Chapter 1540
Byron sighed and flopped onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. It wasn’t that he desperately needed to have sex with Grace, but their conversations had become increasingly rare. They already had limited time together, and when they got home in the evenings, Grace would be busy helping Andy with his homework until around eleven. Without any intimacy, they might as well be strangers.
'It's my own fault,' he thought. 'If I could satisfy Grace more in bed, maybe Chase wouldn’t have had the chance to swoop in.'
Suddenly, Grace’s phone screen lit up beside him. A message had come through.
Byron’s heart raced. Grace was a gym teacher, not a homeroom teacher, so it was unusual for parents to contact her, especially this late on a weekend. Could it be Chase?
Unable to sit still, he glanced at the bedroom door and hesitated before picking up Grace’s phone. It was locked. He tried Grace’s birthday—no luck. His own birthday—still no luck. Finally, he tried their son Andy’s birthday, and the phone unlocked.
Byron's heart pounded as he looked at the screen. He had previously found a suspicious stain on the bedsheets, but that didn't necessarily prove Grace and Chase had been together—just his suspicion. If this message was from Chase, it might confirm his fears.
[Grace, are you awake?]
Byron took a deep breath and opened the message, only to find it was from Bethany's son, Kevin. Grace had invited Kevin over for dinner, and the conversation was entirely benign. He scrolled through the phone and found no other incriminating messages. There had been a brief call from an unknown number earlier in the afternoon, but it was likely a telemarketer.
Had he been wrong?
A glimmer of hope kindled in Byron's heart. Aside from witnessing Grace hugging Chase in their neighborhood, there had been no other signs of contact between them. Grace's attitude towards him hadn’t changed significantly, except for their dwindling sex life.
Maybe he was mistaken. Maybe the substance on the sheets wasn’t what he thought it was, just something with a similar odor. The more Byron pondered, the more plausible it seemed. Grace was straightforward and bold; if she had rekindled things with Chase, she would have told him rather than dragging it out.
Footsteps sounded from the living room. Byron quickly put the phone back and pretended to be asleep.
Grace walked in, picked up her phone, and saw Kevin's message. She glanced at Byron, who appeared to be asleep, then lay down and replied to Kevin.
[Of course I'm asleep. You're not here, so what else would I be doing?]
Kevin knew Grace was upset. They hadn't been intimate in a while, and since returning from Skyview City, he had been swamped. Juggling Alissa, Audrey, and Daisy, and occasionally sneaking around with Natalie and Kimberly, left him zero time for Grace.
Grace wasn't the type to cling and rarely messaged him, so she must have been really frustrated to ask him over tonight.
[Grace, New Year's is coming up. I'll visit you then,] Kevin replied. New Year's meant a three-day break, and even though he was a junior with a tight schedule, he could spare a day to satisfy Grace's desires.
[Fine, but if you bail on me again, you'll regret it.]
[Goodnight, Grace.] Kevin sent a shivering emoji, then stretched. It was already ten o'clock, and his two-day grounding was finally over, but school resumed tomorrow.
These past two days had been intense. Audrey had made him review the entire semester's coursework, leaving no time for anything else, not even to touch himself.
After the wild threesome on Friday night, the past two days had been a stark contrast, filled with studying and abstinence. Kevin had experienced a return to simplicity.
Honestly, after an intense sex session, his study efficiency skyrocketed. Not every high school boy had Kevin's means of stress relief. Most had to settle for video games, novels, or holding hands with a crush.
Seniors had it even tougher, with their schedules packed to the brim. Weekends were half-days, gym classes were a thing of the past, and homework was relentless. They barely managed five or six hours of sleep a night, a truly grueling existence.
Kevin knew he didn't have the privileged background of Albert, Ivan, or Fiona. They were children of high-ranking officials and could get into good colleges regardless of their grades. Even if they attended a vocational school, they wouldn't have trouble finding good jobs. But Kevin had to rely on his academic performance to change his fate.
So, despite Audrey's strictness, he never complained and diligently studied. He wasn't a natural genius like Laura or August; he had to work hard to bridge the gap. In the societal pyramid, everyone was constantly climbing. Those who didn't climb were left at the bottom, trampled by others.
Kevin left his room, went to the bathroom, and then peeked into Audrey's bedroom.
Audrey was lying in bed, reading Kafka's "The Metamorphosis." She enjoyed allegorical novels and felt a deep connection with Kafka's life. His short, uneventful existence produced a few notable works, but he never fit in with the world around him, filled with inner conflict and loneliness. His writing echoed this pervasive sense of isolation.
Audrey first encountered Kafka's work in college and was captivated by the enigmatic worlds he created. His seemingly absurd stories felt incredibly real, offering a perspective that transcended the mundane reality.
Audrey had tried to emulate Kafka's style in a few short stories, but felt she fell short. She lacked his profound, sharp observational skills, and her attempts seemed hollow. She returned to writing campus romance novels, which were well-received by readers.
But a sense of resignation lingered. She might never become a great writer like Kafka. In Harmony County, she also felt like an outsider. With her husband away, she experienced a constant loneliness, struggling to fit in. Thankfully, she had Alissa, Bethany, and Kevin, who provided warmth and kindness in this unfamiliar place, helping her fend off the hostility.
Her relationship with Kevin, in particular, brought her immense joy. After she and Jason started dating, they quickly graduated and married, leaving Audrey, who craved emotional connection, feeling unfulfilled.
Her initial time with Kevin filled that void, giving her the sweetness of a first love. She cherished the memories of their early days, walking hand-in-hand, before Kevin knew she was his cousin. He saw her as a mentor, admiring and fearing her, which she found endearing.
Of course, his admiration was tinged with desire. Every time they touched, Kevin had a strong physical reaction, showing intense curiosity and longing for her body. Audrey had tried to guide Kevin onto the right path, even using her body as a means to steer him away from temptation.
Looking back, Audrey found it unbelievable. She wasn't a progressive thinker and opposed unethical relationships between teachers and students. Such relationships, like those between doctors and patients or parents and children, were inherently unequal. Teachers held power over their students, and if they had ill intentions, they could easily mislead and harm these impressionable young minds.
Teacher-student romances might sound romantic, but they were fundamentally deceitful, with no real future. Adults knew this well.
During her teaching career, Audrey had received love confessions from male students, but she always shut them down, giving no room for fantasy. Kevin was the exception. Perhaps it was the timing, as he appeared when she needed emotional support the most. Or maybe it was his charm, making him hard to dislike. Or perhaps it was fate. Regardless, what happened, happened.
Audrey sighed, closed her book, and placed it on the nightstand. She noticed a shadow at the door and smiled. After two days of restraint, Kevin couldn't hold back any longer.
"Hey, Kev," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Can't sleep?"
Kevin stepped into the room, looking sheepish. "Yeah, I guess. Just wanted to check on you."
Audrey patted the space next to her on the bed. "Come on, sit with me for a bit."
Kevin hesitated for a moment before joining her. "You know, Audrey, I really appreciate everything you do for me. I know it's not easy."
Audrey smiled warmly. "You're a good kid, Kev. And you're working so hard. I'm proud of you."
Kevin looked down, feeling a swirl of emotions. "Thanks. That means a lot."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, the weight of their unspoken thoughts hanging in the air. Finally, Audrey broke the silence.
"Kevin, I know things have been complicated between us. But I want you to know that I care about you deeply. You're not just a student to me."
Kevin nodded, his heart pounding. "I care about you too, Audrey. More than you know."
Audrey reached out and gently squeezed his hand. "We'll figure this out, Kev. Together."
Kevin squeezed back, feeling a sense of relief and hope. "Yeah, we will."
As they sat there, hand in hand, the complexities of their relationship seemed to fade away, leaving only the simple, undeniable connection between them.
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