Wicked Ties

The Professor’s Scheme

Hael made his way toward Morgan’s office, his mind a swirling storm of thoughts he couldn’t quite shake. His body still ached from the fight with Damien, bruises still fresh on his knuckles, but it wasn’t the physical pain that troubled him. It was the weight of everything—his father’s growing expectations, the pressure from the fraternity, and the gnawing fear that his relationship with Willow and Lolly was slipping through his fingers.

He hadn’t told them about this meeting. Willow and Lolly didn’t trust Morgan, and lately, Hael was beginning to understand why. The psychology professor had a way of getting under his skin, of making him doubt things he never thought he would. But she’d requested a meeting today—said it was about his latest paper—and Hael felt there was something more to it.

He reached Morgan’s office and knocked lightly on the door, already regretting the decision to come. The door opened almost immediately, and Morgan greeted him with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Hael, right on time,” she said smoothly, stepping aside to let him in. “Come in.”

Her office was warm and inviting, but there was an underlying tension in the air, something that made Hael’s pulse quicken. He stepped inside, glancing around at the walls lined with bookshelves, the soft glow of a lamp casting a muted light over the room. It was a space designed to make people feel comfortable, at ease—but Hael didn’t feel either of those things.

“Have a seat,” Morgan said, gesturing to the chair in front of her desk as she closed the door behind him.

Hael sat down, his eyes tracking her movements as she crossed the room with a predatory grace, her long, dark hair framing her face perfectly. There was something unsettling about the way she carried herself, as if every step, every word, was calculated.

“I wanted to talk to you about your latest paper,” Morgan began, sliding into the chair behind her desk. She didn’t open with any pleasantries, her tone too smooth, too controlled. “It was... interesting. But I think you could push a little further. Dig deeper.”

Hael frowned, leaning forward slightly. “I thought I covered the topics we discussed in class.”

Morgan smiled, but it was a cold, knowing smile. “You did. But you barely scratched the surface. You’re capable of so much more, Hael. You’re holding back.”

Hael shifted uncomfortably in his seat, unsure of where this was going. “I’ve been a little... distracted lately.”

Morgan raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her chair. “Ah, yes. Willow and Lolly, right?” Her voice was soft, almost mocking. “I’ve heard a lot about your... unconventional relationship.”

Hael’s eyes narrowed. “That’s none of your business.”

Morgan’s smile didn’t falter. “Oh, but it is. You’re my student, Hael, and it’s my job to help you reach your full potential. But how can you do that when you’re so tangled up in a relationship that’s clearly weighing you down?”

Hael’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. “I’m not tangled up in anything. I love them.”

Morgan leaned forward, her gaze sharp and calculating. “Do you? Or do you love the idea of them? Of being needed by them?”

Hael’s stomach twisted at her words, the doubt creeping in before he could stop it. He loved Willow and Lolly—he knew that. But Morgan had a way of framing things, of twisting the truth just enough to make him question everything.

“I think you’re starting to see it, aren’t you?” Morgan continued, her voice low and seductive. “You’re spread too thin, Hael. You’re trying to be everything to everyone, and it’s exhausting you. You can’t keep this up. Something’s going to give.”

Hael shook his head, trying to push the doubt away. “You don’t know anything about my relationship.”

“I know more than you think,” Morgan said softly, standing up and moving around her desk to stand in front of him. She perched on the edge, her gaze locking onto his. “You’re carrying a burden, you wouldn’t share and two women who are demanding more and more from you. How long before it all collapses?”

Hael’s heart pounded in his chest, her words cutting deeper than he wanted to admit. He could feel the cracks forming, the pressure building. Lately, he’d been pulled in so many directions that he didn’t know how to keep it all together.

Morgan reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against his arm, sending a jolt of something unfamiliar through him. “You’re meant for more than this,” she whispered, her voice smooth like velvet. “You have the potential to do great things, Hael. But you’ll never get there if you’re constantly tied down.”

Hael stood up abruptly, pulling away from her touch. “I’m not tied down,” he said, his voice rough with anger and confusion. “You’re just trying to mess with my head.”

Morgan remained seated, her eyes never leaving his as a slow smile spread across her lips. “Am I? Or am I helping you see what you already know?”

Hael clenched his fists, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He wanted to leave, to walk out of her office and never look back, but he was rooted in place. It was the doubt, the insecurity that had been gnawing at him for weeks. And Morgan had found a way to tap into it, to make him question everything he thought he knew.

“You don’t have to play their game, Hael,” Morgan continued, her voice soft and coaxing. “You’re above it. Above all of them.”

Her hand reached out again, this time trailing along the hem of his shirt. Hael’s breath hitched, his body reacting despite the alarm bells ringing in his head. He needed to leave. He needed to get out of here before this went too far.

But Morgan’s hand moved higher, her fingers grazing his skin as she leaned closer. “You deserve more, Hael,” she murmured, her lips dangerously close to his. “And I can help you get it.”

Hael’s resolve wavered. He could feel the pull, the temptation to give in, to let himself fall into whatever Morgan was offering.

But then he thought of Willow. Of Lolly. Of the way they trusted him, the way they looked at him with love and belief, even when he doubted himself. He couldn’t betray that. He couldn’t betray them.

Hael stepped back, putting distance between himself and Morgan, his voice firm. “This isn’t happening.”

Morgan’s eyes flashed with something—disappointment, anger, maybe both. But her smile never faltered. “You can deny it all you want, Hael,” she said, her voice cool and measured. “But you’ll come around. Sooner or later, you’ll realize that you don’t need them. You’ll realize that they’re holding you back.”

Hael clenched his fists, his jaw tight as he fought the urge to lash out. “You’re wrong.”

Morgan shrugged, standing up and straightening her blouse. “We’ll see.” She moved toward the door, opening it with a deliberate motion. “This conversation isn’t over, Hael. It’s just beginning.”

Hael didn’t respond. He walked out of the office, his mind a storm of emotions—anger, confusion, guilt. He could still feel the weight of Morgan’s words pressing down on him, the seeds of doubt she’d planted taking root despite his efforts to ignore them.

As he stepped into the cool evening air, Hael pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to Willow and Lolly.

Meet me at the lake. We need to talk.

He knew that whatever happened next, he couldn’t let Morgan’s manipulation fester. He had to come clean, to tell them everything before it was too late. Because if there was one thing he was sure of, it was that Morgan wasn’t going to stop. She had made her move, and now it was up to him to do what he needed to.

He made his way to across the campus towards the lake.

He