Forbidden Lessons

Chapter 4: The First Threat

Arabella barely slept that night.

Every time she closed her eyes, the same message replayed in her mind.

You have 24 hours.

The morning sunlight streaming through her bedroom window felt unusually harsh.

Her phone buzzed again on the nightstand.

Arabella grabbed it instantly.

Unknown number.

Her heart pounded as she opened the message.

But this time…

It wasn’t a threat.

It was just a single sentence.

“Tick tock, Miss Kingston.”

Arabella clenched her jaw and threw the phone onto the bed.

Whoever this person was, they were enjoying the game.

And she hated it.

By the time she arrived at St. Catherine’s Elite Academy, the rumors had already started spreading.

Students whispered as she walked past.

Some stared.

Others looked quickly away.

Arabella adjusted her blazer and walked down the hallway like she owned the place.

Because she did.

Or at least, everyone believed she did.

“Arabella!”

She turned.

Adrian was jogging toward her.

He looked unusually tense.

“Can we talk?” he asked.

Arabella crossed her arms.

“What about?”

Adrian lowered his voice.

“About last night.”

Students nearby slowed down to listen.

Arabella sighed.

“Fine.”

She walked toward the empty courtyard garden behind the school.

Adrian followed closely.

The moment they were alone, he spoke quickly.

“That girl you saw”

“Save it,” Arabella interrupted.

“Arabella, I swear”

“You were kissing her, Adrian.”

“It wasn’t like that.”

Arabella laughed bitterly.

“That’s exactly what every cheater says.”

Adrian ran a hand through his hair.

“You don’t understand.”

“Then explain.”

He hesitated.

For the first time since she had known him, Adrian actually looked nervous.

“That girl… she’s been blackmailing me.”

Arabella frowned.

“Blackmailing you?”

“Yes.”

“With what?”

Adrian opened his mouth, but suddenly stopped.

His eyes shifted over her shoulder.

Arabella turned slightly.

And her stomach tightened.

Lucas Gray was walking across the courtyard.

He wasn’t looking at them.

But Adrian was staring at him like he had just seen something disturbing.

“What’s wrong?” Arabella asked.

Adrian’s voice dropped to a whisper.

“Why is he here?”

Arabella blinked.

“He’s my tutor.”

Adrian’s expression darkened slightly.

“That’s him?”

Arabella frowned.

“What does that mean?”

Adrian looked back at Lucas, who was now speaking to one of the teachers near the entrance.

Then Adrian leaned closer.

“I don’t trust him.”

Arabella rolled her eyes.

“You don’t even know him.”

“I know enough.”

“And what exactly do you know?”

Adrian hesitated again.

Then he said something that made Arabella freeze.

“I’ve seen him before.”

Arabella frowned.

“Where?”

Adrian’s eyes remained fixed on Lucas.

“Two years ago.”

Arabella’s heart began to beat faster.

“What happened two years ago?”

Adrian lowered his voice even further.

“I saw him leaving your father’s office.”

Arabella blinked.

“That’s impossible.”

“I’m serious.”

Her mind raced.

Lucas had told her he came from a modest background.

A graduate student working part-time as a tutor.

So why would he have been meeting her father two years ago?

“Adrian,” she said slowly, “are you sure?”

Adrian nodded.

“I remember faces very well.”

Arabella turned again toward Lucas.

At that exact moment

Lucas looked up.

And their eyes met across the courtyard.

For a split second, Arabella felt something strange.

Like he already knew what she had just been told.

Lucas held her gaze calmly.

Then he gave her a small nod before walking toward the main building.

Arabella’s heart was racing now.

Adrian leaned closer.

“Be careful with that guy.”

Arabella barely heard him.

Because one terrifying thought was echoing inside her mind.

If Lucas Gray had met her father two years ago…

Then becoming her tutor wasn’t an accident.

And that meant Lucas Gray might have been sent into her life for a reason.

Arabella stood frozen in the courtyard long after Lucas disappeared into the school building.

Adrian’s words kept echoing in her mind.

I saw him leaving your father’s office.

Two years ago.

That didn’t make sense.

Lucas had told her he was a graduate student, someone who worked multiple tutoring jobs just to pay for school.

Why would someone like that be meeting Edward Kingston?

Arabella turned back to Adrian.

“Are you absolutely sure?” she asked quietly.

Adrian shrugged.

“I don’t forget faces.”

“And you’re sure it was Lucas?”

“Yes.”

Arabella’s thoughts raced.

Something about Lucas suddenly felt… different.

Suspicious.

But at the same time, she remembered the way he had comforted her the night before.

The way he had looked genuinely concerned when he saw the threatening message.

That didn’t feel like someone playing a game.

“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” she asked.

Adrian scoffed.

“Because I didn’t realize he was your tutor until just now.”

Arabella crossed her arms.

“Maybe you’re wrong.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

“Maybe you’re defending him too quickly.”

Arabella frowned.

“I’m not defending anyone.”

“Really?” Adrian said. “Because you spent the whole night with him.”

Her eyes flashed.

“Excuse me?”

“I saw you two together at the party,” Adrian said sharply.

Arabella stared at him.

“You were busy kissing another girl.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that you were with him.”

The accusation in his voice irritated her.

“Lucas was helping me,” she snapped. “Unlike you.”

Adrian stepped closer.

“You barely know him.”

“And you barely respect me.”

Silence fell between them.

For a moment, Adrian looked like he wanted to argue more.

But then the bell rang loudly across the courtyard.

Students began rushing toward their classrooms.

Adrian exhaled slowly.

“We’ll talk about this later.”

Arabella didn’t respond.

She simply walked toward the school building.

But her mind wasn’t on class.

It was on Lucas.

And the strange possibility that he might not be who he claimed to be.

That evening, Arabella arrived home earlier than usual.

Her father’s car was parked outside the mansion.

Which meant Edward Kingston was home.

Great.

She stepped inside and immediately noticed something strange.

Voices.

Coming from the study room.

Her father’s voice.

And another voice.

Male.

Arabella’s curiosity sparked instantly.

She moved quietly down the hallway.

The study door was slightly open.

She peeked inside.

Her father stood beside his desk, looking unusually serious.

And sitting across from him was Lucas Gray.

Arabella’s heart skipped.

So Adrian had been telling the truth.

Lucas had met her father before.

But the question was why?

She leaned closer to the door, listening carefully.

Edward Kingston spoke first.

“I trust you understand the situation.”

Lucas nodded calmly.

“I do.”

Arabella’s heart beat faster.

Her father continued.

“You were recommended for this job for a very specific reason.”

Lucas didn’t look surprised.

“I’m aware.”

Arabella’s stomach tightened.

Recommended?

By who?

Her father lowered his voice slightly.

“I want you to keep a close eye on my daughter.”

Arabella froze.

Lucas’s expression didn’t change.

Edward continued,

“Arabella has been… unpredictable lately.”

Lucas remained silent.

Her father leaned forward slightly.

“If she gets involved in anything dangerous, I expect you to inform me immediately.”

Arabella’s chest tightened.

Was Lucas supposed to be spying on her?

Lucas finally spoke.

“My job is to help her academically.”

Edward’s eyes hardened slightly.

“And it will remain that way… as long as she behaves.”

The warning in his voice was unmistakable.

Lucas stood up.

“Understood.”

Edward nodded once.

“You may go.”

Arabella quickly stepped back from the door just as Lucas opened it.

He nearly bumped into her.

For a split second, they both froze.

Lucas’s eyes widened slightly.

“Arabella.”

Her heart was racing.

“How long have you been working for my father?” she asked quietly.

Lucas’s expression darkened.

“It’s not what you think.”

“Then explain.”

Before Lucas could answer, Edward Kingston’s voice came from inside the study.

“Arabella?”

She turned slowly.

Her father was now standing in the doorway behind Lucas.

Watching them both carefully.

And the expression on his face made Arabella realize something terrifying.

Her father had just seen them standing very close together.

Too close.

Edward Kingston’s gaze shifted slowly from Lucas…

to his daughter.

Then he said something that made the tension in the hallway snap instantly.

“Perhaps,” he said calmly,

“you two are already becoming too comfortable with each other.”

And suddenly, the situation had become far more dangerous.