Chapter 875 Audrey's Knot
Late at night, under a bright moon that scattered silver fragments of light, the courtyard was silent except for the occasional chirping of insects. Audrey paced under the dim streetlamp, sometimes whispering softly, sometimes showing a sweet smile, like a girl in the throes of first love.
Meanwhile, in a small town miles away, Kevin sat on his bedroom balcony, looking southward, passionately expressing his longing to his cousin over the phone. Time seemed to stand still. Perhaps twenty years later, he would still remember this unforgettable night. Compared to mere physical pleasure, these tender, lingering whispers of lovers were the most heartwarming.
Kevin shared stories from his childhood with Audrey. He talked about climbing trees to catch cicadas, tearing his pants, and getting spanked by his mother with a broom. He recounted fishing at a nearby pond at noon, almost drowning when he slipped in. He spoke of sleeping in class and falling, desk and all, to the floor, causing the whole class to burst into laughter. He even told how he secretly deflated his teacher's bicycle tires after being scolded in class.
Audrey listened, laughing uncontrollably, her body shaking, her ample breasts heaving. Unfortunately, no one could witness this alluring scene.
"Kevin, I didn't know you were so mischievous," Audrey said, tears of laughter streaming down her face. In her impression, Kevin had always been a smart but not very serious boy. She hadn't expected him to have such a wild past. "If we had gone to school together, I wouldn't have paid any attention to a boy like you."
Audrey had been a model student, excelling academically and never associating with unruly boys. She only interacted with boys for study purposes, much like Laura. However, unlike Laura, Audrey didn't have a principal father, so she was often ostracized at school. Her aloof and proud demeanor had gradually formed due to this exclusion.
"Alright, it's late. Time to rest," Audrey's phone beeped with a low battery warning. She sighed, seeing it was already past midnight. "Kevin, thank you for talking with me for so long. I really enjoyed it."
"Just ten more minutes, sis. I'm not sleepy at all," Kevin pleaded, reluctant to end the call. They hadn't had such an open, unrestrained conversation in a long time. He cherished this feeling, content just to chat with Audrey, even if they couldn't be physically intimate.
"No, you're still growing. Staying up late isn't good for you. Go to sleep now," Audrey insisted. "Or I won't call you anymore."
"Alright, sis. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Audrey hung up but didn't return immediately. She continued pacing under the streetlamp. Though the conversation had lifted her spirits, it didn't solve her current dilemma.
The issues between her and Lucas had reached an unavoidable point. Whether to stay in Starhaven or return home was a deadlock. They had argued about it countless times over the past six months, never ending well unless one completely gave in.
She didn't trust Lucas's promise to return home in a year. If he didn't, what could she do?
At twenty-six, she couldn't waste year after year, becoming a laughingstock. For the first time, Audrey considered divorce. Given her qualities, finding a good man back home wouldn't be hard. Her colleague Ethan had always liked her.
Ethan, a humble and low-key teacher, cared for her quietly without expecting anything in return, making her feel guilty. Marrying him wouldn't bring wealth, but it would be a stable life.
Moreover, a prominent figure like Angus was interested in her. Though he hadn't said it outright, his attentiveness to a teacher he had met once spoke volumes. If Audrey agreed, she could soon become a director's wife, envied by many.
If she were as open-minded as Vanessa, she could divorce and remain single, becoming Oliver's mistress and living a carefree life.
Kevin wasn't even in her consideration. Audrey, a twenty-six-year-old woman, felt more like a teacher and a caring cousin to Kevin, without much romantic feeling. Their previous physical encounters were more due to Kevin's cunning and persistence than genuine affection.
Audrey never saw Kevin as an equal partner in an affair, let alone someone to entrust her future happiness to. That would be too naive and ridiculous.
Kevin's advances were more a result of his clever use of his status as Audrey's cousin, wearing her down bit by bit, breaking through her defenses.
Even so, he hadn't truly conquered Audrey's heart and body. Audrey always viewed Kevin from a superior, mentor-like perspective, trying to guide him back on track out of responsibility to Bethany. Any other boy wouldn't have had the chance to get close to her.
Sean, the English class representative, interacted with Audrey more frequently than Kevin, yet had no personal connection with her. Situations like Alissa tutoring Kevin alone after school would never happen with Audrey.
Since her husband left, Audrey had been very cautious, keeping a distance from any approaching men. Despite this, she had narrowly escaped Oliver and Quentin's advances and had faced terrifying incidents like the midnight molester and gang kidnapping. Over the past six months, few men had visited Audrey's home, and only Kevin had stayed overnight.
People often misjudged Audrey's alluring appearance and seductive figure, thinking she was easy to seduce. Only those who tried knew she was a resilient woman. Any other woman, enduring half a year of loneliness, might have succumbed to physical temptation long ago.
Kevin, as Audrey's cousin, filled the emotional and physical void left by her husband's departure, albeit temporarily and incompletely, never truly threatening Lucas's place.
From beginning to end, Audrey saw Kevin as a child, indulging his antics out of cousinly affection and a sense of responsibility. She tolerated his inappropriate actions, which she would never have allowed from any other boy, who would have faced severe punishment.
Kevin's path to winning Audrey was unique and full of coincidences. Without any of these elements, their relationship would have remained a close sibling bond, never escalating to hugs, kisses, caresses, or even bathing together. Their relationship spiraled out of control only after physical contact became intimate.
Alissa played a catalytic role. Knowing about Alissa and Kevin's affair gave Audrey a psychological excuse for her own actions, leading her to gradually compromise. From holding hands and hugging to kissing, fondling breasts and genitals, and eventually helping Kevin with masturbation and other intimate acts, Audrey's body was almost entirely conquered by the young man.
Once Pandora's box was opened, it couldn't be closed. Audrey never imagined her carefully guarded purity would be ruined by a teenager.
But it wasn't too late to stop. They hadn't gone all the way yet. Audrey's trip to Starhaven was partly to negotiate with her husband and partly to avoid Kevin, hoping to reset their distorted relationship.
She had almost succeeded. She had refrained from contacting Kevin for a while, and if she persisted, Kevin might give up, restoring their teacher-student relationship.
But constant conflicts with her husband led Audrey to vent her frustrations to Kevin, undoing her efforts. Shaking her head, Audrey resigned herself to her fate, wondering why she had to meet Kevin if she was destined for turmoil.
As the night deepened and the temperature dropped, a breeze chilled her, and she shivered, hurrying back to her room. Seeing her husband's sleeping face, memories of their time together flooded back, feeling like yesterday.
In just three years, how had things between her and Lucas come to this? Had she misjudged him from the start, or had he moved too fast for her to keep up?
Suddenly, Lucas stirred, mumbling in his sleep, "Honey, don't be mad. I'm sorry."
Hearing his sleep talk, Audrey bit her lip, bent down, and caressed his face. She had once deeply loved this man, and he had given her many happy memories. Their life together had just begun; it couldn't end so quickly.
No, it wouldn't. As long as they truly loved each other, they could overcome these challenges.
The next morning, Audrey woke to find Lucas had bought breakfast. He grinned, "Honey, look, your favorite fruit cheese. It's still warm. Eat it while it's hot."
"Where did you get this?" Audrey, surprised, sat up and saw the steaming fruit cheese. "I thought this wasn't available around here."
Most places in Starhaven sold sweet tofu pudding, which Audrey disliked. She didn't know where her husband had found this.
"I searched several streets and found it. It's a new place opened by someone from the north," Lucas said, sweating. "Try it. It's very authentic. I remember you can't handle spicy food, so I didn't add any chili."
Audrey took a bite of the fruit cheese, finding it tasted just like she remembered. Looking at her husband's cautious expression, she felt a pang of sorrow. Lucas had tried hard after graduation, just with bad luck. Now that his career was improving, she felt she was holding him back.
"Lucas, I've thought it through. You belong in the big city," Audrey said softly. "I shouldn't ask you to return home. But I don't want to give up my job there either. How about this: give me two more years. I'll finish teaching this batch of students, then I'll come to Starhaven to be with you."
"Really? That's great, honey." Lucas, overjoyed, looked at Audrey in disbelief. Seeing her nod seriously, he couldn't contain his excitement and hugged her tightly, giving her a big kiss.
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