My heart jumps into my throat as the walls close in around me. This is it. My house of cards is caving in. I consider the consequences of going through with the exam. Can they force me to leave once they find out I’m pregnant? I don’t know, but right now, it feels like I have no choice.
“Fine,” I croak. “You have my permission to examine me.”
“Please unbutton your cardigan,” the nurse instructs as she steps forward.
I do as she requests, shielding the small bump that comes into view with my palm. Both women glance at each other with worried expressions before the nurse gently feels around my belly and uses her stethoscope to confirm the baby’s heartbeat. With a solemn expression, she steps back and nods.
“She’s definitely pregnant.”
“Stella.” Headmistress Gilbert’s tone takes on a seriousness I can’t ignore as she folds her hands across the desk. “I need to know who did this to you. I need a name.”
“What does that matter?” I argue.
“Louisa has also informed us that you and Mr. Carter have become rather close this year.” She slides some photos across the desk as she speaks. They’re not the best quality, but it’s obvious that Louisa caught Sebastian sneaking into the dorm several times. Still, I try to deny it.
“He’s my teacher.” I swallow.
“Well, if these photos are any indication, it looks as if that line has been blurred.”
“He helped me through some issues.” Panic causes my voice to rise. I don’t want Sebastian to lose his job because of me. And worse yet, I hate the way the headmistress is looking at me as if I just don’t know any better.
“Stella, I understand this may be personal,” she continues. “But I need to know when this affair started. Your birthday was near the beginning of the school year. Was it before or after this?”
“It wasn’t Sebastian,” I lie through my teeth.
“It was.” His voice spills into the office as he pushes open the cracked door behind me. My head whips around, our eyes clashing as he steps inside. I don’t know how long he was standing there listening to the conversation, but when his gaze falls to my belly, there’s no denying what he sees there. A heart-wrenching pain bleeds into his features as he stumbles forward and places his hands on the back of my chair as if he’s protecting me somehow. I look up at him, silently pleading for him not to throw himself in front of this oncoming train.
“Everything that happened between us is my fault,” he tells the headmistress. “And nothing inappropriate occurred before her birthday, but regardless, I take full responsibility. Stella is not to blame.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” Headmistress Gilbert stares at him in disbelief. “She’s a young woman who doesn’t know any better.”
“I’m not stupid,” I fire back. “I knew exactly what I was doing, and regardless of how you feel, I don’t think it was wrong.”
Sebastian squeezes my shoulder with a reassurance that I desperately need as Headmistress Gilbert’s eyes narrow in on me.
“No laws have been broken here,” he says. “And other than breaching school policy, Stella has not done anything that would warrant you holding her hostage. Stella, you are free to go. The headmistress and I will discuss the consequences of my actions in private.”
I want to protest, but I know it’s pointless. There’s nothing I can say to save Sebastian now, and regardless, he doesn’t want my help. He can take care of himself. He always has. But where that leaves me in the equation, I have no idea.
He helps me from the chair and brazenly pulls me toward him, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. “Don’t worry about anything. I’m going to take care of it.”
Whatever that means, I don’t know, but I close my eyes and shiver when he kisses my forehead right in front of the headmistress. I don’t want him to fight this battle on his own, but he ushers me toward the door and tells me to wait outside. As soon as I’m on the steps, I find Sybil waiting for me there.
“Oh my God.” She practically flings herself at me. “What is going on, Cherrybomb?”
“She knows,” I answer grimly. “She’s talking to Sebastian now.”
“Don’t be mad.” She squeezes me in a bear hug. “I told him you were here. I didn’t want to, but I had a horrible feeling about this.”
I’m too exhausted to be angry with her, and when I sneak a glance at my watch, I realize I’m also running late.
“Crap. I have to go.” I hurriedly secure the buttons of my cardigan and ditch my backpack on the steps.
“Where?” she asks.
I don’t have enough energy to keep lying to her, and I just hope she doesn’t try to talk me out of it. “I think my dad is here. I know it sounds crazy, but there was a note under my door this morning. He wants me to meet him out front.”
“Seriously?” Her eyes flare. “Why do I feel like my head is about to explode right now?”