Chapter 5

I could hear paper rustling and pens scratching across the pages. I just stood outside the door and listened to the whole thing.

At 10:00 am, Lena made her move. She posted a video from her account with 30 million followers. The woman wore no makeup and an old coat, clutching the newspaper from back then in her hand. Tears fell the moment she started talking.

"I thought I could finally let go after 38 years. I never thought that kind of evil could be passed down. Brendan ruined me 38 years ago, and now his son is coming after my daughter."

Lena dropped to her knees in front of the camera. "Everyone, please help us. I don't want compensation. I just want justice."

The video blew up within ten minutes of going up. My photo was all over the front page, and people dug up Dad's name and what happened back then all over again.

One line took over the Internet. It read, "The Fuller father and son are predators."

I stared at those words for a long time, not because I was afraid, but because I was hurting.

Dad had been dead for so many years, but Lena still dragged his name through the mud.

That afternoon, the school district and police showed up to calm the backlash and get to the truth. They held a public briefing that was streamed online.

The main conference room was packed. A row of cameras filled the front, while independent media crowded in the back, recording on their phones.

Winona sat in the front row, her face white and her shoulders shaking. Lena held her close, wiping her tears now and then. Whenever a camera came near, Winona buried her face in Lena's arms. The two of them held each other close.

Years ago, it was Lena who was "victimized". Now, her daughter was the one everyone felt sorry for.

It all looked so convincing that everyone forgot one thing. The man who was driven to his death back then was named Brendan Fuller.

Dave spoke first, saying, "We will never cover for anyone's crime."

Then, Caden followed, saying the school had zero tolerance for misconduct.

When it was Winona's turn, she braced against the table and looked at me with tears on her face. "Jeremy, I just want you to apologize to me today. Admit what you did to me, and admit what your dad did to my mom. Then, quit teaching for good."

Everyone in the room gasped.

Lena stood up too. Her hand shook as she pointed at me. "You and your dad have ruined both our lives! Today, you have to make things right!"

Every camera turned toward me. Comments filled the screen. Everyone was waiting for me to panic, to start defending myself, to get backed into a corner.

I slowly got to my feet as the room went quiet. I picked up the brown envelope by my feet, untied the string, and took out the black USB drive.

Winona stopped crying, and Lena froze.

I handed the USB drive to a staff member. "Hook it up to the screen."

The staff member didn't take it. He looked at the police first. The officer in charge paused for a few seconds before giving him a nod. The staff member plugged in the USB drive, and the files started loading.

That was when Winona shot to her feet, her voice breaking as she yelled, "Don't play it!"

Everyone, including me, turned to look at her.

I smiled. "Ms. Lambert, what are you afraid of?"

The screen went black, and the video started loading.

Winona gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles turning white.

I looked at Lena and Winona. "Don't rush. The people who really need to apologize will be on that screen in a moment."

I turned toward Lena, her face already pale. "Including you, the one who drove my dad to his death 38 years ago."

A moment later, the big screen lit up.