Chapter 3

3

Seeing that I wasn't speaking, she thought there was hope and continued.

"If I don't stay in school, I'll have to go back home and get married. I'm so young. I don't want to waste my life like that."

I tried to be patient one last time.

"There are many ways to make money for school. But you're choosing to just hold your hand out for charity. I already told you I'd help with loans and work-study."

Mia's expression shifted to one of pure irritation.

She suddenly pulled a small knife out of her pocket. She slashed her own arm with force.

It happened so fast I didn't have time to react.

I rushed forward and grabbed her wrist to stop her from doing more damage.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bennett snapping photos.

I didn't call him out. I just rushed Mia to the campus clinic.

After an exam, it turned out to be a superficial wound.

When we were finally alone, Mia whispered to me.

"Professor, I've made my point clear. Are you really not going to sponsor me?"

"No. I am not."

My voice was firm and final.

"Fine."

A strange, unsettling smile played on her lips.

Three days later, the school's online forum exploded.

An anonymous post shot to the top of the trending list.

"Professor Caleb Brooks from the Business English Department is using 'sponsorship' as an excuse to groom a female student. When she resisted his advances, he got physical. To protect herself, the student had to cut her own wrist. This is disgusting behavior. We demand the school take action and give us an explanation."

There was a photo attached to the post.

I had to admit, the angle was perfect.

It was taken when I was stopping her from cutting herself, but it looked like I was pinning her down.

The knife and the initial wound were cropped out.

With talent like that, it was a waste for Bennett to stay in school.

As soon as I left my apartment, students surrounded me.

"Professor! Is the post true? You look so respectable. How could you do something so filthy?"

"You're supposed to be a role model! You don't deserve to be a teacher!"

Some of my own students tried to defend me.

"Professor Brooks isn't like that! There's no proof yet. Stop harassing him!"

"Exactly! You don't know the whole story. Back off!"

The two groups started shouting at each other.

It looked like a physical fight was about to break out.

The security guards eventually had to disperse the crowd.

The Principal summoned me to his office immediately.

The second I walked in, he started shouting.

"Caleb! I told you to handle this! What the hell is going on now? This isn't just about your career anymore. You're destroying the school's reputation! Do you realize the damage this is causing?"

"I know, Principal. Please trust me. I'm being framed."

"What good is my trust? Does the public trust you? You don't need to convince me. You need evidence to shut everyone up."

After promising the Principal I would fix it, I prepared my counterattack.

Bennett had used the campus Wi-Fi to upload that post.

I hired a professional tech expert to track the device. It was Bennett's phone.

I confronted Bennett in front of a group of students.

"You took the photo, didn't you? If you were there to take the picture, you saw everything. Tell us, what really happened?"

Bennett squared his shoulders, acting righteous.

"Of course I saw it. That's why I posted it. I couldn't stand watching a hypocrite like you anymore."

"You should be careful with your words. You are responsible for what you say."

Bennett looked hesitant for a split second because I was pushing him hard.

But then Mia appeared in the crowd.

"Professor Brooks, please don't bully Bennett. He was just being brave. I won't press charges, so please stop scaring him."