Summary

Amelia: I came to university to prove I could make something of myself, not to fall for the one man I’m absolutely not supposed to want. Adrian Mercer is my professor, my biggest critic, and the only person who seems to see past every excuse I make. The more time I spend with him, the harder it becomes to remember where the line is. Adrian: I have rules for a reason. Students are off-limits, and I’ve never had trouble following that rule until Amelia Hart walked into my classroom. She challenges me, frustrates me, and somehow gets under my skin more than anyone ever has. I know exactly what I stand to lose, but keeping my distance is becoming harder than I expected.

Before You Begin

THE EXCEPTION

Liz Wayne

The Exception

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, organizations, and locations are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the author, except for brief quotations used in reviews or commentary.

Dedication

For the people who have ever been told they were too much, too broken, or too difficult to love.

You were never too much.

You were simply waiting for the right pages to find you.

A Note From the Author

Hi, reader. 🤍

Before you begin The Exception, I want to say thank you for giving this story a chance.

This book is a little messy, a little emotional, and filled with characters who aren’t always going to make the right choices. That’s intentional. I wanted to write people who feel human, who carry things they don’t always know how to talk about, and who are still trying to figure themselves out along the way.

However, this story also deals with some heavy subjects.

Please take care of yourself while reading. You never have to push through a chapter simply because you want to know what happens next. It’s completely okay to skip a scene, take a break, or put the book down altogether.

The Exception is fiction. The difficult experiences portrayed in this story are not intended to romanticize, glorify, or excuse abuse, assault, trauma, or disordered eating.

Content Warnings

This book contains references to or depictions of:

Child abuse, Emotional and psychological abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic violence, Off-page/off-screen abuse, Sexual assault, Rape and references to sexual violence, Trauma and PTSD-related themes, eating disorders and disordered eating, Mental health struggles, Manipulation and controlling behavior, Grief and loss, Toxic relationships, Alcohol/substance references, Strong language, Mature romantic themes

Some of these subjects may be discussed without being shown directly, while others may appear within the story.

Please use your own judgment when deciding whether this book is right for you.

And finally, remember that fiction should never come at the cost of your wellbeing.

If you need to step away, step away.

The story will still be here.

With love,

Liz Wayne 🖤

For the Record

The Exception is a fictional story intended for mature readers.

The relationships and situations portrayed within this book should not be considered models for healthy relationships, professional conduct, or real-life behavior. Some choices made by the characters are intentionally flawed and are part of their individual arcs.

This story explores complicated emotions and difficult circumstances. Understanding a character is not the same as excusing their actions.