Chapter 2

2

"I did go to her office because I was failing," Caleb lied, his voice trembling. "But she told me that was the price for not sleeping with her. She said it was just the beginning."

He suddenly lunged at me, grabbing my collar with a wild look in his eyes.

"Professor Vance, when will you stop lying? Stop hurting me!"

"Dean, please help me! I can't be under this woman's thumb anymore!"

Once they pulled him off me, he curled up in a corner, whispering nonsense to himself. He looked like the perfect, broken victim.

Every female administrator in the room looked moved. Students were outside taking photos through the glass.

A picture of Caleb huddled in the corner with red-rimmed eyes went viral. It was the definition of "shattered innocence."

My boyfriend, Leo Sterling, stood there and looked at me with pure disgust.

"Clara, Caleb is my cousin. How could you do this to him? I don't even know who you are anymore."

With one sentence, he nailed me to the cross. My termination notice came shortly after.

Caleb's parents, Leo's own aunt and uncle, filed a lawsuit against me for sexual misconduct. The lawyer representing them? My own boyfriend, Leo.

Fans doxed my address. They wrote slurs on my door, sent me death threats, and smashed my car windows.

My parents called to tell me I was no longer their daughter. I was a stain on the family name.

When Leo officially broke up with me under "family pressure," it was the final straw. I couldn't survive another day of that nightmare.

I stood on the same rooftop Caleb had used. But unlike him, I actually jumped.

My body hit the pavement and was crushed by a passing car. But my rage was too thick for my soul to leave.

I saw Caleb's classmates try to send letters to the Dean, explaining he failed because he was lazy. Those letters were conveniently lost.

After I died, Caleb posted another video.

"Even though Professor Vance destroyed me, she's gone now. Let her rest. I forgive her."

The internet praised his "saintly heart" while they spat on my memory. He gained a million followers overnight.

His bio read: "The storm has passed. With a kind heart, luck will follow."

Later, I found out the entire thing was Leo's idea. He was a shark lawyer who knew exactly how to manipulate the system.

"I just wanted her to lose her job so she'd be forced to marry me and stay home," I heard Leo tell Caleb. "My mom wanted grandkids. I didn't think she'd actually kill herself."

Caleb had just smirked. "It's fine, Leo. Now you can run my influencer accounts. She's dead, so she might as well contribute some value to the family."

They drained me dry, in life and in death. Caleb got his degree, became a massive star, and never changed that fake-ass bio.

I snapped back to reality, looking at Caleb standing in my office.

"Caleb, are you saying you want to jump?"

He probably thought I was scared. He repeated himself, louder this time.

"Yes! If you fail me, I'm jumping off this roof!"

This was the 15th floor. He didn't have the guts. He couldn't do it then, and he can't do it now.

"Caleb, attendance is a university requirement. You didn't meet it."

He pouted, trying to look cute. "Professor Vance, it's just ten points. Besides, you're going to be my sister-in-law soon."

I didn't answer. I did that last time, and look where it got me.

Seeing my cold expression, his fake vulnerability vanished.

"Fine, Clara. If you want to be a bitch, don't cry when I ruin you."

I smiled at him. "I'm just following the syllabus, Caleb."

He glared at me and slammed the door. As his footsteps faded, I pulled my phone from behind my computer and stopped the recording.

Caleb, let's see you frame me this time.

I immediately called his Dean. "Caleb Sterling just threatened to commit suicide in my office because he's failing. Are you going to handle this?"

"What? These Gen Z kids are so fragile! I'm coming right now!"

Then I called Leo's parents. "Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, it's terrible! Caleb is going to jump because of his grades! I've tried to stop him!"

Finally, I called Leo. I knew he was the architect, but I played my part. "Your cousin is on the roof. Get here now."

I didn't stop there. I alerted the school paper, the class presidents, and the security team.

I checked my watch. Eight o'clock. Right when the night classes were letting out.

Downstairs, a crowd was already forming. "Oh my god, the Student Council President is going to jump!"