Nights Burn With Regret — by Nathan Perez 153
Chapter 153
Chapter 153
Violet
I stood up from the table slowly, the scrape of wood against the floor cutting through the silence.
| bhesn
“I wonder what you’ll choose,” I said quietly, my tone calm. “Though I already have a pretty good idea what someone like you would choose.”
I turned and walked toward the door, my steps unhurried. I was just about to open it when something nudged at the back of my mind.
“Oh, by the way,” I added casually. I stopped, turned back, and lifted my left hand slightly, letting the diamond on my ring finger catch the light.
Nora’s head snapped up. Her eyes locked onto my hand, her mouth falling open.
“Just so you know, I’m married, Nora.”
Her eyes widened further, disbelief written all over her face. “What?”
“If I ever wanted attention from a man, I would only need to ask my husband. He gives me everything. I don’t need to sell myself to anyone.”
Before she could say another word, I opened the door.
Roman stood outside with the dean and several professors, their expressions guarded and tense. I smiled politely and stepped aside.
“Please,” I said. “You can come in. We’re done.”
They exchanged glances before entering. Roman was the first inside, followed by the dean and the rest. Nora was already on her feet now, standing stiffly, the documents clenched in her hands, her breathing uneven.
Roman turned to me. “Are you okay, Violet?”
“I am.” I nodded and turned to Nora. “But I believe Nora has something to say.”
The dean frowned, his gaze sharp. “Something to say? What exactly do you have to say, Miss Nora?”
All eyes turned to her.
She looked at the professors, then at me, but the moment her gaze met mine, she dropped it again, as though even looking at me stirred fear in her. Her fingers trembled around the papers.
“I-” she started.
One of the professors scoffed impatiently. “Why are we even waiting? Someone like her won’t tell the truth. She’s manipulative, selfish, and, frankly, dishonorable. She’s the kind of person who twists facts to suit her own story. I don’t see why we’re wasting our time.”
“I did it,” she cut in sharply.
The room went completely silent. Even the dean blinked, stunned, “What did you say?”
Nora swallowed hard, her shoulders shaking. “I said… I did it.” Her voice cracked, but she forced the words out. “I slept with older men. For money, and attention.”
21:13 Tue, Jan 13
Chapter 153
37
All the professors went silent the moment Nora admitted it. The shock was obvious on their faces as they stared at her. Even Roman, who had been calm and composed throughout everything, looked stunned for a brief second. His gaze shifted to me instinctively, as if he expected some reaction. But my expression didn’t change. My face remained blank, and unreadable, as if this outcome had already been decided in my mind long before it happened.
As expected, this was the choice she would make.
Nora would rather be known as a gold-digger than lose someone like Matthew.
I didn’t know whether to call her foolish or just pitiful. She was destroying herself, her pride, her reputation, all for a man like Matthew. Even if money played a part, even if love wasn’t involved, it still didn’t make sense. Matthew wasn’t worth this. He was a coward who only loved himself, someone who would never stand up for anyone but his own comfort. But then again, people like Nora and Matthew suited each other perfectly. They would ruin each other eventually, and maybe that was fate doing its job.
The professors exchanged uneasy looks, some glancing between Nora and me, others swallowing nervously as if they had just realized something important.
One of them spoke in a low voice, barely hiding his unease. “God… we should be careful. How did she make someone like Nora confess so easily?”
Another professor nodded slowly, eyes lingering on me. “She’s not like before. The Violet I used to teach would never have handled things like this.”
I ignored their whispers completely. Their opinions didn’t matter anymore. I turned my attention to the dean instead, meeting his gaze calmly. “I believe everything will be handled properly now, and the right punishment will be given to her, sir.”
The dean studied me for a long moment, as if weighing something in his mind, before nodding firmly. “Yes, Miss Violet. Don’t worry. I will take care of it.”
Satisfied, I nodded in response and turned to leave, already done with this entire situation. But before I could take a full step
I felt fingers clutch around my wrist. I stopped and looked down to see Nora/holding onto me, her grip trembling.
away,
“W-wait… Violet,” she whispered. “You won’t do it, right? You won’t show Matthew this.”
I slowly turned back to her, raising an eyebrow as I studied her face. “That depends on how you behave.”
Her face crumbled instantly, color draining from it as fear replaced everything else. Her lips trembled as she hissed, “But, you promised-”
I leaned closer, lifting a lock of her hair from her face and pushing it back slowly.
My voice dropped as I spoke near her ear.
“Promise?” I murmured. “I never promised you anything. I only told you to choose.”
I pulled back just enough for her to see my eyes. “And you chose to ruin your own life for a man who will never love you. That’s pathetic.” My voice remained calm, and merciless. “Just like you used other people’s lives as leverage, I’ll use yours
too.”
Straightening, I looked down at her one last time. “Get ready, Nora. Things are about to get much more interesting for you.”
Her eyes widened as she stumbled back a step, unable to say a single word.
21:13 Tue, Jan 13