All Chapters of The Price of A Bet: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

 Vivian paced her bedroom, gripping her phone so tightly her knuckles turned white. She shouldn’t have called Ethan last night. She shouldn’t have allowed herself to hear the raw pain in his voice, the desperation laced between his words. But she had. And now, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.Her body ached with the weight of guilt, but underneath it, something darker simmered—an unshakable craving, a longing she didn’t dare name.The next morning, she walked into the classroom, determined to keep things professional, to maintain the boundaries she had already shattered too many times. But when she saw Ethan sitting in the back, his eyes darker than usual, something inside her cracked.He didn’t smirk. He didn’t flirt. He just watched her.And that was so much worse.The Tension BuildsThe day passed in a blur of lectures and half-hearted distraction

Vivian sat on the edge of Ethan’s couch, her hands resting on her lap, clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. The air in the apartment was thick with tension, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on both of them.Ethan stood a few feet away, watching her carefully, his jaw tight. He had expected her to run after what happened last night, to send him a message saying they had crossed a line and it would never happen again. But she was here. And that meant something.“Why did you come?” Ethan asked, his voice low and controlled, though his heart pounded against his ribs.Vivian inhaled deeply, struggling to find an answer that made sense. She had tried to fight this attraction, tried to remind herself that she was the teacher, and he was the student. But with every encounter, every glance, every moment where his fingertips brushed against her skin, she felt herself unraveling.“I don’t know,” she finally admitted, looking up at him. “I just... I can’t stop thinking about y

Vivian sat in her office, her hands clenched around the edge of her desk. The events of last night played in a relentless loop in her mind—the warmth of Ethan’s hands on her skin, the way his voice had dripped with longing, the way she had crumbled under his touch. She had left his apartment thinking it was the right decision, the logical decision. But then why did she feel so hollow?A knock at the door startled her. She took a deep breath, steeling herself before answering. "Come in."The door opened, and for a brief moment, she thought it would be Ethan. But instead, her colleague, Claire, peeked in with a soft smile. "Hey, you okay? You looked a little out of it during the meeting this morning."Vivian forced a tight-lipped smile. "Yeah, just didn’t sleep well."Claire stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "Are you sure? You seem... different."Vivian's heart pounded, but she nodded. "Just stress. You know how it is."Claire hesitated but let it go. "Well, if you need to ta

Vivian awoke to the soft glow of dawn filtering through the curtains, her body tangled with Ethan’s. His arm draped over her waist, his steady breaths fanning against the nape of her neck. For a moment, she allowed herself to revel in the warmth of his embrace, the sense of peace that had been so foreign to her for so long.Then reality crashed down like a tidal wave.Her breath hitched as she carefully slid out of his grasp, her heart pounding against her ribcage. What have I done? The weight of the night’s passion clung to her like a brand, searing into her skin, impossible to ignore.She hastily gathered her clothes, her hands trembling as she buttoned her blouse. Every nerve in her body screamed for her to stay, to allow herself just a little longer in the intoxicating haze of his presence. But she knew better. This wasn’t a fairytale—it was a disaster waiting to unfold.As she reached for the door, Ethan stirred behind her. "Running away again?"His voice was husky, laced with sl

Vivian had spent the entire night tossing and turning, replaying Ethan’s words in her mind. You can fight it all you want, but sooner or later, you’ll come back to me. The worst part was, he wasn’t wrong. The more she tried to distance herself, the stronger the pull became.She sat at her desk the next morning, sipping her coffee, willing herself to focus on her work. The school day had barely started, but she already felt exhausted. The sleepless night had done little to help her resolve. She needed to put an end to this, once and for all. She couldn’t keep getting caught in this dangerous cycle. But deep down, she knew—she was already in too deep.A knock on the door broke her thoughts. Before she could respond, Ethan stepped inside, closing the door behind him."You’re not supposed to be here," she said, her tone firm but lacking the conviction she desperately needed.He leaned against the door, arms crossed over his broad chest, a smug grin playing on his lips. "Since when do I fo