CHAPTER 323
Arianna approached the ninth villa, the address Rochelle had managed to secure for her. It was Selby’s private residence, nestled in the quiet luxury of the gated community. Standing before the door, she drew a steadying breath and pressed the doorbell with a resolute hand.
For several moments, there was only silence. Then, faint footsteps echoed from within, growing louder as they neared. The door opened slightly, revealing Selby’s wary face. His brows lifted in surprise when he saw her, clearly caught off guard by her presence.
The moment of surprise was fleeting. His expression hardened, and without uttering a word, he began to close the door.
But Arianna was ready for this. Anticipating his reaction, she quickly pressed her hand against the door, her palm flat against the wood, holding it firmly in place.
Selby’s eyes flicked to her hand as he applied more pressure, attempting to shut it. To his astonishment, the door remained steadfast. It was then that he realized Arianna, though outwardly poised and delicate, possessed a strength he hadn’t expected.
Arianna’s determined expression didn’t waver.
“We need to talk,” she said evenly, her voice calm but unyielding.
He couldn’t help but stare at her, taken aback.
Arianna’s gaze was steady as she spoke plainly, “You owe me an explanation, Professor Cornwell.”
She wasn’t going to let him dismiss her with just an apology after what had transpired.
Selby pressed his lips together, clearly still determined to resist.
"You need to leave!"
Arianna remained calm, her voice unwavering, “I won’t leave until I get an explanation. I’ll wait here until you’re ready to speak.”
Selby didn’t respond at first.
He studied her resolute expression and, knowing she was serious, realized she wasn’t going to back down.
The same determination was something he had admired in her before.
With a resigned sigh, he closed his eyes, then stepped back, releasing the doorknob.
"Alright, we can talk inside," he replied, his voice tight with tension.
Arianna stepped into the house.
He led her into the living room, gesturing toward the sofa with a gentle wave of his hand.
“Please, make yourself at home, Mrs. King. I’ll fetch you some water.”
Arianna nodded slightly before settling onto the sofa, her movements measured and serene. Although she didn’t seem hurried, there was a palpable urgency simmering just beneath her calm facade.
A few minutes later, Selby returned with two glasses of water. He carefully placed one on the coffee table in front of her before taking a seat on the couch across from her. His posture was tense and resigned; his hands were tightly clasped, elbows resting on his knees as he leaned forward slightly. An unspoken weight seemed to hang in the surrounding air.
Arianna’s keen gaze shifted to the table between them. She noticed the ashtray overflowing with crushed cigarette butts, each one a sign of his frayed nerves. The faint scent of smoke lingered in the air, heightening the unease that filled the room.
She picked up her glass of water, sipping it slowly. Her emotions were carefully held in check, leaving only calm and poise.
After a deep breath, Arianna spoke in a steady voice, “Professor Cornwell, the allegations made by the public about you and your former student have come to light. I need to understand what happened.”
Selby had been staring at the ground, but at her question, he looked up in shock, his expression one of confusion.
He studied Arianna for a few moments before asking,
“Mrs. King, why are you asking me about what happened instead of asking if the accusations are true?”
“Do you actually… trust me?” His voice held a trace of disbelief.
Most people, or at least the vast majority, would first ask if the allegations were true, or something similar.
But Arianna was different.
She met his gaze unwaveringly, replying,
“No, I don’t.”
“Then why—”
“I trust the man I love,” Arianna interrupted him before he could finish.
The man she loved was none other than Xander King.
Selby was aware of the complicated history between Xander and Arianna—how he had once left her and severed their relationship, only for them to find their way back to each other. Despite everything, Arianna still believed in him with an unwavering devotion.
Such loyalty was something to be admired.
“What did Mr. King say?” Selby asked softly, almost with a touch of envy.
"He said you were a man of integrity."
Arianna’s words echoed in her mind, the same conviction that had led her to seek a chance to report the truth.
Her own experiences with Xander and the way Selby had conducted himself made her believe in his character, which is why she had chosen to speak on his behalf.
Despite the situation, she still held fast to the belief that Xander would never deceive her, and she was confident she had not misjudged Selby.
Selby’s face softened, his eyes glistening for a moment as he met her gaze.
But that glimmer quickly faded, replaced by a heavy mix of pain, guilt, and internal turmoil.
With a bitter laugh, he spoke, “Mrs. King, I’m afraid you’ve been deceived… The accusations are true.”
His voice trembled with urgency, and before Arianna could respond, he continued, almost choking on his own words.
“I did harass my student,” Selby began, his voice breaking under the weight of his confession.
“I was attracted to her, and I lost control. I’m nothing more than a disgrace—a failure as a man and as an educator. I don’t deserve to call myself a professor.”
His hands curled into tight fists, the strain causing his knuckles to whiten and veins to pulse with tension. He stared down at them as if ashamed of his existence.
“The things they’re saying online…” He paused, his voice heavy with self-loathing.
“They’re all true. People like me… we’re worthless. I’ve failed as a teacher. I’ve failed everyone who put their faith in me. And I’ve failed you.”
His words trembled as they left his lips, his eyes reddened and glossy with unshed tears. He turned his face away, unable to meet Arianna’s steady gaze.
The anguish in his posture was palpable as if he was crumbling under the weight of his guilt.
“I’ll accept whatever consequences come my way,” he said, his voice strained and heavy with regret.
“I… I’m deeply sorry, Mrs. King.”
Arianna sat quietly, her posture composed and deliberate. She let the silence stretch, absorbing his words as her piercing eyes never left him. Finally, she broke the stillness, her voice calm but resolute, cutting through the tension like a blade.
“Why are you lying, Professor Cornwell?”
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