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“Those rumors are the fruits of Miss Peterson’s poisonous tree She will be dealt with, I assure you”

“Well, you need to step it up”

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed “What was that?”

Paul shifted his weight, but he would not be deterred

“When I arrived yesterday, I overheard a couple of the old folks talking about Julia They assura Julianne’s paper ell presented and well received There’s also the littleher”—at this, Gabriel waved his hand distastefully—“I married her”

“She may be your wife, but you don’t deserve her”

Gabriel took astep closer

“What did you say?”

Paul drew hiht, which was an inch taller than his former professor

“I said you don’t deserve her”

“You think I don’t know that?”

Gabriel threw his china coffee cup in frustration It sht when I fall asleep with her inwhen I wake up, rateful she married me I will never be worthy of her But I spend every day trying my damnedest You were her friend when she needed one But listen to me when I tell you, Paul, you do not want to pushsilence passed between them Gabriel held on to his temper as the result of a Herculean effort

Paul was the first to look away

“When I first met her, she was so jumpy I felt like I had to whisper just so I wouldn’t scare her She isn’t like that anymore”

“No, she isn’t”

Paul hunched his shoulders “She was telling ram at Harvard over lunch She loves it”

“I know that” Gabriel’s expression grew even darker “And I know you want her I’aze “You’re wrong”

“Wrong?” The Professor challenged hi a step forward They were now ry and threatening

“I don’t just want her I love her She’s the one”

Gabriel stared at him incredulously “She can’t be the one She’s my wife!”

“I know”

Paul looked over the Professor’s shoulder at Woodstock Road, shaking his head

“I irl The kind of woman I could introduce tofor ht, we beca and broke her heart, I was there She cried oncouch”

Gabriel snapped his jaw shut furiously

“The semester ended and she followed her dream to Harvard I helped her move I found her a part-time job and an apartment But when I finally told her how I felt, when I finally asked her to choose me, she couldn’t Not because she didn’t care aboutBut because she was in love with the assle who broke her heart”

Paul laughed without auy, he’s bad news He fks around He treats her like dirt He drinks too much For all I know, he seduced her for kicks He was involved with a professor who hits on her students and is into BDSM So who knohat he does to irl behind closed doors? When he leaves her, I’ now she has a chance to be with soentle with her and never, everastonish returns And what does he do? He asks her to marry him And she accepts!”