"
Kevin looked at her, the worry etched on her face, and a flicker of guilt twisted in his gut. Maybe he'd been too quick to jump to conclusions. It had been a downpour, and Oliver had given her a ride. He opened his mouth to speak, then stopped, catching a whiff of cigarette smoke, his eyes falling on a discarded butt near the sofa. Oliver had been here.
A wave of anger washed over him, hot and suffocating. Audrey had almost been tricked by Oliver before. She knew he had ulterior motives, even if they weren't as blatant as Quentin's. And yet, she'd let him into their home. He had to know what had happened.
"Audrey," his voice was tight, strained. "Did Oliver drive you home just now?"
"Yes, he did. I told him I didn't need a ride, but he insisted. He's the principal, I… I couldn't really refuse," Audrey explained quickly, sensing his displeasure. "Where did you see us? I didn't see you."
Her response, to Kevin, sounded like a confession. Confirmation of his worst fears. "You were too busy canoodling with him to notice me," he sneered.
"Canoodling? Seriously, Kevin? What is going on with you tonight?" Audrey frowned, taking in his pale face, his blue lips. "Just… go change your clothes and take a hot shower. We'll talk later."
Kevin didn't reply. He turned and headed straight for the bathroom, stripping off his muddy clothes and stepping under the spray. The hot water did little to thaw the icy knot in his stomach. His mind conjured up a series of graphic images: Oliver's hands on Audrey, his body pressed against hers, the two of them entangled on the sofa. The thought was unbearable.
He slammed his fist against the tiled wall, again and again, until his knuckles were raw and swollen. If Audrey had slept with Oliver… he didn't know what he would do. Could he stand by and watch her fall into that man's arms?
Eventually, the rage subsided, replaced by a gnawing anxiety. He had to hear her side of the story. He refused to believe she would actually betray him. If she were like Vanessa, she wouldn't have waited this long.
He dried himself off and walked back into the living room to find Audrey sitting on the couch, a lost, almost mournful expression on her face. His heart ached. If he could take back his words, he would. He knew he'd hurt her.
Hearing his approach, Audrey looked up, her eyes pleading. "Kevin, listen to me. There's nothing going on between me and Oliver. I fell, I hurt my hip, and he helped me inside. That's it. He left right after."
"Really?" He wanted to believe her, but the image of Oliver leaving the school, Audrey beside him, laughing… it kept playing in his mind. How could Oliver walk away from such an opportunity?
Audrey bristled at his skepticism. She'd done nothing wrong, and yet, he still didn't trust her. She stood up, her voice calm but firm. "If you don't believe me, then there's nothing more to say. I'm tired. I'm going to bed." She turned and walked into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Kevin watched her go, his mouth opening and closing, words failing him. If he'd just trusted her, if he hadn't accused her… He knew he'd pushed her away, deepened the rift between them.
He walked to the guest room, the weight of his mistakes pressing down on him. He lay down, fully clothed, his mind a whirlwind of faces – Daisy, Laura, Audrey, Oliver – their expressions twisting into mocking, accusatory sneers. Sleep finally came, but it was restless and unsatisfying.
He woke the next morning to find it was almost eight. He scrambled out of bed and hurried to the living room, only to find Audrey gone, a note on the table explaining she had to leave early for school.
He smiled bitterly. She was still angry. He quickly washed up and rushed to school, arriving just as Laura and Lucy were entering the gates. He started to call out to Laura, but Lucy shot him a venomous glare and pulled Laura away, her grip tight. He didn't need to ask. Laura had told Lucy everything.
He sighed, regret gnawing at him. He'd been a fool. He had a beautiful, caring cousin who loved him, and he'd risked it all for a few moments of reckless pleasure.
The next week was torture. Laura was polite, but distant, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a cool formality. Any misstep in class was immediately reported to Audrey, who, in turn, publicly reprimanded him during class meetings, his position as class president hanging precariously in the balance.
Ivan and his cronies, sensing his vulnerability, delighted in his downfall, their taunts and jeers a constant reminder of his humiliation. He was too demoralized to fight back. At home, he tried to talk to Audrey, to apologize, but she would shower and go straight to bed, ignoring his texts, his pleas. The silence between them grew, a chasm that seemed impossible to bridge.
He threw himself into his studies, hoping that good grades might somehow redeem him in her eyes. He took on the role of head of publicity for the student council, which led to an unwelcome encounter with Samuel's sister, Yara. She was constantly at his side, showering him with attention, asking for help with her basketball skills. Exasperated, he complained to Fiona, asking her to transfer Yara, but Fiona just laughed, teasing him about his inability to handle the girl's advances.
Alissa, noticing the growing distance between him and Audrey, offered to mediate, but Audrey refused, saying she needed to see a change in his behavior. Alissa, preoccupied with her own grant applications, had little energy to spare.
One bright spot was his burgeoning friendship with August. August was a natural on the basketball court, his three-point shots a thing of beauty. After school, Kevin often joined August and Albert for a game. Albert, hesitant, asked Kevin what was going on with Laura, explaining that even Lucy was badmouthing him, warning Albert to stay away. He didn't know what to do.
Kevin just smiled sadly. How could he explain? He couldn't exactly tell Albert he'd been performing oral sex on Laura's mother and had been kicked out of their house.
One afternoon, Audrey was prepping for her next class when Alissa walked into the office. "Audrey, Oliver wants to see you."
Audrey's stomach clenched. "Do you… do you know what it's about?" She'd been avoiding him since that night, unsure how to face him.
"I think it's good news," Alissa said, noticing Audrey's apprehension. "Don't worry. He's not going to bite."
With a nervous flutter in her chest, Audrey walked to Oliver's office. He was on the phone, so she sat down on the couch to wait.
After a few minutes, he hung up and turned to her, a smile on his face. "Audrey, I have some good news. The city education bureau has notified us that they'll be recognizing ten outstanding female teachers from the county this New Year. Our school has been allocated one spot, and I've nominated you."
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