Everyone said Jeffrey was the most famous "wife-obsessed maniac" in our circle.
As a university professor, he absolutely refused to attend social gatherings outside of work and he would coldly reject female students who asked for his number.
Among the stack of academic books he had published, there was one odd title mixed in: "Love Confessions." Yes, it was written just for me.
I remembered that the entire Yale University celebrated our picture-perfect love story.
Even on my birthday each year, he would arrange grand fireworks displays across the city.
However, everything changed when I was tidying up the bookshelf and unexpectedly discovered an intimate photo tucked inside one of Jeffrey's books.
The girl looked very young, wearing a miniskirt, straddling his lap and smiling at the camera.
I recognized her instantly.
It was none other than Selena, the student I'd sponsored for three years, who always sweetly called me "Sister."
She was also in Jeffrey's class.
It all started on a rainy day when a group of thugs cornered and harassed her in a dead-end alley and I intervened to save her.
Afterwards, I brought her home, helped her shower and gave her clean clothes to wear.
When she first saw Jeffrey, she was terrified.
I laughed softly and comforted her, saying, "Don't be scared. Professor Johnson doesn't bite."
Later, she gradually became bolder. She even started cautiously going to his study to ask him questions.
Watching them interact so happily, I couldn't help but feel pleased.
It wasn't until later that I found their intimate photos on Jeffrey's computer.
After discovering them, I stormed into the study hysterically. Sure enough, I saw the very same "teacher and student" who were supposedly seeking advice, now passionately entangled and lost in each other, right on his desk.
Seeing me burst in, they panicked and frantically tried to cover themselves with their clothes.
I lost all dignity and composure, screaming like a madwoman. I demanded to know why Jeffrey would cheat on me right under my nose.
But he only focused on shielding the woman beside him, covering her completely before looking up at me with a gaze that was both icy and furious.
"Get out!" he yelled. "Annabeth Sanchez, you have no shame, but we do."
Indeed, men were truly heartless and cruel creatures. When they loved you, they could offer you their very lives. But the moment that love was gone, they could skin you alive.
I smashed everything I could grab in the room to pieces.
I simply could not believe it. One was the man I had loved for nearly ten years and the other was the poor student I had sponsored for three years and treated like my own sister.
How could they brazenly make love right under my nose, in the study, while I was cooking in the kitchen?
It turned out they were using the pretense of discussing academics to carry out their shameful affair.
My body trembled violently and my eyes were bloodshot. I absolutely refused to accept any of this.
Jeffrey looked at me with disgust while stubbornly protecting Selena behind him. "Annabeth, you're acting like a lunatic! You'd better calm down. If you dare hurt Selena even a little bit, I won't let you get away with it."
Selena hid behind him, the red marks on her neck still visible as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Annabeth, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I know it's wrong, but I've fallen in love with Professor Johnson."
"Please, I'm not asking for any commitment, just please let me be with him, okay?"
I was shocked, sneering, "But do you know you're a homewrecker?"
"I don't care!" Selena screamed just as loudly, as if fighting for her freedom.
"We have a physical attraction, Annabeth. Even if you hadn't saved me, I had already fallen for Professor Johnson on campus and he felt the same way … "
