Chapter 4

Amidst the relentless insults, I opened the video Seraphina had posted.

In the video, Seraphina looked utterly heartbroken, her eyes red and puffy as if she'd been crying for hours:

“Guys, you won’t believe this! I’ve been harassed at university! That guy actually did something so vulgar to me in public. I wanted him to apologize, but he…”

Here, her tears started to fall again:

“I reported it to the university, but because his brother teaches here, they haven't done *anything*! Now I truly don’t know what to do. Please, netizens, help me figure this out…”

Her supposed “evidence” was a heavily edited video clip and photoshopped chat screenshots. She had even pinned my contact information to the top of the comments.

In the video, I glanced at Seraphina, then turned away and put my hand on my pants…

The live comments absolutely exploded at that point.

“This is truly sickening! Can this creepy pervert just drop dead already?”

“Are they waiting for Christmas to expel this kind of person? We send our daughters to university, trusting they'll be safe, only for them to be harassed by creeps like *this*?”

“I actually don’t see anything wrong with what the guy did. What if he was just scratching an itch?”

“Yeah, isn't it a bit extreme for the poster to share someone's contact info like that?”

Any comments that sided with me were quickly deleted by Seraphina, who was controlling the narrative.

Just as I was about to post my evidence, Dean Miller, flanked by Seraphina and a group of students, burst through the door.

He pointed at me, his voice seething with anger:

“Alex, look at what you’ve done! Your classmates are so disgusted they came to *me* to complain!”

“The university has decided to suspend you for a while. You can come back once this whole incident blows over! In the meantime, go home and reflect on your actions!”

I took a deep breath, speaking with a sigh of resignation:

“Dean Miller, you know my situation. I have a skin condition. Wouldn’t it be simpler to just clarify things? Why do I need to be suspended?”

His voice grew increasingly impatient.

“How do I know if your skin condition was flaring up at that exact moment? The situation online has already exploded! The university’s priority is to mitigate the damage. If you clarify now, aren't you just putting the university in an impossible position? As a member of this community, can’t you *ever* think about the school’s reputation?”

I sneered, “So, I just deserve to be slandered by them? If what she’s saying is true, why doesn’t she just call the police?”

My classmates, hearing this, glared at me indignantly.

“Alex! What do you mean by that? Are you saying Seraphina, a young woman, would jeopardize her *own* reputation just to falsely accuse *you*?”

“She’s developed severe depression because of your harassment, and you’re just getting suspended! What more do you want?”

One classmate raised his phone, pointing it directly at my face.

“Still not admitting your mistake, huh? I’m going to show everyone what kind of university student you really are!”

Just then, my brother, Julian Hayes, stepped out from the crowd.

His face was grim as he stared down at me. He spat out two ice-cold words:

“Kneel down!”

I looked at his face, a cold laugh forming in my heart.

Everyone who had harmed me in my last life was gathered here.

The harder they slandered me now, the more devastating the backlash would be when their own lies came crashing down!

**4**

“How many times have I told you? Don’t use my name to throw your weight around or bully other students! Did *any* of it sink in?”

“You’re worse than an animal! My family doesn't have trash like you!”

“I’ve already spoken with the Dean, and your suspension is being upgraded to *expulsion*! Don't blame me for disowning you; sometimes, you have to face the consequences to truly grow up!”

The netizens’ chat stream erupted with outrage.

“What kind of monster do you have to be for your own brother to disown you?”

“And this guy’s a university student? He should be locked up!”

Watching the scrolling comments, a bitter twist formed in my gut. Even though I’d known Julian would betray me, a part of my heart still ached.

It was only after they’d destroyed me in my last life that I learned Julian always had a thing for Seraphina. That’s why he went out of his way to help her frame his own brother.

If he didn’t see me as his brother, why should I treat him as one?

With that thought, I clenched my fists, staring intently at Julian.

“You better be careful what you say, Julian. If I didn't do any of this, you’re looking at a defamation lawsuit!”

Julian’s face showed a flicker of annoyance.

“Even if Seraphina is falsely accusing you, why would she target *you* and no one else?”

As he spoke, he kicked the back of my knee, forcing me to fall to my knees in front of Seraphina.

“Apologize to Seraphina, now!”

I was too shocked to react and landed hard on the floor.

“Look! Ascendant Corp. just released a statement!”

A classmate looked at me mockingly, then read out the announcement.

“After careful consideration, it has been decided that Alex’s conduct does not align with our brand's values. Effective immediately, Ascendant Corp. has formally terminated his employment and advises all our partners in the industry to never hire Alex!”

My face froze.

Ascendant Corp. had actually fired me?

I thought I could avoid Seraphina’s series of false accusations in this life, but I never expected her to try and destroy me completely!

“What else do you have to say for yourself?”

Julian spat right in my face, then turned to Seraphina, a fawning look on his face:

“Seraphina, don’t worry. As an apology from the university, we’ve decided to offer you the grad school spot, and you’ll also be directly placed in my lab!”

Seraphina looked at me with a smirk, barely concealing her triumph:

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Alex. Your harassment genuinely offended me, and I was just trying to protect myself. I’ll happily continue my graduate studies, but for you… grad school will probably be quite difficult for you now, won't it?”

“And no matter which university you apply to, you’ll receive my reports. I wouldn’t want you harassing anyone else!”

The chat stream erupted in a frenzy when they heard her!

“Serves him right! Perverts deserve this kind of treatment!”

“Good riddance! Ladies, let’s all report him and get him locked up! I don’t want such a disgusting person anywhere near me!”

“Expelled? Good! How old is he to be harassing classmates? He’ll be a cancer to society!”

I looked at them with a cold smile. Since they were saying such things just to crush me, why should I preserve their last shred of dignity?

I glanced at my phone. The video I'd scheduled to auto-upload had just been approved and was going live.

“Look! He actually has the nerve to post a video?” someone in the chat stream yelled.

Everyone present immediately pulled out their phones. As they saw the content, their faces collectively drained of color…