Teacher with Benefits (18+)

Chapter 8

The next morning, Jacqueline woke up to an empty bed, the messed up sheets a sign of a sudden departure. With a yawn, she reached for her phone, scrolling through her notifications. A message from Faith caught her eye, instantly injecting a jolt of panic into her veins: "Girl... I had to cover for your ass. Your parents were looking for you."

"Shit," Jacqueline muttered under her breath, already dreading the impending conversation with her parents. "I'll deal with it later," she resolved, dragging herself out of bed and toward the bathroom to freshen up.

As she made her way to Nathan's bathroom, Jacqueline took a moment to tidy herself, securing her unruly hair into a loose bun. With her reflection momentarily satisfying, she descended the stairs, her curiosity piqued by the sight of a sleek black Tesla parked in the driveway—quite the departure from Nathan's usual choice of wheels.

Intrigued, she followed the sound of voices coming from the upstairs hallway. Pausing at the top of the stairs, she strained to make out the heated exchange between Nathan and an unfamiliar woman. Jacqueline hesitated, torn between intervening and eavesdropping. Ultimately, her curiosity won out, and she silently crept closer, careful not to alert them to her presence.

Peering around the corner, she saw Nathan pacing back and forth, his brow furrowed in frustration. Beside him stood the mysterious woman, her back turned to Jacqueline. Though their words were muffled, the tension in the air was palpable.

"...I can't keep doing this," Nathan's voice broke through the haze of uncertainty, his frustration evident.

The woman's response was urgent, her tone filled with an unspoken plea.

Moments later, the woman stormed out, slamming the door behind her with a resounding thud, oblivious to Jacqueline's presence.

Heart pounding, Jacqueline descended the stairs, her mind racing with questions. "Um, good morning... who was that?" she ventured, trying to keep her voice steady.

Andrew sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as he finally noticed Jacqueline's presence. "That was my wife," he admitted bluntly, his gaze meeting hers with a mix of resignation and apprehension.

"WHAT?!" Jacqueline's voice cracked, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Nathan scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Come on, don't act stupid, Jacqueline. You know I'm married—I've mentioned it at school, and you've seen it on my Instagram."

Jacqueline sighed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, well... I didn't think you were still married to her if you're out sleeping with other girls."

Nathan approached her, reaching out to hold her arms. "Jackie, does this change things? Are we not allowed to... do this anymore?"

Jackie sighed, planting her forehead into her chest, "You're like a drug, Nathan. I couldn't stop even if it's the right thing to do."

Nathan knelt before her, his gaze intense as he held her hands. "This—us isn't the right thing to do in the first place, but admit it, it's thrilling."

Jacqueline joined him on her knees, her lips meeting his in a delicate kiss before she whispered, "But what about her?"

Nathan whispered against her lips, his voice barely audible, "You're the only one who matters."

Jacqueline pulled back slightly, searching his eyes for answers. "Then what was the argument about? I heard you say you couldn't do this anymore or something." Her voice was tinged with uncertainty, a hint of fear creeping into her heart.

Nathan held Jacqueline's hand, guiding her gently as he led her to sit down, his expression weighted with the gravity of the conversation ahead.

"When Claire and I got married, I was in the midst of school, trying to earn my teaching degree," Nathan began, his voice tinged with a hint of regret. "It wasn't what I wanted at the time. It felt like I was being pushed into it, and I thought maybe things would change once we were married."