Novel Squares
Homeschool teacher
As the evening wore on, Max found himself unable to shake the events of that afternoon from his mind. The sight of Mia entering that unfamiliar luxurious vehicle and the unsettling call from the other day…
Everything seemed to fit together, connecting the dots. However, it was difficult for him to accept the truth. How could she be involved in that?
How could someone he had known for half his life possess such a side to her? Was it because of their breakup? Perhaps she had fallen into depression and resorted to… actions, since their relationship had ended.
The thoughts continued to haunt him deep into the night.
Feeling overwhelmed, he finally reached for his phone and dialed Mia’s number, determined to hear the truth directly from her. Maybe then he could come to terms with it.
____
After a tumultuous day, Mia eventually retired to bed, completely drained from her schoolwork and her relentless complaints about Shawn visiting her school. The exhaustion weighed heavily on her.
Shawn, amused by her endless grievances, couldn’t help but marvel at her attitude. If other women received the attention that the Little One did, they would be overjoyed to the extent that they’d go crazy. But this particular wife of his.
Though he had his own share of work at the office, he had chosen to surprise her. So, once it was almost closing time for schools that day, he had Lucas drive over to her school, sending Jasper home first. If only he had known…
“Goodnight, Little One,” he whispered, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead before ensuring she was tucked in snugly.
After this, he picked up his tablet phone and made his way to his study, but just before reaching the door, he heard a phone vibrating.
Noticing the sound, he glanced over at the sleeping girl and, seeing that she remained undisturbed, he chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement. What a sleepy head.
He decided to head to the small lounge area to silence her phone.
Retrieving the device from her bag, he was about to power it down when the caller ID caught his eye, causing him to frown.
Didn’t the boy understand simple instructions?
Shawn’s gaze flickered between Mia and the buzzing phone in his grasp. In a swift motion, he stepped out of the bedroom and without hesitation, answered the call.
“What part of ‘do not ever call this number again’ do you not understand?” His voice resonated with an icy edge.
On the other end, Max was taken aback, recognizing the familiar tone immediately. This voice had been etched in his memory since that day… Why was the person answering Mia’s phone this time too?
Shawn reiterated firmly, “Don’t EVER call this number again,” the sharp command ringing through the line, sending a chill down Max’s spine.
Just as Shawn was about to end the call, Max couldn’t resist asking a question, “What’s your relationship with Mia?”
For some inexplicable reason, he sensed that discovering the answer might shatter him.
Despite his curiosity about Mia’s involvement, a part of him dreaded the potential disappointment that awaited him. Nevertheless, the question slipped from his lips before he could restrain himself.
Shawn’s eyes narrowed as he replaced the phone to his ear. “I’m her husband,” he stated before abruptly ending the call.
Max was stunned. The words he thought he heard didn’t seem real. Did the man actually say that? His face drained of color. Mia was married? When did that happen? He wondered, baffled.
It couldn’t be true. It just couldn’t. They had only recently parted ways. How could she have moved on so quickly and gotten married? To whom?
Suddenly, Max began laughing uncontrollably. The man must have been joking. It had to be a joke. And to think he almost fell for it. How absurd.
If Mia were truly married, why hadn’t anyone heard anything about it? Plus, she wasn’t wearing a wedding band at school, at least not earlier that day when he saw her.
Amidst another burst of laughter, Max climbed into bed. Mia, married? Impossible. She loved only him, didn’t she?
For all he knew, Mia would never be able to get over him and move on to another person. Never!
There was no way the man’s words held any truth. She couldn’t have moved on that fast. Perhaps he had only said it to protect her, to cover for her profession.
However, why was that man the same person who had answered his call that day? Was he perhaps Mia’s most frequent client? The mere thought of it twisted something in Max’s heart for a brief moment.
Upon ending the call, Shawn promptly switched off the girl’s phone and, before doing so, blocked and deleted the boy’s number from it. If he dared to contact her from another number, then he would be courting death.
With an irritated sneer, Shawn strode into his study, immediately engrossing himself in work.
—–
The next morning…
“Change out of your uniform. From now on, I’ll be your teacher.”
The couple had just finished breakfast when the CEO’s words, low but commanding, filled the room.
Mia was initially taken aback, her gaze sweeping the dining area where the maids were present in their uniforms. Since he didn’t specify which uniform, it couldn’t be her, she reasoned.
As if reading her mind, Shawn lifted his head from the tablet, fixing his gaze directly on her. “I’m talking to you, Little One.”
She was rendered speechless, unable to form words for a few moments.
“I don’t quite understand,” she finally managed to stutter.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.
“It’s precisely as I said. Remove your school uniform. From this day forward, you won’t be attending school. I’ll be your homeschool teacher,” he declared, his voice firm.
Mia could only stare in disbelief. Was this some kind of joke? Or was she still caught in a dream? To check, she hastily pinched herself.
The jolt of pain confirmed her fears. This was reality.
Shawn maintained his impassive gaze, unfazed by her confusion.
“Why? Why are you saying this?” She asked, her voice tinged with bewilderment.
Her peers were all attending school…
“CSAT is just a couple of days away. Instead of my occasional tutoring at night, I’ll be your full-time teacher,” he stated firmly.
“What?”
“None of your teachers can match my expertise.” After a pause, the CEO added, “besides, it’s a waste of money. Despite attending school daily, you still seem rather lackluster.”
Mia blinked, while the maids suppressed snickers as they witnessed the scene. A stern glance from Madam Susan quickly silenced their amusement.
With a heavy heart, Mia rose from her seat and made her way upstairs. She had already dressed for school, but she knew better than to argue with Shawn. There was no point in negotiating with him; his decisions were final.
A while later, Shawn joined her in the bedroom, and their lessons for the day commenced.
Yet, lingering in the back of her mind, Mia couldn’t help but wonder, ‘What about his work?’