The Teacher's Affair

Chapter 8 Carter's Engagement

"Look what that scumbag did behind your back!"

Ruby’s eyes fell on the news article Fiona had pulled up on her phone. She scanned through it, her heart sinking as she realized what Fiona was trying to show her.

Ruby stared at the news article on her phone, the headline announcing Carter's engagement to Samantha Valentine. The photo below showed Carter, her ex-boyfriend, with Samantha—her former best friend—surrounded by their families, all looking relaxed and content. Seeing Carter smiling as he gently tucked a strand of hair behind Samantha’s ear sparked irritation in Ruby.

"The nerve of him! You were together for three years, and he never even proposed to you! Yet, with that snake of a best friend, it only took a few weeks for them to get engaged!” Fiona exclaimed, her voice rising in anger. She was still furious over how Carter had treated Ruby, and her loud voice snapped Ruby back to reality.

Ruby sighed and zoomed in on the picture, focusing on Carter's face. A wave of annoyance washed over her as she took in his broad, carefree smile. It was as if he had never been happier in his life.

"Correction, ex-best friend. And do you really think I’d go back to that guy? Let it go,” Ruby replied, trying to brush off the situation, but Fiona wasn’t ready to let it go.

"I just feel sorry for you. You gave him your all, and in the end, he dumped you and got engaged to someone else. Doesn’t that hurt? Aren’t you sad?”

Ruby’s eyes drifted away from Carter’s face to another man in the photo, a handsome and seemingly elegant figure. There was something familiar about him that she couldn’t quite place.

“Not really. It doesn’t hurt anymore. I’m happy, Fiona. Believe me,” Ruby said, trying to reassure her friend.

That evening, Ruby returned home, took a brief rest, ate dinner, and watched a movie to unwind. As night fell, she was in the shower when she heard her phone ringing. Sighing, she wrapped herself in a bathrobe and answered the call.

“Mom…”

Standing by the terrace, Ruby poured herself a glass of red wine, already knowing why her mother had suddenly called.

"Did you see the news about Carter’s engagement?" Her mother’s voice was filled with disappointment and frustration.

“Yeah, I saw it,” Ruby replied lazily, sipping her wine.

“Carter is just a useless jerk to his family, but that little witch from the Valentine family still managed to snatch him away. It’s really embarrassing that you didn’t do anything. You’re really useless!” Her mother’s voice was firm and laced with anger.

Ruby winced slightly at the harsh words, feeling the sting of her mother's disappointment. She gripped the glass tighter, trying to block out the familiar feeling of inadequacy that always seemed to accompany conversations with her mother.

Ruby didn’t say anything. She set her phone aside, putting it on speaker, and continued sipping her red wine as the sound of her mother’s cursing filled the room. Sometimes she wondered if she was truly her daughter or if she had been adopted by this family. She couldn’t understand why some parents didn’t love their children. She had heard every hurtful word in existence from her own mother, yet it seemed like it was never enough.

“And you, you stupid girl! You may have a pretty face, but you’re dumb and lack ambition! The wealthy son of my friend is coming home next month. I’m warning you, you better hook this man. His family owns a huge oil company!”

“Mom, I don’t want to fall in love right now, much less get married.”

“What do you want, then? To grow old and single just because Carter didn’t marry you? I won’t forgive you if you let this rich son-in-law slip away again. Do you think I’ll let Amanda Valentine walk all over me for the rest of my life? No way, Ruby. Find a way to marry a rich man!” her mother yelled again before abruptly ending the call, not even waiting for Ruby to respond.

Isn’t it sad that her mother didn’t care whether her daughter was hurt from beginning to end? In her eyes, nothing was more important than securing a wealthy marriage. This thought filled Ruby with bitterness, but what could she do?

After drinking more than half a bottle of red wine, Ruby felt the effects of the alcohol. She wasn’t sad about Carter’s betrayal; she was sad about her broken family. Her heart felt empty, and no amount of wine seemed to fill it.

In the past, she would’ve texted Carter and talked about this, and he would reply with a few words, followed by the hotel room number. Ruby would then choose a revealing dress for the date. But tonight, she felt particularly lonely and hollow, desperate to do something to fill the void in her heart.

Jack, however, was her student’s father, someone she could no longer touch. Annoyed, she poured herself another glass of wine and continued drinking, staring up at the full moon.

A moment later, the doorbell rang, breaking the silence of the night. When Ruby saw the handsome face reflected on the video doorbell screen, she thought she was hallucinating. She quickly opened the door, and there stood Jack, dressed in a black jacket.

“What are you doing here?” Ruby asked, surprised.

Before responding, Jack held up a small bottle of ointment in front of her. “I should be responsible for the injuries you sustained at my house.”

Jack’s eyes traveled over Ruby. She was wearing a red nightgown, loosely tied with a matching robe at her waist. Her collar was loose, revealing a large expanse of skin. She was barefoot, standing in front of him. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, the wet ends slightly curled, and her flushed cheeks and slightly glazed eyes gave her an alluring aura.

Lazy and seductive.

The strong scent of wine lingered around her, making Jack realize she was drunk.

Ruby was only slightly drunk but still aware of what was happening.

"Thank you, Mr. Beaufort. Give me the medicine and leave," she said coldly, trying to resist the temptation standing in front of her.

Ruby took the bottle and was about to close the door, but Jack's long leg swiftly blocked it.

“Wait, what are you—”

Jack pushed his way in and shut the door behind him. The only light in the room came from the wall lamp on the terrace, casting a dim glow over the living room.

Ruby’s small apartment, just a few dozen square meters, felt warm and cozy—a stark contrast to the vast, impersonal expanse of Jack's thousand-square-meter villa.

“Mr. Beaufort, please leave now, or I will call the cops—”

Before she could finish, Jack leaned down, slipping one arm under her armpit and the other behind her knees, effortlessly lifting her. The living room was small, so Jack quickly reached the sofa, where he gently set her down. Feeling a bit hot from the exertion, he removed his jacket, revealing a broad-shouldered black vest underneath.

His well-defined muscles rippled beneath his skin, and the veins in his arms stood out, showcasing his full masculine appeal. He knelt on one knee beside the sofa and grabbed Ruby’s ankle with one hand, his grip too strong for her to resist.

"Just let me do this, and don’t move…”

With her leg raised, the hem of her bathrobe threatened to reveal more than she was comfortable with. Jack seemed to know exactly how far to go, and Ruby didn’t dare move. How could her small frame possibly compete with his rock-solid build?

Frustrated, she deliberately stomped her foot on his thigh, but to her surprise, it felt like she had kicked a stone—hard and unyielding!

Jack’s gaze fell on the tender, bruised skin of her knees, now a purplish hue. His handsome brows furrowed in concern.

"You haven’t applied any medicine all day?"

Her skin was so delicate that even the slightest pressure would leave marks, yet she had brushed off the injury from the previous night’s fall.