Chapter 66

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———༺✵༻———POV Catherine———༺✵༻———

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———༺✵༻———
POV Catherine
———༺✵༻———

Mathew's presence grates on my nerves the second he steps up beside me, his cologne hitting me like a wall. I barely acknowledge him, keeping my focus on Ella, who's standing across the room with her friends, laughing and looking like a vision. Her dress clings to her in a way that makes it impossible to look away. The soft updo she's wearing tonight, with tendrils framing her face, suits her perfectly. I catch myself staring longer than I should, but I don't care. She's breathtaking, and the way she looked at me earlier—just that one glance—had my pulse racing.

"Evening, Catherine," Mathew's voice drips with a casual familiarity that makes my skin crawl.

"Mathew." I keep my voice cold, distant. There's nothing left to say to him, and I'm certainly not in the mood for small talk. Especially not tonight.

He doesn't take the hint, stepping a little closer. "You look stunning, you know." His tone shifts, like he's trying to be charming again, like nothing has changed between us. But everything has. "I'm surprised you're not the center of attention."

"I don't need to be," I murmur, my gaze fixed on Ella, who's animatedly talking to Jess. She's laughing, her whole face lighting up, and it's impossible not to be drawn to her.

Mathew shifts next to me, finally noticing where my attention lies. "Ah," he says, dragging out the word, "watching your student, I see. Ella, right?"

I feel a flicker of irritation at his tone, but I don't let it show. He's fishing for something, always angling for a reaction. He doesn't deserve one.

"She's quite the sight tonight," he adds, voice dripping with false admiration. "Though she's been rather... occupied. Saw her dancing with another girl earlier. Pretty blonde thing, from what I could tell. Looked like they were quite... cozy."

His words hit me like a slap, but I don't react. Not outwardly, anyway. I've learned over the years how to steel myself, how to keep the cracks from showing. But internally, my jaw clenches. He knows exactly what he's doing, trying to plant seeds of doubt, trying to get under my skin.

"I'm not really interested in her social life," I lie smoothly, keeping my tone even. "And it's none of your business."

Mathew lets out a low chuckle, and I can feel him watching me, waiting for a reaction. "Oh, I don't know, Catherine. I'd think you'd want to know if your little plaything is getting... distracted." He leans in closer, voice lowering. "Looked to me like she was all over that other girl. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Maybe she's not as loyal as you think."

I can feel the anger simmering beneath the surface, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction. I keep my eyes on Ella, on the way her lips move as she speaks, how effortlessly she interacts with her friends. She's not thinking about anyone else. I know that. I know her.

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