Chapter 2

In an instant, every eye in the room turned toward me.

"So it wasn't just a misunderstanding… She really is a homewrecker?" someone muttered, disbelief turning to disgust.

"She drove someone's wife to her death! What a cruel woman!"

"Some people are just born to be whores, I guess!"

The murmurs grew louder, and the school leaders finally snapped out of their shock.

One of them called urgently for security. "Who let him onto the stage on such an important day? Get him off now!"

This school celebration wasn't just a simple alumni event. It was tied to major donations, including several new laboratory buildings on campus. There couldn't be any mistakes today.

But Henry's fury only grew as he spat, "This wicked woman killed someone! And you, as educators, are going to cover for her?" he shouted, his voice cracking with emotion. "If anyone comes near me, I'll kill her!"

Security rushed toward him, and Henry, panicking, pulled a fruit knife from his pocket and held it to my throat.

"Don't do anything rash!" The guards froze mid-step, and the school leaders paled, visibly shaken by the escalating danger.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm despite the fear gnawing at my insides. Slowly, I reached for my phone.

"I've never met your mother," I said carefully. "I didn't even know she existed."

"If you truly believe I'm the one who destroyed your family, then let's summon your father here to clarify things. He can tell us the truth himself," I added.

I wanted answers too. I needed to know what was really going on.

But before I could even dial the number, Henry knocked the phone from my hand. His eyes blazed with anger.

"My father's been under your threat for years! I won't let you hurt him again!" he seethed.

"I want you to confess, right now, in front of the entire school," he demanded. "You're going to read every word of that confession and admit to your crimes!

"And then, you'll hand over all your wealth—to make amends for what you did to my mother."

He shoved a piece of paper into my hand—the so-called 'confession.'

I glanced down at the page, my eyes scanning the vile accusations. It was filled with obscenities, a degrading admission that I was a shameless seductress, unworthy of respect or dignity.

Anger surged through me, darkening my expression. Without hesitation, I threw the paper to the ground, my voice unwavering.

"Absolutely not!"

Henry's fury boiled over, and in a swift motion, he dragged the blade across my skin, cutting me just enough to feel the sharp sting.

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" he hissed through clenched teeth.

I forced myself to stay composed, fighting back the tremors that threatened to overtake me. "If you do," I said, my voice wavering but resolute, "your future will be ruined. After today, you'll have nothing left. You'd better think it through."

His eyes flickered with hesitation, and for a moment, I thought I had reached him.

Relief was just within grasp when suddenly, a cold, twisted smile crept across his face.

"You're right," he said slowly. "I can't hurt you—not in front of so many people…"

His words hung in the air, but then his tone shifted, darkening. "But I can hurt someone else."

With chilling calm, he pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. A video appeared, and the moment I saw what it showed, my heart clenched painfully in my chest.

It was my daughter—bound and gagged, tears streaming down her face, held down by two students.

"No!" I gasped, my breath catching in my throat.

"If you won't confess, then I'll make her confess in your place," Henry sneered, triumph lighting his face.

"That little bastard born of a homewrecker… her blood is dirty too." His voice dripped with venom. "Why not carve the word 'slut' into her face with this very knife? Let everyone know exactly what kind of people you both are."

"Stop! No! Please, don't hurt her!" Panic consumed me, my heart racing. I couldn't lose her—my sweet, innocent daughter.

Desperation surged, and I choked on the words that would seal my fate. "I'll do it! I'll confess! I'll admit everything," I cried out, my voice breaking.

Henry's twisted grin widened as he kicked the back of my knees, forcing me down to the ground.

"Then say it," he demanded, cold and unyielding.

With trembling hands, I picked up the confession letter from the floor.

"I am a disgrace," I began, my voice small, almost too faint to hear. "A shameless woman who seduced a married man…"

But Henry wasn't satisfied. "That doesn't sound like true repentance," he said mockingly. "How about this—after each line, slap yourself. That should show us all how sorry you are."

Humiliation washed over me in waves, but the image of my terrified daughter was burned into my mind. I couldn't let her suffer.