Chapter 2

Early the next morning, as soon as I woke up, I heard Marcus instructing Vincent:

"Today is the opening ceremony at the girls' academy. After Claire wakes up, do whatever it takes to get her to go."

"But she doesn't like crowds, and there will be so many people at the opening ceremony—"

"It's not your place to tell me what to do!" Marcus snapped.

A few minutes later, the bedroom door was pushed open from outside.

A pair of familiar hands ruffled my hair.

"Claire, today is the opening ceremony at the girls' academy. Our family foundation sponsored many students, so I need to attend. You rest well at home."

I forced a smile and agreed.

Not long after Marcus left,

Vincent looked at me eating breakfast and stammered,

"Mrs. Marcus, my son said when you substitute taught at their school, lots of kids really liked you. Today is the opening ceremony. The children would definitely love to see you..."

"I'll go, Vincent. Let's get ready and leave."

When I arrived at the venue and saw Lily's provocative gaze,

I knew why Marcus had insisted I come.

When it came time for the new teacher representative to speak,

Lily took the microphone and looked at me like a dagger.

"Today, my speech topic is self-respect and dignity. Now I'll play a educational video for everyone..."

As soon as Lily finished speaking,

my piercing scream echoed across the entire campus.

On the giant screen that Marcus had just donated to the girls' academy—three stories high—

the video of my assault was now playing.

Three long whips struck my naked body in turns. The messy, blood-stained bed made it clear to anyone what had happened.

That piercing pain swept over me again.

Before I could recover,

a slap landed on my left cheek.

A student's mother next to me pointed at my nose and cursed:

"How dare a woman like you show your face at a girls' academy?! Look at how slutty you are in that video! Absolutely disgusting!"

Then my hair was grabbed forcefully.

I was dragged from my chair to the ground.

Angry curses rang out above my head.

"Your dad gave his life to secure this job for you, and you threw it away because you're a slut! Your mom was so shocked she died clutching your dad's ashes. How do you still have the face to live in this world! You should have died with them!"

"A whore who sleeps with everyone! You're the shame of our town! You should be tortured to death by men!"

I collapsed on the ground, letting countless fists and feet rain down on me.

"Claire, I'm so sorry. I don't know how this happened. That video must have been swapped..."

Lily stumbled toward me, helping block people's attacks while apologizing non-stop.

But beneath her guilt-ridden eyes was clearly the triumph of a plan well-executed.

The Lily family was a wealthy household known throughout town.

With such status, plus being a teacher at the academy,

naturally no one dared provoke her.

After they stopped, Marcus came running over in a panic from behind.

Seeing me, he immediately embraced me.

"Claire, why did you come? Didn't I tell you to stay home and wait for me?"

Marcus was such a good actor.

If I hadn't heard those words with my own ears,

I would have fallen for his tenderness again and again.