The Tutor Mom’s Dangerous Deal - Chapter 5: Chapter 5
You are reading The Tutor Mom’s Dangerous Deal, Chapter 5: Chapter 5. Read more chapters of The Tutor Mom’s Dangerous Deal.
Just over a month later, the big day arrived—Ethan's Ivy League Business School entrance exam.
Victoria Evans and I walked him to the testing center like proud parents. True to form, Victoria blew him an exaggerated kiss that would've made a Hollywood starlet proud.
Ethan's cheeks flushed crimson as he shot me a quick, embarrassed glance before practically sprinting inside.
I immediately grabbed Victoria's arm. "For God's sake, Victoria! I'm standing right here—must you flirt with my son so shamelessly?"
She gave an infuriating shrug. "What? I'm helping. You've seen the results yourself."
Her complete lack of boundaries made my skin crawl. Somewhere between tutoring sessions and whatever else they'd been doing, she'd forgotten this was supposed to be temporary.
"Listen," I said slowly, locking eyes with her. "His grades have improved. He'll pass today. After this, I want you out of his life."
Victoria's expression shifted before she burst out laughing. "Oh Sophia, are you actually worried I'll run off with your precious boy?"
"That's not—" I took a steadying breath. "Once he's admitted, he'll need to focus. No distractions."
She tilted her head, considering me like I was some fascinating specimen. "Your son's... unexpectedly delicious. Give me one more month. Then poof—I vanish."
"Absolutely not."
The Ivy League didn't mess around—results in seven days, classes starting in two weeks. Another month of Victoria's "tutoring" would derail everything.
"Today's the last day you see him," I said firmly, then softened my tone. "I appreciate what you've done, Victoria. You're a mother too. You understand."
A beat of silence. Then that Cheshire cat smile.
"Crystal clear."
With a careless wave, she sauntered off. I watched her go, my stomach churning with regret. Maybe bringing her into our lives had been my first real mistake as a parent.
Hours later, Ethan emerged from the exam center scanning the crowd like a lost puppy.
"Mom? Where's Aunt Victoria?"
The hopeful note in his voice made my chest constrict. "She had to leave early."
"Oh." His entire posture deflated.
I quickly changed gears. "How'd it go?"
His grin returned full force. "Crushed it! Told you I would!"
Relief flooded through me. At least this battle was won. I took him out for a victory dinner, but the following week of waiting felt endless.
Ethan kept circling back to Victoria like a broken record. "When's she coming back?"
"Family emergency back home," I lied. "She'll visit when she can."
His mood darkened with each passing day. My son was well and truly hooked.
When the thick envelope finally arrived, I nearly cried. "Ethan! You're in!"
For a glorious moment, his excitement eclipsed his brooding. "Knew it!" He crushed me in a bear hug.
"My brilliant boy," I murmured into his hair.
"Mom, call Aunt Victoria! She has to know!" His intense stare pinned me in place.
Jaw clenched, I dialed under his watchful gaze. When Victoria answered, the line crackled with unmistakable... activity.
"Victoria," I said tightly, stepping away from Ethan's curious stare. "Ethan got into business school."
A pause. Then breathless laughter. "Congrats, Sophia. Guess what? I'm pregnant."
The blood drained from my face as I met Ethan's suddenly stormy expression.
Victoria Evans and I walked him to the testing center like proud parents. True to form, Victoria blew him an exaggerated kiss that would've made a Hollywood starlet proud.
Ethan's cheeks flushed crimson as he shot me a quick, embarrassed glance before practically sprinting inside.
I immediately grabbed Victoria's arm. "For God's sake, Victoria! I'm standing right here—must you flirt with my son so shamelessly?"
She gave an infuriating shrug. "What? I'm helping. You've seen the results yourself."
Her complete lack of boundaries made my skin crawl. Somewhere between tutoring sessions and whatever else they'd been doing, she'd forgotten this was supposed to be temporary.
"Listen," I said slowly, locking eyes with her. "His grades have improved. He'll pass today. After this, I want you out of his life."
Victoria's expression shifted before she burst out laughing. "Oh Sophia, are you actually worried I'll run off with your precious boy?"
"That's not—" I took a steadying breath. "Once he's admitted, he'll need to focus. No distractions."
She tilted her head, considering me like I was some fascinating specimen. "Your son's... unexpectedly delicious. Give me one more month. Then poof—I vanish."
"Absolutely not."
The Ivy League didn't mess around—results in seven days, classes starting in two weeks. Another month of Victoria's "tutoring" would derail everything.
"Today's the last day you see him," I said firmly, then softened my tone. "I appreciate what you've done, Victoria. You're a mother too. You understand."
A beat of silence. Then that Cheshire cat smile.
"Crystal clear."
With a careless wave, she sauntered off. I watched her go, my stomach churning with regret. Maybe bringing her into our lives had been my first real mistake as a parent.
Hours later, Ethan emerged from the exam center scanning the crowd like a lost puppy.
"Mom? Where's Aunt Victoria?"
The hopeful note in his voice made my chest constrict. "She had to leave early."
"Oh." His entire posture deflated.
I quickly changed gears. "How'd it go?"
His grin returned full force. "Crushed it! Told you I would!"
Relief flooded through me. At least this battle was won. I took him out for a victory dinner, but the following week of waiting felt endless.
Ethan kept circling back to Victoria like a broken record. "When's she coming back?"
"Family emergency back home," I lied. "She'll visit when she can."
His mood darkened with each passing day. My son was well and truly hooked.
When the thick envelope finally arrived, I nearly cried. "Ethan! You're in!"
For a glorious moment, his excitement eclipsed his brooding. "Knew it!" He crushed me in a bear hug.
"My brilliant boy," I murmured into his hair.
"Mom, call Aunt Victoria! She has to know!" His intense stare pinned me in place.
Jaw clenched, I dialed under his watchful gaze. When Victoria answered, the line crackled with unmistakable... activity.
"Victoria," I said tightly, stepping away from Ethan's curious stare. "Ethan got into business school."
A pause. Then breathless laughter. "Congrats, Sophia. Guess what? I'm pregnant."
The blood drained from my face as I met Ethan's suddenly stormy expression.
End of The Tutor Mom’s Dangerous Deal Chapter 5. Continue reading Chapter 6 or return to The Tutor Mom’s Dangerous Deal book page.