Hidden Flame

Chapter 36: Consequences

The news hit like a thunderstorm, sudden and overwhelming. It spread through the university like wildfire—whispers in hallways, murmurs in classrooms, and concerned glances exchanged in the faculty lounge. Within days, the secret that had been carefully guarded by August and River was exposed, and the repercussions were swift and unforgiving.

River’s world collapsed in an instant. One moment, she was a respected academic, admired by her peers and students alike. The next, she was summoned to the Dean’s office, the air thick with tension and disapproval.

The meeting was brief and merciless. River sat across from the Dean, her heart pounding as the accusations were laid out before her. The evidence was damning—a series of rumors, confirmed by witnesses who had seen the kiss at the gala. River’s protests, her attempts to explain the situation, fell on deaf ears.

“River, this is a serious breach of ethics,” the Dean said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Your relationship with a student, regardless of the circumstances, is a violation of the university’s code of conduct. We have no choice but to terminate your employment, effective immediately.”

The words hit River like a physical blow. She had known this was a possibility, had feared it ever since that night at the gala, but hearing it spoken aloud was something else entirely. Her career, her reputation—everything she had worked so hard to build—was gone in an instant.

“Please,” River tried to plead, her voice cracking under the weight of her desperation. “This was a mistake. I never meant for this to happen. Can’t we find another way to handle this?”

The Dean’s expression softened slightly, but his resolve remained firm. “I’m sorry, River. But the university cannot tolerate this kind of behavior. We have to uphold our standards, for the sake of our students and our institution.”

River felt the tears welling up, but she forced herself to remain composed. “What about August? What’s going to happen to her?”

The Dean hesitated, then sighed. “August will be allowed to continue her studies, though she’ll be under close supervision. We’re aware that she’s been struggling academically, and we’ll be providing her with the support she needs. But as for your role here… it’s over, River.”

The finality of those words crushed River. She nodded numbly, knowing there was nothing more she could say. The meeting ended with the Dean’s condolences and a curt dismissal, and River was left to gather her things and leave the campus she had once called home.

As she walked through the familiar halls for the last time, River’s mind raced with a mix of emotions—anger, regret, sadness, and an overwhelming sense of loss. She had known the risks, had tried to protect herself and August from this very outcome, but in the end, it hadn’t been enough.

Word of River’s dismissal spread quickly, and by the time she reached the parking lot, she could feel the stares of students and faculty alike. She kept her head down, trying to ignore the whispers that followed her as she made her way to her car. But the weight of their judgment was impossible to escape.

Once she was inside her car, River finally allowed herself to break down. The tears came in a torrent, years of pent-up emotions and recent heartbreak pouring out of her in sobs that wracked her entire body. She had lost everything—her career, her reputation, and any chance of being with the woman she had come to care for more deeply than she had ever anticipated.

And yet, in the midst of her despair, there was a single thought that kept circling in her mind, refusing to be silenced: August.

She had to see her, had to talk to her, had to make sure she was okay. River didn’t know what she could possibly say or do to make things better, but she couldn’t leave things like this. Not after everything that had happened.

With a shaky breath, River wiped her tears and started the car. She knew where August would be—knew that despite everything, she couldn’t leave without one final conversation. One final chance to make things right, or at least to say goodbye.

River drove to August’s apartment, her heart pounding the entire way. She didn’t know what she would say, or how August would react, but she knew that she had to try. As she pulled up in front of the building, she hesitated for a moment, gathering her strength before stepping out of the car.

The walk to August’s door felt like a lifetime. Each step was heavy, burdened with the weight of what had happened and what was about to unfold. When River finally reached the door, she hesitated for a moment, her hand trembling as she raised it to knock.

Before she could, the door swung open, and there was August, standing in the doorway. Her eyes were red, her face pale—she had been crying too.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They just stood there, staring at each other, the silence thick with unspoken words and raw emotion.

Finally, it was River who broke the silence. “August… I’m so sorry.”

August’s lower lip trembled, and she stepped forward, throwing her arms around River in a desperate embrace. River held her close, feeling the tremors in August’s body as she sobbed into her shoulder.

“It’s all my fault,” August choked out, her voice muffled against River’s shirt. “If I hadn’t—”

“Shh,” River whispered, stroking August’s hair in an attempt to comfort her. “It’s not your fault. It’s not anyone’s fault. We both made choices, and now we’re dealing with the consequences. But it’s going to be okay.”

August pulled back slightly, looking up at River with tear-filled eyes. “How can it be okay? You’ve lost everything because of me. Your job, your career… I’ve ruined everything.”

River shook her head, wiping away one of August’s tears with her thumb. “You haven’t ruined anything. We’re both just… caught up in something we didn’t expect. But we’ll get through this. Together.”

August’s gaze softened, but there was still a deep sadness in her eyes. “But what are we going to do now?”

River sighed, feeling the weight of the question pressing down on her. “I don’t know. But we’ll figure it out. We always do.”

They stood there for a long moment, holding each other, trying to draw strength from the connection that had brought them to this point. The future was uncertain, and the path ahead was anything but clear. But in that moment, they both knew that they weren’t alone.

And that, for now, was enough.