Looking out for her. Right. All the way into bed.
I swallowed my fury with every ounce of self-control I had and kept my voice even.
"Mm. I know. I was wrong to jump to conclusions about you two."
His brow smoothed at that.
"I'm glad you understand."
"Oh, by the way, honey. The organizers want a family member to say a few words at the ceremony. I was thinking of letting Vivian do it, give her some experience. What do you think..."
The implication was crystal clear.
I buried the ice in my eyes and shrugged, feigning indifference.
"It's your award. Your call."
The days slipped by, and soon enough, the ceremony arrived.
My best friend had planted someone backstage. The moment Vivian finished her speech, the footage would play.
The entire university had turned out for this event. Faculty, students, even officials from the Board of Education. The exhibition hall seated thousands, and every chair was taken.
Vivian was sitting right behind me, whispering with her roommates about me.
"Isn't that Professor Weiss's wife? Vivian, didn't you say she was some frumpy old hag? She's actually pretty good-looking."
Vivian rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with contempt.
"Are you blind? What's pretty about that trashy woman?"
The others all knew about her closeness with Elmer, and none of them wanted to get on her bad side, so they played along.
"I didn't get a good look earlier. Now that I see her up close, she really can't compare to you."
Vivian's voice swelled with smugness.
"As if she could ever compare to me. Professor Weiss gave me the chance to speak in front of the entire school. That washed-up tramp can sit down there and watch."
Her voice wasn't exactly quiet. From where I sat in the row ahead, I heard every single word.
Fine. Let her have her little moment.
Once the video drops, that smirk will be gone for good.
Soon enough, it was time for Elmer to accept his award.
He gripped the trophy, swept his gaze across the audience, and let it land squarely on Vivian.
"Today, I want to give special thanks to someone: my student, Vivian Mercer."
"I used to believe that burying myself in research was my life's purpose. But ever since she came along, I realized there's so much more in this world worth exploring."
"To be precise, she's not just my student. She's also my teacher."
"Why don't we give her a round of applause and invite her up to say a few words?"