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Jeremiah’s hand lifted into the air, drawing a soft smile from her. “Yes, Jeremiah?”
“I have a question.” Jeremiah raised his voice. “But not about the assignment. I just want to know how long you’ve been sleeping with my dad?”
The classroom buzzed with gasps and hushed whispers. Fluorescent lights overhead hummed softly, and the ticking of the large wall clock became pronounced in Emma’s ears as she stood frozen in place.
Adrenaline pulsed through Emma, her heart pounding like a bass drum. “Jeremiah, that’s an inappropriate—”
“But it’s true, isn’t it?” Jeremiah stood up from his desk as he cut her off. “You’re sleeping with my dad.”
The entire classroom descended into a frenzy. Some of the students laughed and egged Jeremiah on, others told him to shut up, and a boy by the window shot a video on his phone.
Emma felt a wave of dizziness, her stomach knotting in anxiety.
Only yesterday he had given her such a nice compliment. Now, she felt trapped in a nightmare, unable to wake up.
“Jeremiah, that’s not true.”
“Don’t play dumb. You’re nothing but a...”
Emma’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped as a string of expletives spewed from Jeremiah’s mouth. Students in the classroom shouted louder and louder as Jeremiah continued, making enough noise that the entire hall could likely hear. She had to do something quick, or the front office would think she couldn’t control her classroom.
She felt her face growing hot as she stepped back, bumping against her desk.
“Ms. Wright? What’s going on?”
She turned toward the doorway and saw the puzzled stare on Mr. Simmons’ face. The notably lean man bore a crown of graying hair, and his face was etched with deep lines of numerous smiles and frowns—the distinct marks of a seasoned educator.
“Oh, it’s nothing. The kids are just getting excited,” Emma said, forcing a smile.
“About calculus?”
Emma gave a small, uneasy chuckle. “You know teenagers these days.”
The physics teacher looked at her like she was crazy, but Emma couldn’t tell him the truth. Jeremiah was already on thin ice at this school and she didn’t want him getting kicked out.
“Aren’t you divorced, Emma?” Jeremiah asked. “I heard he left you for a hotter woman.”
As Jeremiah uttered those words, Emma’s hands instinctively flew to her mouth. All the insecurities she had felt during her failed marriage flooded back. Her thoughts spiraled as the pain of her past was dredged up in front of everyone.
Emma was not prepared for this public humiliation. Tears welled up in her eyes.
She turned to face Jeremiah. “Sit down, Jeremiah. We’ll talk about this later.”
“Ooooooh,” the class erupted in unison.
Jeremiah grinned, folding his hands across his chest. “Nope. Not in your classroom.”
“Don’t do this to yourself,” Emma said. “You’re going to regret it if you keep carrying on.”
“Why should I stop? You telling me you don’t want everyone to know you’ve been sleeping with a married man? And how you made him turn his back on his family?”
Emma’s face turned a fiery red. He had crossed a line, and there was nothing she could do about it now.
She pointed to the door. “Jeremiah. Principal’s office. Get out!”
With a smirk, he sauntered out of the classroom. Emma asked Mr. Simmons, who was still standing there, if he would watch the class for a few minutes. After he nodded, Emma walked out and followed Jeremiah down the hall, wiping away tears. She wished she had a few minutes to compose herself before facing Principal Kennedy’s office, but there was no time.
Jeremiah had to be dealt with immediately.
