SIX. THE COLD PROFESSOR

Shanon opened her eyes slowly and sighed softly, realizing that what happened last night was not just a dream. Anthony and his assholery were a real thing. Shanon hugged the blanket tightly to her chest to cover her nakedness. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she remembered Anthony leaving her after he got what he wanted. The blood stains on her sheets were clear evidence that she had lost her virginity because of Anthony.

Shanon didn't know why she was so hurt and sad. Even though she already knew the consequences she would get when she ran after Anthony, who had almost stepped out of her room and then threw her body at him like a bitch. She begged Anthony to touch her and finish what they started.

Anthony didn't say anything, but he went back to her room and pushed the door closed with the heel of his foot. Anthony stripped his clothes back quickly. This time there was no foreplay or words. Anthony simply pushed her onto the bed and forced her to open her legs. The next thing Shanon remembered was she was screaming so loudly when Anthony managed to penetrate inside her and tear through her only barrier. Anthony did it very quickly and roughly. There was no gentleness at all when Anthony thrust his body a second time. Anthony's body collapsed on top of hers when Anthony had gotten his second release.

They then just separated. No words, no kisses. Anthony left her sprawled in a mess on the bed. His expression was cold as he stepped out of her room. Anthony looked different from the Anthony she saw some time ago while teasing her.

Shanon's heart ached remembering Anthony's treatment of her last night. She was like a bitch who was just thrown away when he was done using her. Even though deep down Shanon knew that it wasn't all Anthony's fault. She had been bought by Anthony. She deserved to be treated like that. She was just a tool to serve Anthony in bed and a tool to obtain an inheritance from his grandfather.

Her crying was interrupted by the sound of the cell phone vibrating on the nightstand. Shanon hurriedly wiped her tears and grabbed her cell phone. She was stunned to find an unknown number had called her five times since last night. She muted her cell phone before dinner because she was worried that her cell phone ringing would disturb dinner with Anthony's grandfather. She forgot to set her ringtone back to normal because she was too busy making love to Anthony.

"Halo?"

Shanon grimaced softly as she failed to make her voice sound more cheerful. Her voice was very hoarse, and it was clear that she had been crying.

“Ms. Shanon Wilson?”

“Yes, it's me. What happened?"

“We are from the central hospital. We are calling to inform you about Ms. Avery. We've been trying to call you since last night, but you didn't answer."

“What happened to Avery? Is she okay? Is she still breathing?”

Shanon's heart sank. Guilt increasingly flooded her heart because she had neglected her sister. She was so busy making love with Anthony that she forgot that Avery was lying in a coma in the hospital.

That wasn't making love. He fucked me last night!

"Luckily, last night, Ms. Avery was saved. Ms. Avery had a seizure and her heartbeat slowed down. The team of doctors tried their best to save her. We called you to confirm several actions that need to be taken with Ms. Avery related to her heart failure.”

“Sorry, I didn't hear my cell phone ringing. I will visit her this afternoon.”

“You don't need to worry, Ms. Avery is pretty stable now. We hope you will quickly complete the medical expenses for Ms. Avery.”

“Umm... I'll do it this afternoon. Please give her the best.”

"Of course. Thank you and sorry for interrupting your time."

“Not at all. I'll pay more attention to my phone after this. Let me know if anything happens to Avery.”

Shanon turned off the phone and clutched her cell phone tightly to her chest. She felt like a bad sister for ignoring Avery. All kinds of bad things danced in her mind. What if Avery didn't survive when she was busy making love to Anthony last night? What if Avery didn't wake up after the attack that happened to her last night?

You're disgusting, Shanon! Her heart screamed, mocking herself. Shanon suddenly felt like she deserved punishment and that she deserved to be dumped by Anthony. She was not worth anything. Shanon kept repeating those words in her heart to punish herself.

"Are you awake?"

Anthony's voice startled Shanon from her thoughts. Her cell phone was thrown onto the bed as she hurriedly pulled the blanket to cover her naked body.

“Why did you suddenly open the door? You should have knocked first.”

"I did it. You didn't respond."

Anthony took a quick look at Shanon's appearance. He stared flatly at her messy bed and the bloodstains that were clearly printed on the white sheets. That was his doing. Anthony had seen it last night before he rolled out of bed and ran off like a jerk.

“You remember your duties this morning, right? I will leave for campus in an hour. You can go with me if you want.”

“Okay. I'll have breakfast ready in fifteen minutes. Please come out and close the door.”

Shanon exhaled softly after Anthony left her alone. She hurriedly put on her clothes and changed her sheets to clean ones. She also washed her face to get rid of the tear marks on her cheeks. She hoped Anthony didn't notice when he suddenly burst into her room. However, Shanon didn't want Anthony to see her pathetic weak side.

Five minutes later, Shanon came out of her room and ran downstairs. She went into Anthony's luxurious kitchen and started taking out ingredients from the refrigerator. She would cook scrambled eggs, sausages and toast for breakfast because she didn't have time to cook anything complicated.

Anthony appeared about fifteen minutes later, smelling fresh, masculine and looking as perfect as ever. Trousers specially designed for him, a dark gray Armani shirt, and a plain black tie.

“Morning.”

“Hi, morning. I made you coffee, but I haven't poured it into a cup because I don't know how you like it.”

“Just black. I don't like sweet things.”

“Okay. I hope you enjoy your breakfast.”

Shanon placed Anthony's breakfast on the table before she darted off to pour coffee into a cup.

Anthony frowned when he saw no other plates besides his own on the table.

"You didn't have breakfast?"

“I'll have breakfast in the cafeteria. I don't want you to be late because you waited for me to get ready."

Anthony nodded slowly. He pulled his plate away and started eating his breakfast quietly. He saw that Shanon was quite skilled at working in the kitchen. The cooking was also not bad. It was quite acceptable for his tongue, which was very picky about food.

When Shanon put the cup of coffee on the table, Anthony suddenly grabbed her wrist and stopped her before she went to her room.

“Use this card to buy all your needs.”

Shanon barely blinked when Anthony placed a shiny black card in her palm. Images of Avery lying in a coma in the hospital danced in her mind. She was flooded with relief because she could pay for Avery's treatment this afternoon with Anthony’s credit card.

“Buy some delicious food and go have fun.”

"Thank You."

“You deserve a reward.”

Shanon withdrew her hand stiffly and gripped the card tightly. Even though she was hurt by Anthony's words, she couldn't deny the fact that she had been bought by Anthony for his personal pleasure. And he did it for Avery. He would use the money Anthony gave her for Avery's medical expenses.

“Shanon...”

Shanon stopped near the connecting door.

“Do you need anything?”      

“No.” Anthony looked at Shanon for two seconds before he said something that sounded very strange to him.

"How are you this morning?"

“Umm... I'm fine. Don't worry."

“Last night I didn't use—”

"Don't worry. I'm on my pill," Shanon hurriedly interrupted him. She didn't want to discuss the matter any further and made their relationship even more awkward.

“Ok, great. If you're not sure, go to a gynecologist.”

"I will be fine. I promise there will be no babies in this marriage.”

Anthony nodded with relief before returning to his breakfast.

Shanon walked away towards her room with pain spreading in her heart. Somehow, she was disappointed to see Anthony so relieved that they wouldn't have a baby in that marriage. Shanon blamed Anthony for being a jerk and being insensitive to her very sensitive feelings.

“But at least, he asked about your condition, Shanon. Be grateful for that!” she muttered harshly to herself.