I'd assumed they were scared enough to back off and start behaving themselves.
But something that happened shortly after shattered that assumption entirely.
Elmer's university was hosting a networking gala. In the past, he'd always brought me along.
This time, he hadn't even mentioned it.
I thought about it for a moment, changed into a cocktail dress, and walked straight into the banquet hall.
The first thing I saw was Elmer standing in the middle of a crowd with Vivian on his arm. His title as professor had people swarming around him, showering him with compliments.
A newly hired instructor mistook Vivian for his wife and gushed, "Professor Weiss, your wife is absolutely stunning. I've never seen anyone so beautiful."
Vivian's cheeks flushed pink. She tilted her head up at Elmer, her voice dripping with coy sweetness. "Professor, you didn't tell them who I am?"
Elmer was clearly eating up every second of her act. He let her dangle for a moment before answering.
"Vivian is my newest graduate student. She mentioned she'd never been to a formal event, so I brought her along to broaden her horizons."
A beat of silence followed. Then the praise came flooding in.
"Professor Weiss really does look after his students."
"If I had a mentor like Professor Weiss, I'd be smiling in my sleep."
"Vivian, you'd better study hard. Can't let the professor's investment in you go to waste."
I stood in the back and watched the entire performance for a good while before picking up a glass of wine and strolling over.
"Professor Weiss really does care about his students. Cares so much, in fact, that he didn't even bring his own wife tonight. Just his female student."
The second Elmer spotted me, he dropped Vivian's arm like it burned.
"Don't be ridiculous. Vivian's young and curious. She's never been to one of these events, so I just—"
I cut him off with a smile before he could finish. "Relax. It was a joke. Why are you so jumpy?"
Elmer let out a heavy breath of relief.
Beside him, Vivian's expression soured. The look she shot me was pure, undisguised jealousy.
"That's a cruel joke to make, Mrs. Weiss. If someone took it the wrong way, my reputation would be ruined."
Her eyes reddened on cue, and the tears started falling.
Elmer looked like his heart was being ripped out. He leaned in close, his voice soft. "Don't cry, sweetheart. That's just how she is. I'll make her apologize right now."
Watching Elmer rush to Vivian's defense, the rest of the group chimed in one by one.
"Mrs. Weiss, Miss Mercer is just a young girl. How could you smear her reputation like that? You should apologize."
"Exactly. Everyone knows the university strictly prohibits relationships between faculty and students. If word got out, it could damage Professor Weiss's career too."
They piled on, one after another, as if I'd committed some unforgivable sin.
I looked at Elmer. Something cold flickered behind my eyes.
"You really want me to apologize to her?"
If I'd already gathered enough evidence, I would have slapped him across the face right then and there.
Cheating was one thing. But parading his mistress in front of me? Clearly my patience over the years had made him forget his place entirely.
Something in my tone must have registered, because Elmer's face darkened a shade.
"Sibyl, why do you always have to be so aggressive? You made a mistake. Is it really that hard to say sorry?"
My expression shifted. A flash of bitter amusement crossed my eyes.
If I hadn't fought tooth and nail to convince my parents, he never would have been allowed anywhere near the Henson family.
Everything he had, he owed to my so-called "aggressiveness." And now he had the nerve to throw it back in my face.
Biting the hand that feeds. That was Elmer Weiss in a nutshell.
I didn't say a word. I just looked at him.
The silence unnerved him. After a long moment, he clenched his jaw and spoke.
