LOGINShare
Chapter 37: Cracks Beneath the Surface
Last Updated:
2025-04-28 23:52:47
Related chapters
The Price of A Bet Chapter 38: The Morning After
Vivian woke to the soft touch of fingers trailing down her naked back.For a moment, she was still, eyes closed, soaking up the feeling—the warmth, the gentleness, the safety.For a moment, she permitted herself to believe that this could be forever.But reality was a cold, unwelcome guest.The engagement.Her family.Daniel.Vivian's heart hurt badly.She opened her eyes slowly.Ethan lay on his side next to her, propped up on an elbow, his brown hair mussed, his blue eyes warm and impossibly wide as he looked at her.**"Good morning,"** he murmured, voice rough with sleep and affection.Vivian swallowed the sob in her throat and smiled.**"Morning."**For a few minutes, they just lay there, silent except for the sound of their breathing and the faint rain tapping against the windows.Ethan traced slow circles on her shoulder.**"You’re quiet,"** he said gently.Vivian stared at the ceiling. She could still feel him everywhere—on her skin, in her blood, woven into her bones.She wa
Last Updated : 2025-04-28The Price of A Bet Chapter 39: The Storm We Began
The rain-tossed world outside was gray and shaking, but within Ethan's arms, Vivian was warm for the first time.For a few precious minutes, they just stood there in the doorway, clinging to each other like shipwreck survivors.Breathing each other in.Recalling.Vivian didn't want to move.Didn't want to break the magic.But the real world, as always, was in no mood to wait.Her phone buzzed wildly in her coat pocket. Again. And again.Ethan recoiled, his face darkening.Vivian pulled out her phone.Forty-two missed calls.Texts upon texts piling up like a tidal wave.From her mother. Her father. Daniel.Her chest tightened painfully.She knew what they were saying without even looking.Where are you?What are you doing?Come back now.**You don't have to answer them,**" Ethan breathed, his gaze on her face.Vivian hesitated.The weight of years of obedience was crushing her shoulders.But then she remembered the dead-eyed girl looking back at her in the mirror at the dress fitting.
Last Updated : 2025-04-29The Price of A Bet Chapter 40: Constructing Dreams Out of Ruins
The rain continued unabated.It beat against the hood of Ethan's truck like an angry drummer as they cruised through the tight streets, out of the gold cage of Vivian's past and into a future she and Ethan could barely imagine.Vivian hugged herself, looking out the window.She had no suitcase. No clothes. No clue.Nothing but the clothes on her back, the shattered phone in her pocket, and the boy sitting next to her.But for the first time in her life, she didn't feel trapped by what she lacked.She felt free.Ethan's hand brushed against hers along the bench, hesitant.Vivian intertwined their fingers without hesitation.He smiled, weak, tired smile, and squeezed.They traveled in silence for a great length of time, the only sound the repetitive slap of the windshield wipers and the rush of water underneath the tires.Finally, Ethan cleared his throat.**"There's not much at my place,"** he said. **"But it's dry. And it's ours."**Vivian's throat tightened.**Ours.**As if a promise
Last Updated : 2025-04-29The Price of A Bet Chapter 1: New Obsession
Ethan Carter leaned back in his seat, arms folded behind his head, a smug smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. The usual monotony of senior year had just been shattered the moment she walked in.Ms. Vivian Hayes.She wasn’t like the other teachers—dull, uninspiring, predictable. No, she was something else entirely. She carried herself with a quiet confidence, her deep brown eyes scanning the room with authority. Her fitted blouse accentuated every curve, her pencil skirt hugging her hips in a way that made Ethan’s mind drift to places it shouldn’t.He exhaled slowly, watching her every movement as she placed her books on the desk. Her auburn hair cascaded over one shoulder, catching the sunlight streaming through the window, making her look almost ethereal. A slow, predatory grin spread across his face.“Well, well,” he murmured under his breath. “Looks like Lit class just got interesting.”His best friend, Jason, nudged him. “Dude, are you seeing what I’m seeing?”Ethan chuckled,
Last Updated : 2025-03-17The Price of A Bet Chapter 2: The Bet
Ethan Carter slumped lazily against the worn leather booth in the back of King’s Diner, the usual Friday night hangout spot for him and his friends. The place smelled like greasy burgers and burnt coffee, but Ethan barely noticed. His mind was still reeling from his first encounter with Ms. Hayes. The woman was something else—elegant, composed, and completely immune to his charm.For now.“You’re unusually quiet, Carter,” Jason smirked, tossing a crumpled napkin at him. “What, the new teacher got you all hot and bothered?”Ethan scoffed, grabbing his soda and taking a slow sip. “She’s just a challenge,” he admitted, voice laced with confidence. “And you know I don’t back down from challenges.”Tyler, the cockiest of the group, leaned in, his dark eyes glinting with mischief. “Oh yeah? Prove it.”Ethan raised a brow. “Prove what?”“Seduce her.”A slow, wicked grin spread across Ethan’s face. “Is that so?”Jason chuckled. “No way in hell you can pull that off, man. She’s a teacher. She’
Last Updated : 2025-03-17The Price of A Bet Chapter 3: The Plan Begins
Ethan Carter was a master at playing games, and now, the stakes had never been higher. As he leaned against his locker that morning, watching Ms. Vivian Hayes stride down the hallway with effortless grace, he knew this was going to be his greatest challenge yet.She was untouchable—or at least, she thought she was.The moment she stepped into her classroom, Ethan pushed off the lockers and followed. He was early, as usual, because waiting for her alone was part of the plan. If he could get her flustered before the classroom filled up, he’d already be ahead.Ms. Hayes barely spared him a glance as she set down her bag. “You’re early again, Mr. Carter.”Ethan smirked, sliding into the desk closest to hers. “Maybe I just enjoy your company.”She didn’t look up. “And maybe I’m not interested in your games.”“Who said anything about games?” His voice dropped slightly, taking on a teasing edge. “I just think we have… an interesting dynamic.”She exhaled slowly, finally meeting his gaze. “Yo
Last Updated : 2025-03-17The Price of A Bet Chapter 4: Flirting Games
The air inside Ms. Hayes' classroom was charged with something unspeakable, something neither of them were ready to name. Vivian could feel it the moment Ethan Carter strolled in, his usual cocky smirk in place, his movements slow and deliberate as if he owned the space around him.She hated that her pulse quickened when he entered. Hated the way he looked at her like he was already undressing her in his mind. But what she hated most was the way her body reacted, betraying her completely.“Ethan,” she warned, not even looking up from the stack of graded papers on her desk. “I need to speak with you.”He smirked, tossing his bag onto a nearby desk before sauntering toward her. “That sounds serious.”“It is.” She finally lifted her gaze, leveling him with a stern look. “Your behavior in class is inappropriate.”Ethan placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. “Inappropriate? Ms. Hayes, all I do is ask questions.”She exhaled, leaning back in her chair, fingers threading together. “Yo
Last Updated : 2025-03-17The Price of A Bet Chapter 5: Unexpected Chemistry
The classroom was quiet except for the sound of the rain tapping gently against the windows. Most of the students had left, their chairs pushed back haphazardly, the faint echo of laughter still lingering in the halls.Ethan Carter, however, had stayed behind.Ms. Vivian Hayes sat at her desk, flipping through a well-worn copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray, oblivious—or perhaps pretending to be—to the young man watching her intently from his seat. The moment was thick with unspoken words, an undercurrent of something neither of them wanted to acknowledge.Ethan leaned back, his chair tilting onto two legs as he stretched, his voice smooth as silk. “You know, Ms. Hayes, I never thought I’d actually enjoy a book you assigned.”She arched an elegant brow, not looking up from the pages. “That’s because you haven’t really been reading them, Mr. Carter.”He smirked, letting the chair fall back onto all fours with a soft thud. “Ouch. You wound me.”Finally, she glanced up, her hazel eyes loc
Last Updated : 2025-03-17
Latest chapter
The Price of A Bet Chapter 40: Constructing Dreams Out of Ruins
The rain continued unabated.It beat against the hood of Ethan's truck like an angry drummer as they cruised through the tight streets, out of the gold cage of Vivian's past and into a future she and Ethan could barely imagine.Vivian hugged herself, looking out the window.She had no suitcase. No clothes. No clue.Nothing but the clothes on her back, the shattered phone in her pocket, and the boy sitting next to her.But for the first time in her life, she didn't feel trapped by what she lacked.She felt free.Ethan's hand brushed against hers along the bench, hesitant.Vivian intertwined their fingers without hesitation.He smiled, weak, tired smile, and squeezed.They traveled in silence for a great length of time, the only sound the repetitive slap of the windshield wipers and the rush of water underneath the tires.Finally, Ethan cleared his throat.**"There's not much at my place,"** he said. **"But it's dry. And it's ours."**Vivian's throat tightened.**Ours.**As if a promise
The Price of A Bet Chapter 39: The Storm We Began
The rain-tossed world outside was gray and shaking, but within Ethan's arms, Vivian was warm for the first time.For a few precious minutes, they just stood there in the doorway, clinging to each other like shipwreck survivors.Breathing each other in.Recalling.Vivian didn't want to move.Didn't want to break the magic.But the real world, as always, was in no mood to wait.Her phone buzzed wildly in her coat pocket. Again. And again.Ethan recoiled, his face darkening.Vivian pulled out her phone.Forty-two missed calls.Texts upon texts piling up like a tidal wave.From her mother. Her father. Daniel.Her chest tightened painfully.She knew what they were saying without even looking.Where are you?What are you doing?Come back now.**You don't have to answer them,**" Ethan breathed, his gaze on her face.Vivian hesitated.The weight of years of obedience was crushing her shoulders.But then she remembered the dead-eyed girl looking back at her in the mirror at the dress fitting.
The Price of A Bet Chapter 38: The Morning After
Vivian woke to the soft touch of fingers trailing down her naked back.For a moment, she was still, eyes closed, soaking up the feeling—the warmth, the gentleness, the safety.For a moment, she permitted herself to believe that this could be forever.But reality was a cold, unwelcome guest.The engagement.Her family.Daniel.Vivian's heart hurt badly.She opened her eyes slowly.Ethan lay on his side next to her, propped up on an elbow, his brown hair mussed, his blue eyes warm and impossibly wide as he looked at her.**"Good morning,"** he murmured, voice rough with sleep and affection.Vivian swallowed the sob in her throat and smiled.**"Morning."**For a few minutes, they just lay there, silent except for the sound of their breathing and the faint rain tapping against the windows.Ethan traced slow circles on her shoulder.**"You’re quiet,"** he said gently.Vivian stared at the ceiling. She could still feel him everywhere—on her skin, in her blood, woven into her bones.She wa
The Price of A Bet Chapter 37: Cracks Beneath the Surface
The days following Vivian's public commitment to Daniel Ashford were like navigating through heavy, sticky fog.Ethan had trouble faking indifference. He teased his friends. He flirted with women. He played the part of the charming, unattainable Ethan Carter.But inside, something was leaking, raw and ugly.Every time he looked at Vivian—her thin hand on Daniel's arm, that civility stretched so tight across her face—something inside him cracked a little more.And Vivian?She felt every inch of that space, too.She sat at the back of her classes these days, mute, mechanical.Her laughter was gone. Her smiles artificial.The fire that had once blazed between them was reduced to furtive glances, agonized silences, and heavy stares that said everything and nothing simultaneously.---Late one afternoon, when the spring rain lashed against the windows and most of the students had long since deserted the halls, Ethan found her.Vivian was sitting in the library, books spread out in front of
The Price of A Bet Chapter 36: Confessions in the Dark
The darkness was heavy with a suffocating tension as Ethan sat on the steps of the faded bleachers at the rear of the school gym. The field was painted in hues of gold by the sunset, and the gentle thrum of the cicadas vibrated in the night. His elbows on his knees, he drew a hand through his rumpled hair, gone into his mind. His universe had tilted, and for the first time, he had no idea how to get his balance back.Vivian.Her very name sent a searing pain through his chest. All that time with her had blurred the lines between the game he'd started and the feelings he couldn't deny any longer. The bet had been stupid, childish, and callous. And now? Now it was like a knife twisting in his guts whenever he even considered it."You're here," came a soft voice from behind him.Ethan stiffened, then turned. Vivian stood a few feet away, her arms wrapped across her chest, her expression wary but her eyes spilling over with emotion. The fading light made her seem almost ethereal, her dark
The Price of A Bet Chapter 35: Desperate Measures
Ethan's fingers drummed anxiously on the steering wheel as he sat outside Vivian's house, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. He had watched her enter, seen the tense exchange through the large living room window, and now, he could feel the weight of something slipping away—something he wasn’t willing to lose.His phone buzzed. A message from Ethan's friend.Did you do it? Got proof?Ethan scowled and shoved the phone aside. None of that mattered anymore. This wasn’t about a bet. It hadn’t been for a long time. He had fallen for her, hard, and now she was being ripped away from him.His grip tightened around the wheel. He needed to see her. Needed to talk to her. Needed to do something before it was too late.Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the car door and stepped onto the damp pavement. The night air was cool, and a slight breeze carried the scent of rain from earlier. He moved toward the side of the house, search
The Price of A Bet Chapter 34: Confrontation
Vivian’s hands trembled as she gripped the steering wheel, her father’s voice still echoing in her ears. She knew she had to face him, but she wasn’t ready for what awaited her at home. Every step toward the front door felt heavier, her heart pounding in her chest. The moment she stepped inside, the weight of the atmosphere crushed her.Daniel Whitmore was already waiting in the living room, his arms crossed, his face set in an unreadable expression. Their father sat nearby, his expression one of disappointment and quiet fury. The room felt colder than usual, and Vivian instinctively knew this wouldn’t be just another lecture."Where were you?" Daniel demanded, his voice sharp as a knife, slicing through the tense silence.Vivian hesitated, forcing herself to remain calm. "I told you. I was with a friend."Daniel’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. "Don’t lie to me. I know exactly where you were. Do you have any idea what you’ve done?"
The Price of A Bet Chapter 33: The Consequences of Passion
Ethan lay beside Vivian, their bodies still tangled beneath the sheets, the heat of their passion lingering in the air. He traced slow circles on her bare shoulder, his fingers reverent as if memorizing every inch of her. Vivian sighed, her head resting on his chest, her heartbeat gradually slowing from the intensity of their night together. "This is crazy," she murmured, her voice laced with contentment and dread all at once. "We shouldn’t have done this." Ethan shifted, lifting her chin with his fingers so she would meet his gaze. "But we did. And I don’t regret a damn thing." She searched his eyes, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to believe in the illusion that this could be more than just a mistake. That this could be something real. Then the sound of a car door slamming outside shattered the illusion. Vivian's body tensed instantly. "No..." She bolted upright, dragging the sheets over her chest as she listened. Ethan sat up too, brows furrowed. "What is it?" F
The Price of A Bet Chapter 32: Waking Up in His Arms
Vivian stirred as the first rays of dawn filtered through the sheer curtains, casting golden streaks across the rumpled bed. The warmth enveloping her wasn’t just from the sun—it was from the solid, sculpted body beside her, the heat radiating from Ethan’s bare skin pressing against her own. A deep inhale filled her lungs with the lingering scent of him, an intoxicating blend of his cologne and the musk of last night’s passion. Her body still thrummed with the echoes of pleasure, each movement reminding her of the way he had worshiped her with his hands, his lips, his body. She shifted slightly, and immediately, a strong arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. A deep, husky groan rumbled against her neck as Ethan stirred behind her, his lips pressing instinctively against her shoulder. “Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was thick with sleep, yet still laced with that ever-present teasing edge that made her shiver. Vivian felt her breath hitch as his fingers
