I tried to push past him. He blocked my exit.
"Mrs. Gilbert... don't blame the Professor," Hazel whimpered, shrinking back. "He's a man. You don't let him touch you—he's been suffering... I just felt sorry for him."
Red haze clouded my vision. I stepped forward and slapped her across the face.
*Smack!*
"What are you doing?!"
Thomas shoved me. Hard.
My lower back slammed into the door handle. Pain exploded in my spine and shot through my lower abdomen like a lightning bolt.
I doubled over, gasping, but Thomas didn't even look at me. His hands were cupping Hazel's face, examining her cheek.
"Are you okay? I'll take you to the hospital."
"It's my fault," Hazel sobbed. "I made Mrs. Gilbert misunderstand. She has every right to hit me..."
The commotion drew the others. The door pushed open, revealing the crowd of students and my mother-in-law.
"Elise!" my mother-in-law screeched. "Have you lost your mind? Hazel is a good girl—she brought gifts, she helped out!"
"Your 'good girl' is a mistress seducing a married man," I spat, clutching my stomach.
My mother-in-law took one look at the scene—the disheveled clothes, the tension—and knew exactly what had happened.
Yet she sneered.