Rivals In Love (Love In Montana Book 4)

Georgia's tears fell incessantly as she stared at the broken fragments of her laptop. She knew it was useless to take out her frustration and anger on Brian. He was more a heartless monster than her brother. For him, money was everything and relationships always took a backseat but this time she wouldn't give in to his demands. She wouldn't part with the money that her dad had transferred to her account. She would lodge a complaint with the sheriff if the need arose.

After cleaning up, she sat quietly, deep in thought. The major problem that loomed up in front of her was what she would submit to professor Harrisburg tomorrow? Without the project, she would lose out on her marks and also the semester. After a restless night Georgia was ready to face the new day. She wouldn't hide inside her home. She would face her professor and request him to consider her situation and extend the deadline by a few days. With that resolve, she drove to her college.

As she walked towards her class she noticed an exuberant Ryan laughing at the corridor with his friends. Georgia didn't give him a single glance. Why should she? He didn't exist for her anymore. He had used her just like an enemy would. So, he was her enemy in the true sense of the word.

Ryan's eyes widened seeing her after two weeks, looking like a corpse. He had heard that her mother had died and that Allen McLean was critical. To his surprise, she didn't look at him, ignoring his very existence. He had expected her to plead with him to share his project with her but she had just disappeared the last two weeks. He shrugged and continued with their topic with his friends but his thoughts were on Georgia. He wanted to see what she would submit without his help. He wanted to teach the McLean's a lesson for getting at his family. He wanted to see her on her knees, pleading with him to share his project work with her.

Later when it was time for the Applied Nutrition class, they all walked into the class and took their respective seats. Georgia mustered up all courage to face the humiliation that was in store for her. 

She sat near the door so that if professor Harrisburg threw her out of the class, she could just slip out easily. She didn't look up when Ryan walked in, looking confident as ever. She didn't look up when the professor walked in. 

After teaching a new chapter, towards the end of the class, professor Harrisburg started discussing the marking scheme of the project. Finally all the students were asked to submit their work but Georgia sat quietly, trying to draw as little attention to herself as possible. She wanted to disappear from the class but sadly it wasn't possible. Everybody submitted their work and settled back in their seats. The professor counted the number of submissions and found one short as expected. 

He looked up at all the students. "There's one submission yet to come in. Who hasn't done the project work?" He asked, scanning all the students. Georgia's heart started beating fast with nervousness. She knew that he wouldn't let this go. She stood up slowly, with her eyes cast down. There was a pin drop silence in the whole class.

"Ms. McLean, may I ask you why didn't you think it necessary to do the project assigned to you?" Asked the professor showing displeasure. 

"I had  done it, sir. My older brother broke my laptop and now I lost everything that was saved there," she told him truthfully. 

The professor laughed sarcastically, not believing a word she said. "A new excuse. Do you realize that you will have to repeat this semester? Your marks are so low that you would have to re-appear in all the exams taken so far," he growled out.

Georgia hung her head in shame.  "Yes sir. I know. I can complete it if you give me a few days time to redo it, " she asked hopefully. 

"I've given enough time and I won't give you any more. Your partner had complained for your lack of enthusiasm in the project. He had to complete it all on his own, so I don't think you even want to study. Stop wasting your parents' money, Ms. McLean, " shouted the professor. Georgia stared at him with disbelief. She wasn't enthusiastic about the project? How could Ryan lie about it? She had to battle at home to continue with her studies. For her everyday was a nightmare and yet she battled it out and attended college regularly. Tears accumulated in her eyes.

"That's not true sir, I'm very much interested in studies. I loved doing the project," she started but the professor shut her up.

"I can see your enthusiasm, Ms McLean. You will not get any marks for this which only means that you will repeat my subject in the next semester," said the professor, collecting his things. "That will be all for today, class. Ms McLean, meet your academic counselor today before you leave." He strode out of the classroom and Georgia sat slumped to the chair, as the tears fell from her eyes. 

Ryan felt guilty for lying to the professor to get his way. He had no idea that she would have to repeat the semester because of him. He got up to talk to her but she just collected her stuff and ran out of the classroom, wiping her tears. He ran after her but she had simply disappeared by the time he went out. He sat slumped on the stairs nearby. He had wanted to teach the McLean's a lesson but after seeing Georgia's tears, the pain that she went through because of him, the humiliation that she faced because of him, he couldn't face himself any more. His conscience pricked him so much that he just drove out of the college to catch up with her on the way. He had no idea why he had hurt her so much when it wasn't her fault at all. Her brothers were criminals and she was suffering at their hands as much as they were.

He drove fast but there were no signs of Georgia all the way to Fordsville. He swerved his car out of the roads and parked at the side. Holding onto his head he felt like crying.

"God! What have I done?" He mumbled to himself. He nad never imagined that she wouldn't be able to submit a single page. Did her brothers really break her laptop? Was she physically abused at home?

The more and more he remembered the haggard look on her face, the more guilty he became. If he wouldn't have been so selfish, if only he had helped her! But crying over spilled milk never helps, does it? Despite Ryan's tears and guilt, the hurt that he had inflicted upon Georgia was beyond repair. 

She drove home and quickly packed her stuff while her brothers were away. Afterwards, she walked into her dad's room to bid her final goodbye. Her dad looked up at her with a sad smile on his face.

"Leaving, Georgia?" He asked her as if he knew already. Georgia nodded.

"I wish I could take you with me, dad. There's no one here to look after you," she said with tears in her eyes. Her dad's eyes filled up with tears.

"If I would have been well enough to go, I would have accompanied you but sadly I'm not. I'm getting punished for everything that I've done to Rose and you," said her dad.

"I forgive you, dad," she said, wiping his tears. Her dad smiled.

"Thank you. Have a great and happy life and never come back here to these monsters, " said her dad. "I won't live for long, dear. Don't part with the money that I gave you. It's yours," said her dad.

"I won't, dad. Take care of yourself. I'll call you every night," she said kissing his cheek. Her dad hugged her for the last time and kissed her forehead. 

Georgia loaded all her stuff onto her car and drove to her aunt Dorothy's house in Wyoming. It was a long seven hour drive but she was used to it, having driven on the route twice already. Her heart was broken and her whole body was numb with the humiliation that she had to undergo but  now she was determined to put it all behind her.

She would start afresh and never ever return to Fordsville. There was nothing left for her there.

Ryan drove home dejectedly. After that dreadful day, he never saw Georgia at the college. Later when he asked Macy about Georgia, she just shrugged.

"I'd gone to the admin office last week. They informed me that Georgia had left college. They have already mailed her   a transfer certificate," said Macy, walking away. Ryan stood like a statue. Georgia left college? Which college did she join then?

But after a few days, he heard the biggest news from Ryder. Allen McLean died of a severe brain stroke after his daughter left Fordsville forever!