Chapter 1The Teacher's Revenge

I was the hot teacher. Every student's dream girl.

But the guy I helped? He doped me up. As I mumbled "honey" in a daze, his hands went where they shouldn't.

Later, he bragged. Spread our videos everywhere.

"Dream girl? Ha! I've had her. Nothing special."

Just like that, I fell from grace.

My husband left. My parents became outcasts. The school fired me.

The cyberbullying crushed me. I jumped from the school roof.

Then I woke up. Back to the day that guy first came to our class.

There I was. Standing in front of my senior class again. Same old boho dress. White sandals. Looking good as ever.

Still the young, gorgeous lit teacher.

We got a new kid. Charity case. His first day.

He shuffled in. Everyone stared. Whispers broke out.

"Jesus. He looks like a horror movie extra. Talk about a letdown."

"Not to be mean, but I might puke. For real. Sorry."

He limped in. Face full of acne scars. Huge nose. Mole the size of a quarter underneath.

"H-hi everyone. I'm new. Hope we can get along."

His eyes never left me as he stammered.

I couldn't breathe.

Ethan Rivers. A name I'd never forget. Not in a thousand lifetimes.

Last time, I pitied him. Stood up for him against bullies. Bought him clothes. Taught him confidence.

Then one stormy night, he followed me home.

Stupid me let him in. He spiked my drink.

I lay on the couch. Called for my husband. His shaky hands unbuttoned my shirt.

Then I blacked out. Helpless.

Next day, I woke up bruised. Ran to the cops. But he'd vanished.

For days, I was a wreck. Jumping at shadows.

Then I saw it. High-def video. Every group chat. Caption read:

"Dream girl? Please. Had her. Nothing special."

It was me in the video. Whimpering. Sobbing. Begging.

The internet exploded. See, I'd gone viral before. Some candid shot. They called me "The Girl Next Door". "The Unattainable Dream".

#DreamTeacherSeducesStudent #DisgraceToTheProfession

He never owned up. Just hid in the shadows. Giggling like a creep. Sending anonymous texts:

"Ms. Summers, we're both in the gutter now. Be with me. I'll treat you right."

I couldn't take it. The online lynch mob. So I climbed to the school roof. And jumped.

Three months pregnant.

From everyone's dream to public enemy number one. Rock bottom.

But now? Standing at that podium again? Watching him in the back row?

I felt fate shifting. My chance for payback.

He looked up. Thick accent:

"'The bubbling spring is voiceless in its flow; In shadow of the trees, a fountain plays.' Ms. Summers, I'm... I'm Ethan. Ethan Rivers."

The class lost it.

"Dude, seriously? You know our teacher's Ms. Olivia Summers, right?"

He froze. Then flashed a shy smile.