Chapter 2Reborn To Destroy The Girl Who Ruined My Son

The moment I hung up, Dean Harrison’s expression turned into a mask of pure frustration. He signaled the security guard to close the door.

"Mrs. Mercer, you are being incredibly irrational."

I sat down, crossing my legs. "I have never been more rational in my life."

Ms. Carter let out a sharp, mocking breath. "You think the police will magically prove Lucas is innocent? If they find even a trace of those photos on his devices, he won't just be expelled. He’ll be a felon."

I looked at my son. "Are you afraid of an investigation?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Can they check your phone and laptop?"

"Yes."

"Will you give them every password?"

"Everything."

I turned back to Seraphina. "And you?"

Seraphina stiffened. "Of course, I’m willing to cooperate."

"Good," I said. "Then you’ll hand over your phone, your laptop, your cloud accounts, your DM history, the links to the groups where the photos were sold, and the original transaction screenshots."

She lowered her head. "There is a lot of personal stuff on my phone."

"You’re reporting that your 'personal stuff' was stolen," I said, my voice low and steady. "Now that it’s time to find the source, you’re suddenly worried about privacy?"

Seraphina’s tears started again. "Mrs. Mercer, do you... do you think I’m lying?"

"I think you should provide evidence."

"Would a girl lie about something like this?" she cried, her voice rising. "I am a decent person! My photos were leaked! I came to the school for justice, and you’re interrogating me like I’m the criminal?"

Outside the office, students were beginning to gather, their whispers filtering through the door. Ms. Carter moved to crack the door open, likely to let the "public opinion" pressure me.

I stood up and slammed the door shut. "Ms. Carter, this is a legal matter, not a livestream."

Ms. Carter bristled. "Why are you being so aggressive?"

I looked at her coldly. "My son is being treated like a predator by the entire campus. You want to talk about aggressive?"

Dean Harrison tapped his knuckles on the desk. "Enough." He pulled a sheet of paper from a folder and slid it toward Lucas. "Write a statement of facts."

I didn't even look at it; I just pinned the paper down with my hand. "A statement of what?"

"A detailed account of how he handled Seraphina’s account," the Dean said. "And an admission that his personal negligence led to the breach of her privacy."

Lucas turned white. I stared at the Dean. "Admission of negligence?" I let out a dry laugh. "You haven't investigated a thing, and you want him to sign a confession? So that tomorrow you can officially crucify him for 'negligence'?"

The Dean’s face was thunderous. The legal counsel spoke up. "Mrs. Mercer, this is just for internal records."

"Then he’ll write the truth." I grabbed a pen and scribbled three lines on the paper.

I did not steal, save, or distribute any photos of Seraphina Mercer.

I am fully willing to cooperate with the police and hand over all devices.

I refuse to accept any unverified responsibility before a formal investigation is complete.

I pushed the paper back. "He’ll sign that."

Dean Harrison didn't touch it. Ms. Carter sneered, "You’re quite the legal expert, aren't you?"

"I’ve learned the hard way," I said, looking directly at her. "Taught by people exactly like you."

Just then, Lucas’s phone buzzed on the table. A barrage of notifications from his class group chat lit up the screen.

"Lucas, did you really sell Seraphina’s nudes?"

"I knew he was a creep. It’s always the quiet ones."

"@Lucas answer us, you coward. Stop hiding."

Then, a screenshot from the "Anonymous Campus Wall" appeared. The headline was a knife to the gut: [Cyber-Sec Major Steals Queen Bee’s Private Photos. Girl Collapses in Dean’s Office.]

The attached photo showed Seraphina’s back as she cried, with half of Lucas’s face visible in the background.

The security guard’s radio chirped. He listened for a moment then looked at the Dean. "Sir, the post on the Anonymous Wall is going viral. External media accounts are already picking it up."

Dean Harrison looked at me, his eyes burning. "Are you happy now, Mrs. Mercer?"

"You should be asking who posted that photo from inside this room," I countered.

The phone buzzed again. A text from an unknown number: [If you want to save your son, have 20k ready by tonight. Otherwise, his name goes global.]

I held the phone up for everyone to see.

"Gentlemen," I said. "The extortion texts have started. Now, does anyone still think this should be handled 'internally'?"