Chapter 193

Joseph’s POV

By the next morning, Tessa was still a bit out of it after finding out the truth about what she was. I couldn’t blame her of course, but I wished there was something I could do to help her. Then, I had a thought of reaching out to Bernard and Anna. He’s been on me about not returning to the village anyway and I knew Anna grew up around witches. She might be able to help Tessa.

Tessa helped me make breakfast this morning and she tried to give me a happy smile and maintain positivity. But I could see through it. She was heartbroken and in shock.

When we got to school, I didn’t see her at all until class time that evening. I knew she was busy doing her exams and I didn’t want to disturb her.

I spent most of the day grading final projects while I waited for 6 pm. Per usual, Tessa’s paper was phenomenal. She had a real talent for breathing life into her characters and painting a picture with words.

I admired that about her.

It wasn’t until I reached the very last paper that caused me to freeze.

I recognized this paper, but the thought of someone uncovering it left me baffled. This paper was never supposed to be released to the public and yet here it was, being turned in as a final project for me to grade.

The problem was, I knew this student didn’t write it.

I did.

Was nothing about my old life as Christopher Moore private?

This student used an old piece that Christopher Moore had written. It made me wonder if there were other times he cheated, and I hadn’t caught it.

I shook my head in disbelief as I searched for the paper on the internet. Sure enough, there were a few private documents that I never wanted the public to find. I suppose I shouldn’t have been too shocked considering Christopher Moore’s life ended a century ago.

I printed the proof of plagiarism from my computer.

This particular student, Jeremy, sat in the middle of the classroom and most of the time he kept quiet. He always got homework done on time, and he passed all the quizzes with flying colors. When I called on him to provide an answer to a question, he answered it with ease.

But had it all been a lie this entire time?

How did I not know this?

By the time class came around, Tessa and Ruby were the first to arrive. I could smell Tessa’s amazing scent before I actually saw her. But when she walked in, the entire classroom was filled with her scent. Her eyes found mine and a smile played on her lips.

She was looking a lot better than she had yesterday. She was even better than she looked this morning.

Seeing her yesterday after her dinner with her father broke my heart. Her face was red, and her eyes were bloodshot; I had never seen her cry that hard before. Tessa’s heart was broken and there wasn’t anything I could do to fix it besides hold her and tell her that everything was going to be okay.

But today, she was looking more vibrant and determined. I knew it was because it was the final week of school, and she was trying to get these exams done in one piece.

Despite the fact that she looked better; she was also looking exhausted.

“Hey,” she said as she paused at my desk.

The only other person in the room was Ruby, so we were free to speak for the next couple of seconds.

I smiled at her, and I watched as her cheeks grew pink.

“I just wanted to thank you for last night,” she whispered. “I’m glad I had you to comfort me.”

“I’ll always be here to comfort you, Tessa,” I assured her.

I reached my hand out to her and ran my fingers down her smooth arm; goosebumps formed under my touch and her face grew even redder as she bit onto her lower lip.

“Maybe I can thank you properly tonight?” She asked, a hint of seduction in her voice.

“What did you have in mind?” I asked, arching a brow.

Her smile grew as she bent down and whispered against my ear, her warm breath hitting my features and making me practically melt in my seat.

“That’s for me to know and for you to find out.”

Just as the door to my classroom opened, she pulled back and gave me a quick wink before she went to sit in her seat beside Ruby.

The classroom was soon filled with my students, eager and ready to take my final exam. I stood in the front of the class, half sitting on my desk like I always do, and scanned the room briefly. My eyes landed on Jeremy who was leaning back in his seat and wasn’t looking very interested in what I was saying.

I was explaining to the class about the exam and that passing is important if they want to graduate. I told them what the exam contained and how much time they had to complete it.

Just as I handed out the exams, my hand lingered on Tessa’s desk for a moment as I placed the exam down in front of her. She gave me a sweet smile before I moved on to the next student. Once I got to Jeremy, I withheld the exam from him.

“Can I speak with you in the hallway Mr. Evan’s?” I asked, staring down at Jeremy Evans with a disdained look on my face.

He furrowed his brows together, seemingly confused, but he nodded and stood to his feet.

“Keep working on your exams. I’ll be right back,” I said to the rest of the class who was watching Jeremy as he followed me out of the room and into the hallway.

Once the door was shut and I was certain nobody in the classroom could hear us, I turned to face him, folding my arms across my chest.

“Is there something you’d like to share with me, Mr. Evans?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

I was going to allow him to come clean and tell me the truth. If he told me the truth, maybe his punishment wouldn’t be as bad.

“About what, Sir?” Jeremy asked, furrowing his brows together in confusion.

“I was grading final projects and when I got to yours, I couldn’t help but find it rather familiar,” I said, raising my brows. “Care to explain that?”

His face drained of color, and he stared back at me with large and alarmed eyes.

“I… uh…” he stammered; I could see that he was getting nervous.

“You stole a paper that was written by the famous Christopher Moore, and you didn’t think I would find out?” I asked, staring directly into his eyes.

His body began to tremble nervously from the intensity of my stare, but I wasn’t going to back down from this.

“I didn’t think you’d be able to find it…. “ he finally murmured, sighing. “It was a hidden document; it wasn’t supposed to be released…”

Obviously, I had already known that; I shook my head at him.

“I can’t allow this to go unpunished,” I finally told him after a short pause. “I’m going to have to bring this up to the dean.”

His eyes grew large, and shock began to consume him.

“He will expel me,” Jeremy whined. “Please don’t tell him! I’ll make up the paper and re-do it…”

“This was a final project; there are no redoes for this, Mr. Evans,” I said, shaking my head at him. “You know this school has no plagiarism tolerance. If you are expelled, it’s because you deserve it.”

His breathing grew heavy, and I worried for a moment that he was going into a panic attack.

“Please, Professor Evergreen. I will lose my scholarship. I’m so close to graduating…”

“You should have thought about that before you cheated,” I said, raising my brows at him. “It’s out of my hands now. Please start heading toward the Dean’s office. I’m going to give him a call right now.”

I turned to head back into my classroom to collect my cell phone.

Jeremy stood in place, staring at me with narrowed eyes. His shocked look was gone and now the only thing I could see was fury.

“Mr. Evan’s…” I warned, my voice stern.

“You think you’re so great…” Jeremy murmured, keeping his eyes fixed on me. “But you aren’t. I know your secret, and soon, everybody else here will too.”

Before I could ask him what he meant, he had turned and disappeared down the hallway.

I furrowed my brows together, but I decided not to dwell on it. I went back into my classroom and made a report for the Dean while my students took the exam. Once in a while, I’d catch Tessa glancing up at me and whenever our eyes met, her cheeks would grow pink, and she’d look back down.

One by one, each student finished their exams and placed them face down on my desk. Tessa and Ruby were both the last to finish. Ruby first and then Tessa.

Once Tessa was done, she made her way toward my desk and placed the test down with the others.

“I’ll be seeing you tonight?” She asked, eyeing me carefully.

I nodded.

“Is Ruby taking you home?”

She nodded.

I smiled and grabbed her arm, pulling her into my arms. She sat on my lap as I wrapped my arms firmly around her waist. I nuzzled my face in her neck and she chuckled at the sensation as I planted little kisses across her shoulders.

“Joseph,” she gasped between chuckles. “We could get caught.”

“It’s my last week as a professor,” I told her, running my fingers up her back. “It’s not like they can fire me.”

“That’s not the point,” she laughed, placing her hand on my chest before I could kiss her again. “We both have reputations we need to maintain. We don’t need a scandal like this with everything we are already dealing with.”

I sighed; I knew she was right.

I kissed her gently on the lips before I released my hold on her. She stood and adjusted her clothing before turning to me.

“But we can pick up where we left off later,” she said with a sly smile.

On that note, she turned and left the classroom, leaving me alone with a mound of exams to grade.

….

Tessa’s POV

Ruby was waiting by our lockers after our exam. I stretched out my arms and yawned; it’s been a long week of exams and studying and my brain felt like it was about to explode.

“Tessa…” I heard my name coming from a stern male voice and I turned to see Dean Miller standing before me.

He didn’t look pleased; his lips were pressed in a thin line and his arms were folded across his chest as he studied me.

“Dean Miller,” I greeted. “Can I help you with something?”

He cleaned his throat and motioned with his head for me to follow him.

“I’d like to speak with you in my office.”