Betrayed by Family and Fiancée Chapter 1

"Professor Adler, I am heading back stateside soon. Could you please talk some sense into Phillip? Convince him to take the teaching position and stay at the university?"

Professor Adler let out a heavy sigh over the phone.

"Freya, what you and his family did back then truly broke that boy."

"Whether he stays or leaves is entirely out of my hands. It is his life."

Freya’s voice trembled, bleeding with desperation.

"Professor, I know I messed up. I just want to come back and make things right with Phillip. Please, you have to help me!"

Professor Adler looked through the glass window of her office, watching me meticulously prepare test tubes in the lab. She took a moment to steady her breathing.

"Freya, a mistake is a mistake. You and Simon intentionally tampered with his food. You poisoned him so Simon could steal his fellowship spot. You nearly killed him."

"Expecting his forgiveness now? You are asking for a miracle."

* * *

I was right in the middle of organizing my research data when Professor Adler called me into her office.

"Phillip, Freya is flying back from Europe."

I froze for a split second before a bitter smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.

"She chose Simon. Her coming back has absolutely nothing to do with me."

"I am hardly going to waste my time chasing a ghost."

Professor Adler slid two application folders across her desk.

"Freya and your parents have been calling me non-stop. They want me to convince you to accept the faculty position here."

"The choice is yours. Whatever you decide, I will back you."

I looked down at the two folders. Two entirely different futures laid out right in front of me.

Without a word, I reached out and pulled the bottom folder toward me.

Professor Adler let out a long, quiet breath.

"I knew it. I knew you could never just sweep it under the rug."

I grabbed a tissue from her desk, handed it to her, and crouched down beside her chair.

"It is not about holding onto grudges, Professor. I just do not want my life entangled with theirs anymore."

"The Defense Institute is secluded. It will be quiet. That is all I want."

Her eyes softened, swimming with a quiet heartbreak. She had watched her favorite student endure an unimaginable betrayal, and she had been powerless to stop it.

"Do what your heart tells you, Phillip. I will handle your parents. I will get them off your back."

I took her wrinkled hand in mine, my chest tight with gratitude.

"Thank you, Professor. For everything you have done these past few years."

I was just reaching for the doorknob to leave when her voice stopped me.

"Phillip. I know there is a lot of anger in you. But your mother is unwell. She has been in and out of the hospital. She really wants you to visit."

I clenched my jaw, my knuckles turning white around the brass handle.

"She gave you life, Phillip. Just go see her once before you leave."

I gave a stiff nod.

My throat felt like sandpaper when I finally spoke. "Okay."