Diamond Tears | Book 2 of The Champagne Chronicles

T E N - Flavors Of Intimacy

The hallway outside Professor Moreau's office was quiet, the only sound being the faint hum of fluorescent lights overhead. Daphne took a deep breath, clutching her notebook against her chest as she stared at the door in front of her. She had been here countless times before, but today felt different. Today, she was fighting for something more than just her grades—she was fighting against everything her grandfather had been trying to take away from her.

She knocked lightly on the wooden door, and after a moment, a voice called from inside. "Come in."

Pushing the door open, Daphne stepped inside. Professor Moreau sat at his desk, his glasses perched on the tip of his nose as he scrolled through papers on his computer screen. He glanced up briefly, offering a tight-lipped smile.

"Daphne," he said, gesturing for her to sit. "I wasn't expecting to see you today. What brings you here?"

Daphne sat down, her heart pounding in her chest. "I'm here about my last assignment. The portal shows that it wasn't submitted, but I know for sure that I turned it in on time. I wanted to ask if there's anything you can do, or if you could check your records again. I'm worried it was some kind of error."

Professor Moreau leaned back in his chair, folding his hands together. His expression didn't change, but there was something unreadable in his eyes as he regarded her. "I see. I have to admit, this kind of issue isn't typical. Most students can submit their assignments without any trouble."

Daphne's stomach twisted. "I've never had any issues before either. I'm not sure what went wrong, but I'm hoping we can sort it out. I really don't want this to affect my final grade."

There was a pause as the professor continued to stare at her, and then, in a move that caught her off guard, he leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Daphne, is there something else going on here? Something you're not telling me?"

Daphne blinked, thrown by the question. "What do you mean?"

Professor Moreau tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, as if weighing his words. "I don't want to pry, but I know who your family is. And I also know that people like your grandfather have... certain ways of making things difficult for others, especially when they want to teach someone a lesson."

Daphne's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected this. "I... I don't know what you mean."

The professor gave her a knowing look, his expression softening just slightly. "Look, Daphne, I'm not here to judge your family situation. But I've seen it before—powerful families trying to sabotage those who step out of line. If you think your grandfather might have something to do with this, you need to be honest with me. Otherwise, there's not much I can do."

For a moment, all Daphne could do was stare at the professor, her throat tightening as the reality of the situation settled in. She knew her grandfather was capable of pulling strings, of making her life difficult, but hearing it so plainly from someone else felt like a punch to the gut.

She swallowed hard, choosing her words carefully. "I don't have any proof... but I do think he might be involved. I've already had some issues with my tuition payment being reversed. And now this assignment... It doesn't feel like a coincidence."

Professor Moreau nodded, his expression softening further. "I believe you. Unfortunately, without any concrete evidence, my hands are tied when it comes to your grades. However..." He paused, leaning forward, "I can give you an extension. It's not a permanent solution, but it will give you time to resubmit the assignment. That way, at least, your grades won't be affected while you sort this out."

Relief flooded through Daphne, and she felt herself relax just slightly. "Thank you. That would really help."

The professor offered her a small, understanding smile. "You're a good student, Daphne. It would be a shame for outside forces to ruin your future. If you need anything else, feel free to reach out. Just be careful. Your grandfather won't make this easy."