Chapter 3

The slap made blood ooze from the corner of Clarissa's mouth.

She didn't say a word and gave him a fierce slap in return.

Grover was stunned. He never saw it coming. Hazel stood there, dumbfounded.

Hazel blurted out, "Mrs. Porter, please don't hit Professor Porter. If you're angry, take it out on me..."

Clarissa cut her off, glaring at Grover. "Grover, I haven't even had a chance to explain. Why won't you hear me out? Are you really going to believe everything Hazel says?"

"Yes, I trust Hazel. This isn't the first time you've picked on her!" Grover snapped.

Clarissa remembered what happened three years ago, back when she had no clue Grover was cheating on her. Hazel was still a grad student then. She suddenly became the target of an online scandal.

Everyone online was calling her a homewrecker, saying she was interfering in her professor's relationship.

They called her immoral and shameless.

Some people even demanded that the president of Thands University kick her out and not let her graduate.

Back then, just like today, Hazel marched right up to Clarissa and demanded, "Why did you do this to me?"

Clarissa was completely lost. She had no clue what Hazel was talking about. She also didn't know about the online scandal.

She'd always trusted Grover and believed that he only ever loved her.

Grover was her childhood sweetheart. Clarissa believed that he would never betray her.

It wasn't until she saw them kissing that she finally believed their affair.

After Clarissa got back together with Grover, she tried to clear things up with him.

Every time, Grover would just say, "You don't need to explain. I trust you. No matter what anyone else says, I believe you."

But in the end, he still believed that she was the one who did it.

He never truly trusted her.

Tears welled up in Clarissa's eyes as she scoffed, "So what now? What do you want from me? If you're so sure I had someone bully her, then just call the cops on me!"

Hazel shook her head, panicked. "Don't call the police.

"I don't want the police involved. If people find out, I'll get roasted online again. Professor, I'm so scared. I can't go through that again!"

Grover gently took her hand.

"Don't be afraid. I promise that nothing like that will ever happen to you again," he said.

Then he turned to Clarissa, his face cold. "You're the heiress of the Woods family. Even if you end up in the police station, you'll probably walk away unscathed.

"I want you to apologize to Hazel. Once you do, I'll let this go. But Clarissa, let me make this clear. From now on, I'm going to look after Hazel.

"I won't abandon her again, and I will never let you bully her!"

"And what if I say I won't apologize?" Clarissa shot back.

"If you don't apologize, I'll make sure the Woods family is wiped off the map in Thands. Clarissa, you know how I am, don't you?" Grover said coldly.

Clarissa clenched her fists at her sides, her nails digging deep into her palms. She bit down on her lip so hard that she tasted blood.

Grover was a professor. He was also the heir to the Porter family.

After the Porter family and the Woods family joined forces through marriage, most of the Woods family's business came from the Porters.

Without the Porters, the Woods family would be back to square one.

Clarissa's father had spent years clawing his way up to earn a place in the business world.

She couldn't let a moment of anger destroy the company her father had worked so hard for and was so proud of.

"Grover, are you seriously using my father's company to threaten me?" Clarissa asked.

"You forced my hand. As long as you stop hurting Hazel, I won't mess with your father's company, and I won't threaten you anymore!" Grover shot back.

Grover's tone was firm. In the end, Clarissa admitted defeat.

"Fine, I'll apologize," she muttered.

Clarissa gave Hazel a bow.

"I'm sorry. I won't bully you anymore," she said.

Hazel said while sniffling, "It's okay. Mrs. Porter, I hope you understand that I don't have any feelings for Professor Porter.

"I only see him as a mentor. I won't repeat what happened three years ago."

Grover cut in, "Did you hear that?"

Grover sighed, helping Clarissa to her feet.

"Clarissa, this is the last time. If you ever do this again, I won't go easy on you," he warned.

With that, he turned and helped Hazel onto the hospital bed.

"Get some rest. Are you feeling uncomfortable?" Grover asked.

He spoke to Hazel with such tenderness, his movements so delicate, as if she were a fragile vase that could shatter at any moment.

Clarissa turned and walked out of the hospital room, taking out her phone to dial her lawyer.

"Mr. West, go ahead and file the divorce agreement I left with you three years ago at the City Hall," she said.

"Understood, Mrs. Porter. The divorce will be finalized in seven days," Winston West replied.