Chapter 3

Seraphina's POV

The entire weekend, I kept my phone turned off. I locked myself in my apartment and went nowhere.

I reorganized my teaching materials from scratch and graded every single assignment my students had turned in. I worked like a machine, refusing to let myself stop for even a second.

On Monday morning, I walked to school as usual.

But as soon as I reached the campus gates, my heart dropped. A massive, neon-painted banner hung near the entrance: [Fire Seraphina Sterling! No moral decay in our classrooms!]

My feet froze. It felt like an invisible hand was squeezing my lungs.

Before I could even process it, a swarm of reporters carrying cameras rushed out of the main building, surrounding me instantly.

At the same time, dozens of angry parents flooded the courtyard, blocking my way.

"Ms. Vance, is it true that you coveted your sister's husband since you were in high school?"

"Did you really drug Mr. Sterling on the night of your sister's funeral?"

"Do you admit that you forced him into marriage through blackmail?"

Flashlights blinded me, and microphones were shoved directly into my face.

The parents' shouts were even more vicious.

"Look at her! The shameless homewrecker!"

"Someone like her shouldn't be allowed near children! What is she going to teach them? How to steal husbands?"

"Get her out of our school! We won't let our kids be ruined by a monster!"

"Get out!"

The wave of hatred crashed over me. I was pushed back, my spine slamming hard against the concrete wall.

I opened my mouth to speak, but my throat was so dry that not a single sound came out.

Suddenly, through the chaotic crowd, I spotted Julian walking out of the principal’s office.

He was wearing a perfectly tailored suit, looking cold and detached. The principal was walking right behind him, nodding and smiling apologetically.

I stared at him instinctively.

Across the ocean of angry faces, our eyes met for a fleeting second.

But in the next instant, a furious parent broke through the crowd. She raised a heavy metal water bottle and threw it straight at my head.

*Thud!*

After a dull, agonizing impact, a warm liquid began to trickle down my forehead.

I reached up to touch it. My fingers came away covered in deep, bright crimson.

All the noise around me suddenly seemed to fade into static.

Through my blurry vision, I looked back at Julian.

He simply retracted his gaze, looking completely unfazed. He turned around and walked out of the school gates without looking back.

I thought I was numb.

For four years, I had tolerated him kissing other women in the tabloids. I had tolerated him refusing to acknowledge me as his wife in public. I had even tolerated him letting the world spit on me when he knew I was innocent.

But at this moment, as I stood bleeding, trapped by a mob while watching his retreating back, a sharp, suffocating pain ripped through my chest.

It turned out I could still bleed. I could still feel pain.

After Julian left, the principal finally stepped in with security to disperse the reporters and parents.

Once the school nurse patched up the gash on my forehead, the principal pulled me into his office, sighing heavily.

"Ms. Vance, look at this mess. The negative publicity is destroying the school's reputation. I invited Mr. Sterling here today to discuss his annual donation, and I asked him if he could clear up the rumors about your marriage. But... he told me the leaks were true. He said there was nothing to clarify."

I kept my eyes on the floor, staying silent.

"You see? Even your own husband won't defend you. The parents and media will only get worse. I think it's best if you stop coming to school. I’ve already assigned another teacher to take over your classes. Since your transfer to Wyoming is approved anyway, take this time to pack and rest."

After a long silence, I finally whispered, "I understand."

I walked back to my empty classroom, took a cardboard box, and began packing my belongings one by one.

My colleagues watched from a distance. No one came to help, and no one said a word.

I held the heavy box and walked out into the blinding sunlight.

Just as I reached the school gates, a soft, young voice called out from behind me.

"Ms. Vance!"

I turned around and saw a little boy from my class running toward me, his face flushed red.

"Ms. Vance!" He looked up at me, his eyes bright and sincere. "I believe you. You're not a bad person."

He was the very first person to say those words to me.

And he was only nine years old.

A strange warmth bloomed in my chest, cutting through the cold ache.

I knelt down and gently patted his head. "Thank you for believing in me. Work hard, and be good for your new teacher, okay?"

The boy's eyes filled with tears. "Are you really leaving, Ms. Vance?"

"Yes."

Wanting to comfort me, he wiped his face and nodded bravely. "I promise I'll get straight A's."