Page 53 of His Virgin Romance Series

“This time, he got angry when I pushed him away,” I said softy. “He told me that I was a tease and a seductress, and that I had wanted him to touch me. I had brought this on myself.”

“That bastard,” Jared said, through gritted teeth.

“When I tried to leave, he blocked the door and tried to kiss me again. This time, I shoved him away from me as hard as I could, and he stumbled back and nearly fell. I threatened to go to the dean and report him.

“But he reminded me that I was just a student, and he had tenure, not to mention the dean’s ear. All he had to do was tell everyone that I had come on to him in hopes that I could seduce him into giving me a good grade.”

“That motherfucker,” Jared said angrily.

“After that… I stopped going to his classes. He kept trying to contact me, and I finally realized that I couldn’t stay there. He had all the power, and I had none.”

“You should have gone to the police,” Jared said. “And reported him. If the dean wasn’t going to listen to you—”

“The police weren’t going to listen to me either,” I said, cutting him off. “This is a man’s world, Jared—everything works against me, including the system.”

“You really believe that?” he asked.

“If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t have left,” I told him. “I don’t regret leaving, you know. The only thing I regret is not being able to finish my degree.”

He shook his head. “It’s not fair, what happened to you.”

“Life’s not fair,” I said. “But it needs to be endured all the same. I can start over… that’s why I came here in the first place. It doesn’t matter that John Gilbert thinks he’s achieved by running me out of town; he hasn’t won at all because I will start over. I have started over.”

Jared reached out and took my hand. “You’re stronger than you look. I knew that the day I met you.”

I smiled. “I always thought that about myself, too.”

“You should go back to school,” Jared said. “A new school, somewhere here… You should transfer your credits and finish your degree.”

“I’ve been thinking about it.” I nodded. “But I have to earn the money to pay for my tuition first. My parents are not going to help because of what happened last time.”

“You can do it,” Jared said confidently.

I smiled. “You think so?”

“Oh, without a doubt,” Jared said firmly. “You’re made of stronger stuff than John Gilbert ever knew. But don’t worry… I know it.”

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