The Teacher's Affair

Chapter 6 Observation

“So, is Teacher Red the teacher young master is so fond of right now?” the housekeeper asked Jack while keeping an eye on him.

“She is,” Jack replied, not denying it any further since it was already obvious. “She’s quite an interesting woman…”

“Has the young master mentioned that you’re not his real father and that you’re not actually married? If the child is really interested in Teacher Red, you should let him know that you’re not blood-related so he doesn’t start thinking all sorts of things,” the housekeeper suggested, causing Jack to shake his head.

“She’s not interested in knowing that, Max,” he said definitively, and marched towards the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Ruby quietly sat on the living room sofa and took in the beauty of the house. She hadn’t had the chance to properly appreciate it earlier due to worrying about Zeke, so she took this moment to enjoy it.

Soon after, the butler who had greeted her earlier arrived with a tray of food and juice and quietly set it down on the round table in the center of the room.

“Zeke is still upstairs taking a shower. Please eat first, teacher,” the butler said politely.

Ruby usually only eats fat-reducing meals or meal replacements at night. She’s very conscious of her body and carefully monitors her diet, but she couldn’t refuse the butler’s offer.

“Thank you.”

Ruby looked at the spread, which included low-calorie fruits like tomatoes, kiwis, and star fruit, as well as some exquisite and delicious snacks on the side.

“All the food here at the mansion is nutritious because that’s what Mr. Jack prefers young master to eat,” the butler explained, seemingly reading Ruby’s thoughts.

Ruby gave a slight smile in response and tasted the lemonade, as her throat had been parched for a while.

“Besides Zeke’s daily life at school, I’d also like to know a few things about his family. Mr. Beaufort is away from home all year round. You must have more time to take care of Zeke,” she began.

She wanted to finish her business quickly to avoid encountering Jack again, so she started with her purpose in the house.

The housekeeper simply nodded in response.

“That’s how it is because Mr. Jack is a busy man, but you can be sure he’ll have more time for young master. Don’t worry about it, teacher,” the housekeeper replied.

Ruby paused for a moment. Was she worried? What should she be worried about?

Ruby always found the housekeeper’s words strange, but she didn’t think much of it. Maybe that’s just how they answered questions.

“Although Zeke usually has you by his side, the child needs more care from his mother. Zeke’s character is too withdrawn. When Mr. Beaufort isn’t here at home, does Mrs. Beaufort take care of the child?” She couldn’t help but ask, as this was really bothering her.

The dynamics in wealthy families are complex, and as teachers, they dare not ask too many questions.

The housekeeper chuckled, which made Ruby look at her in confusion. Did she say something unusual?

“It turns out teachers like you can be quite playful, Teacher Red. Mr. Jack isn’t even married. Who’s this wife you’re talking about?”

Ruby’s brow furrowed even more. Not married? Does that mean Zeke was born before his parents were married? He’s really a scumbag!

But Jack wasn’t lying to her about being single.

The housekeeper wanted to clarify, so Ruby wouldn’t consider Zeke to be Jack’s biological child, but a man’s voice came from the stairs, interrupting their conversation.

“Teacher Red, if you want to know anything else, why don’t you ask me?”

Jack appeared at the top of the stairs, wearing a set of black silk pajamas that gleamed under the smooth satin chandelier. His demeanor exuded both dignity and casualness. His hair was slightly longer than it had seemed earlier, with a few strands falling naturally in front of his forehead.

The long-legged man walked closer in slippers and sat down opposite Ruby. His legs crossed casually, giving him the air of a wealthy heir.

He seemed like a different person—this wasn’t the Jack she had seen in the boxing ring earlier.

The housekeeper quickly left, and Ruby could only smirk.

“Is this how you greet your guests, Mr. Beaufort?”

She tried her best to set boundaries with him for a long time, but the feeling that the man didn’t see her as an outsider at all made her a little upset. At the start, she had a fling with him on a whim and took advantage of the wine. It was a feeling she had never experienced before.

When it was almost dawn, Jack would often wrap his arm around her waist, press it against her ear, and ask if she was coming back. She was so exhausted that she could barely open her eyes, so she just nodded in response.

They would naturally have another time together, and next time, Ruby would begin to savor the essence and pleasure of their encounters. But this kind of relationship had only started because she thought Jack was just an ordinary or single man with acceptable conditions.

If she had known he was already married, she would never have pursued this.

Jack raised his eyebrows and said, “Why, Teacher Red? Not decent enough? After all, we spend more time together without clothes. I don’t know what you want me to wear. Or you can just come to my room and try on my sleepwear for as long as you want.”

Ruby clenched her fists as she heard Jack’s frivolous words. The urge to grab his smirking mouth, pull it back to his head, and stuff it with a whole loaf of whole wheat bread surged within her. The irritation was so intense that she had to fight the violent impulse triggered by his crass comments.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm her expression, even faking a cough.

"My preferences are not important, Mr. Beaufort. I want to talk to you about your son Zeke,” Ruby stated calmly but with a firm tone.

Jack remained silent, prompting her to continue her work. She wanted to finish quickly, to avoid prolonging her time with this man.

"Zeke is a child with a sensitive mind and a withdrawn personality. Recently, he has been depressed and has lost his appetite. When he was taking a nap at school, I noticed he had sleep disorders. Even when he falls asleep, he wakes up easily at the slightest noise. After evaluation by our school's psychiatrist, your son…” Ruby paused, locking eyes with Jack. “He has depression, Mr. Beaufort.”

Jack’s expression changed instantly. His playful demeanor disappeared as his eyes narrowed, focusing intently on Ruby.

“When did this start?” he asked, his voice serious.

"His temperament has never been very lively. This semester, about two months ago, he started to become more gloomy and emotionally unstable,” Ruby explained.

In truth, she suspected that the main factor affecting Zeke was his family environment.

"If the child's condition does not improve, our school recommends that he rest at home, Mr. Beaufort. He needs proper care and attention."