Chapter 166 Lucy's Hotel Room

Chapter 166 Lucy's Hotel Room
Arden's POV

I went to the hotel to make sure that Lucy was okay. I didn't trust Brady to not know where she was. It might be wrong as a professor to be with a student like this, but there are more important issues that force me to be with her and to protect someone that is in danger. She might be only nineteen but she is afraid and I see that on her face every day in class since he got back. She never misses one class. When I teach, she is mesmerized by the lesson and I love it when a student is passionate about the subject, unlike Lana. When Lana was my student, I could clearly see the lack of passion for it resulting in her grades being poor. It was my opportunity to be with her because that moment I first laid eyes on her, I had to have her.

I knocked on the hotel room door and then, within a minute, the door opened. Frightened, huge eyes, stared back at me. "Are you okay?" I asked.

Her shoulders sagged with relief. "Yes, Professor," she said. She moved to the side, opening the door wider, and I entered. I placed my hands inside of my pants pockets as I turned around to face her as she closed the door.

"I just want to thank you for earlier today. I didn't know what might've happened if you weren't there. Everyone had left already and it was just my brother and I," she said as she looked at me awkwardly.

"Has he always done it to you..." I rephrased my question, "When did it start?" I asked.

She walked past me and I turned around as she took a seat on a recliner. I took a seat on the other recliner across from her, looking at her, hoping that she would tell me everything. "He was always arrogant, always a...troublemaker... disrespected my parents, but they didn't care about his attitude. He hung out with the football team a lot and they went to parties. When my parents weren't home, they would invite almost everyone to our home to have a party. I was always hiding in my room because one of his friends was drunk one time, and he tried to come on to me. I always just hid away in my room, and for hours I had wished that it could stop. They always spoke about a girl named Lana, how she had a crush on him, but she never knew to what extent my brother would be. Until I heard that they planned to go to the club and invite her. I didn't care because I wanted to be alone and with no parties. I do know that he could've been on something. I was young but I could look after myself. My brother became angrier, but he had already started shoving me around and slapped me. When he came back a few days ago...he was worse and I'm really thankful to you and your fiance for getting me away," she said as her eyes glazed over. My jaw clenched as I looked at her. I was filled with anger, no one should have to go through that.

"Lana is my fiance, Lana Stern is that same girl that they were talking about. He wants to get back at us for ruining his reputation but we are sorting that out. It is the least of your worries," I said. Her eyes were huge.

"I didn't know...I'm-I'm sorry," she said with sadness.

"I was there for her and helped her to get through the assault because of your brother. I would do it all over again. She lost many things in her life and I lost just as much. I don't mind being here for you or any other student either. We all have problems at home, and we just do not know what extent they might be. I'm just happy that I knew that something was going on with you and that I was in time to save another life. But you will have security and I will make sure that your brother doesn't make another move." I tried to reassure her of her safety.

"I don't know what more to say, but thank you. I just needed to work and get a place of my own, hoping that he would still stay away. He only ever shows up, looking for me because of money and sometimes to cook his favorite meals. We used to have a nanny and a cook, but they all left when my parents said that we were old enough to take care of ourselves. I had to learn how to cook and clean everything while Brady was acting like a spoiled little boy who was in high school and he was supposed to be the one to look after me. But I'm glad that I could learn how to do things, because when I meet someone one day, then I do know the basics and not to depend on a maid or anything like that. It is a whole different case since my parents have been away most of the time because we had everything. I miss how things used to be before that," she gave me a little sad smile. Oh, I know exactly how that feels.

"I want you to know that we are here for you, and call me or the manager of this hotel when you need anything." I said as I stood up. "I do have to go, and I will see you tomorrow in class," I said.

She stood up too and then I walked over to the door. "Professor," she said, and I turned around, but she wrapped her arms around me and I was stunned. I didn't know what to do, if I should hug her back or not. This has never happened before with a student except for Lana. Hesitantly, I wrapped my arms around her, but hoping that she would pull away and she did. My hands are now at my sides and I am still stunned. "Thank you," she smiled.

I nodded, "Have a great day further," I said and then I left.

I was not expecting that at all. But I guess she hardly gets any hugs, she probably needed one. I just wanted to make sure that everything was okay. I cannot rest until something is done about Brady.