Professor doesn't preach

Life goes on

Emma had spent a long, sleepless night convincing herself to move on from the emotional turmoil she’d allowed herself to slip into. The weight of everything—Reed, her feelings, the chaos of it all—crushed her, but she was determined to pull herself back up. She talked herself through the emotions, forcing herself to see reason.

*"Emma, what are you doing? How could you let yourself get sucked into all this? You’re stronger than this. You’re brave. You’re smart. You hated him once, remember? He hasn’t changed. He’s still just a professor, a man like any other. He doesn’t care about you. He’s leaving soon, and so will you after graduation. You only have a year left, focus on your future. Set your career. This is not your life.”*

The more she thought about it, the clearer it became—she needed to focus on herself. No more distractions. No more emotions clouding her judgment.

By morning, she felt resolute. She would move on, bury her feelings for Reed, and return to the Emma she had always been—hardworking, determined, and focused. She got up early, did her usual routine, meditated to clear her mind, and headed to college. She spent the day studying, playing tennis to blow off steam, and pouring herself into hours of study in the library.

Meanwhile, James, Reed’s most trusted bodyguard, continued to keep an eye on her from the shadows, following Reed’s orders to protect her from any potential harm. Unbeknownst to Emma, Reed had assigned James to ensure her safety, knowing full well that danger still lurked, especially with the Russians watching his every move. But Emma only felt a faint sense of someone watching her—nothing threatening, just an odd presence that she couldn’t quite explain.

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As Emma worked to rebuild herself, Reed was deep into his world of power and control. He had uncovered Claire’s involvement in the club incident—how she had manipulated things in the background, attempting to push Emma away and put herself in Reed’s orbit. But Reed was too calculated to react impulsively. He didn’t want to tip his hand too soon. Instead, he arranged a meeting with Claire’s father, Tristan—a man who had once been a bitter rival to Reed’s family but now maintained a fragile truce.

The meeting was casual on the surface, but tension buzzed beneath the veneer of pleasantries. Reed had no intention of directly confronting them about Claire’s actions just yet. But he wanted to remind them, in subtle but undeniable ways, who held the power. His mere presence, his control over the room, served as a silent warning. If Reed wanted revenge, he could take it—and they would never see it coming.

But Reed kept his true intentions hidden for now, waiting for the right moment to act.

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Back at College

As the days passed, rumors spread through the college that Reed had officially left his teaching position. Everyone seemed to accept it—everyone except Emma. She had thrown herself into her studies, blocking out distractions, becoming even more dedicated to her future. Claire, having lost interest in Emma now that Reed was no longer around, stopped interfering in her life.

But Emma couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her. She was aware of a presence, though she couldn’t explain it. She didn’t feel threatened, but the sensation lingered—like someone was always there, just out of sight. Despite this, she pressed on, throwing herself into her placement exams and job interviews. The future was what mattered now.

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Reed, despite the chaos of his mafia dealings, couldn’t stop thinking about Emma. Every day, no matter how busy he became, he made time to check in on her. He had James report back with updates and photographs of Emma’s daily life, tracking her movements from a distance. He even went as far as hacking her social media accounts, not to intrude but to know she was safe, to see her smile in the candid moments she posted.

But Reed kept his distance, never letting Emma know he was watching. The Russian mafia was a constant threat, and the last thing he wanted was for them to discover her. If Emma became a target, it would destroy him. He had already risked too much by getting close to her, and now, keeping her in the dark was the only way to keep her safe.

Still, every night, as Reed stood in his office or lay awake in bed, he thought about Emma. He wanted to see her, to talk to her, but he couldn't. Not now. His world was too dangerous for her to be a part of.

But no matter how hard he tried to stay away, Reed knew one thing for sure—Emma was becoming his weakness, and in his line of work, a weakness could be fatal.

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