Chapter 3Reborn To Destroy The Girl Who Ruined My Son

Dean Harrison didn't answer. He simply told the security guard to lock the door.

We were moved to a conference room upstairs. They claimed it was to "coordinate" before the police arrived, but it was a hunt. Dean Harrison took the head of the table. Seraphina sat across from him, her tears never stopping.

The Dean threw a stack of printed screenshots onto the table. "Mrs. Mercer, this is out of control. The post has ten thousand views in thirty minutes."

"If Lucas cooperates now," the Dean continued, "the college can still try to mitigate the disciplinary action."

"And what does 'cooperate' mean?"

Ms. Carter’s voice was like ice. "Apologize. Delete any backups. Hand over the distribution channels. Withdraw from the university."

Lucas balled his fists, his eyes brimming with indignation. I placed my hand over his.

"Ms. Carter, the police aren't even here, and you’ve already sentenced him?"

She snapped. "I have had enough of your 'police' threats! Would a girl like Seraphina make this up and ruin her own reputation for fun? Lucas is a cybersecurity major. He has the skills, and he had her password. Who else could it be?"

"Everyone in this room," I said. "Isn't that how you do it? Casting blame without evidence?"

Seraphina sobbed, "Mrs. Mercer, I know you hate me, but you shouldn't insult Ms. Carter."

I smiled thinly. "You didn't seem to care much about 'insults' when you let the whole internet call my son a predator."

Seraphina’s crying hit a snag. The Dean looked like he wanted to throttle me. "This is a university, not a circus."

The legal counsel pushed a document toward me. "This is a settlement proposal."

I skimmed it. Lucas Mercer acknowledges that his actions caused severe emotional distress to Seraphina. He agrees to withdraw and pay $20,000 in restitution. Both parties agree to no further legal or media action.

I pushed it back. "Who drafted this?"

"The administration, based on the needs of both parties."

"Both parties?" I pointed at my son. "Did my son agree to this? And is the $20,000 a figure the school calculated, or is it just a coincidence that it matches the extortion text I just received?"

Seraphina’s head snapped up. "I didn't send that text!"

"I didn't say it was you," I said.

She shivered. Dean Harrison cut in. "The point is to end this now."

"Of course it is. Because you’re all desperate to make my son the villain."

Suddenly, Seraphina stood up, looking like she was about to faint. "Fine. If you’re going to force me, I’ll show you the evidence."

She pulled out her phone and swiped through a few screenshots. One was a group chat where a user named "DeepSea" wrote: [Seraphina Mercer full set. $50 per pack.] The user’s avatar was a black square. Underneath, someone had commented: [He’s a Cyber-Sec major. It’s the real deal.]

The second screenshot showed a payment QR code. The recipient's name was partially blurred, only showing the surname "Mercer."

The third was a DM: [Where’d you get these?] [Swiped them while I was fixing her laptop. She has more in her cloud.]

Major: Cybersecurity. Name: Mercer. Act: Fixing a laptop. Every single piece of the puzzle pointed to Lucas.

The room went silent.

"Mrs. Mercer, what do you have to say now?" Dean Harrison asked. "Lucas, how do you explain this?"

Lucas’s lips were bloodless. Seraphina looked at him with heartbreaking disappointment. "Lucas... I trusted you. I even bought you coffee when you were helping me with my account."

Lucas’s eyes were raw. "I never touched your photos!"

Dean Harrison’s voice was like a gavel. "Enough lies. Sign the agreement. Sign it before the police get here, and it might still save you."

Outside, the sound of heavy footsteps and shouting grew louder.

"Is the creep in there?"

"Make him apologize!"

"Justice for Seraphina!"

The door to the conference room rattled as people pounded on it. Lucas looked panicked. Ms. Carter leaned in. "Elena, if you keep holding out, you’re only hurting your son."

Seraphina looked at me through her tears. "Sign it, Mrs. Mercer. I don't want to destroy him."

In my last life, this was the moment I broke. I saw the mob outside. I saw my son shaking. I thought signing was a lifeline. I didn't realize I was signing his death warrant.

Just as the Dean reached for the pen, the door was shoved open—not by the mob, but by two police officers.

"We have received a report regarding an illegal distribution ring involving explicit material," the lead officer said. "Seraphina Mercer, we need you to come with us for questioning."