Chapter 4

The door to Principal Higgins' office was slightly ajar.

When I pushed it open, Higgins was sitting behind his massive mahogany desk, casually enjoying a cup of freshly brewed espresso.

When he saw me enter, his relaxed smile instantly vanished.

Clearly, Ms. Gable had already warned him on WhatsApp.

"Eleanor, Ms. Gable has already briefed me on the situation," Higgins said, pointing to the leather sofa across from him.

His tone was warm, but it carried the heavy, unyielding weight of authority.

I didn't sit. I stood right in front of his desk, looking down at him coldly.

"Since you already know, how does the school plan to handle this disgusting criminal act?"

Higgins sighed, putting on a show of deep sorrow as he took a sip of his coffee.

"Eleanor, you’re using very extreme language."

"Kids nowadays are just overly curious. They lack proper boundary education."

"I’ve already called Stephen into my office and given him a very stern warning."

"He deeply regrets his actions and has assured me that all the videos have been permanently deleted."

"Midterms are next week. These kids' futures are what matter most."

"For the sake of Chloe’s reputation, I think we should handle this quietly and internally."

Handle it internally?

I slammed the flash drive onto his mahogany desk with a loud thud.

"Principal Higgins, this drive contains crystal-clear footage, and that camera had a cloud-upload feature!"

"Your simple 'he deleted them' doesn't guarantee these videos aren't already circulating on the dark web!"

"It doesn't guarantee the safety of those innocent girls!"

"This is a felony. You cannot just sweep this under the rug!"

Higgins’ expression went cold. He set his coffee cup down, his mask of warmth slipping away to reveal the ruthless businessman underneath.

"Eleanor, don't be so stubborn. You need to know when to let things go."

He stood up, walked over to me, and lowered his voice.

"Stephen’s father just donated a ten-million-dollar science center to this school."

"Stephen himself is on track for an Ivy League admission."

"If you insist on making a scene, what does Chloe gain? Nothing."

"If the Howards decide to use their influence, Chloe’s three years of hard work here will go down the drain in a second."

It was a blatant, shameless threat.

They wanted to trade my daughter’s future for a predator’s safety.

Rage surged through me, hot and suffocating.

"Principal Higgins, you are actively protecting a criminal! Aren't you afraid of what happens when I go to the media?"

Higgins let out a dry, mocking laugh, looking at me like I was an idiot.

"Go ahead. Try."

"Lincoln High’s PR team is world-class, and the Howard family's legal department is even better."

"Think about how the media will spin Chloe’s story. The public doesn't care about the truth; they care about drama."

"How does this headline sound? 'Climbing the Social Ladder: Schoolgirl Tries to Seduce Billionaire's Son, Invents Fake Slander After Rejection.'"

"You’d be driving your own daughter to the edge of a cliff, Eleanor."

Every word was designed to cut a mother’s heart. He knew exactly what a mother feared most.

He opened his desk drawer, pulled out a pre-prepared non-disclosure agreement, and slid it toward me.

"Sign this NDA. The school will guarantee Chloe’s graduation with top honors, a stellar recommendation letter, and $100,000 in cash for 'mental distress.'"

"Take the money, let your daughter focus on her exams, and everyone wins."

I looked down at the agreement. Every clause was written to protect the predator, demanding that we waive all rights to sue.

This was their version of justice.

Using wealth and power to step on the dignity of ordinary people.

I grabbed the agreement, looked Higgins dead in the eye, and ripped it to shreds.

Rip.

The paper confetti drifted to the floor, like a eulogy for the school's dead conscience.

"Go to hell with your win-win deal!"

I pointed a finger straight at Higgins, my voice dropping to a deadly whisper.

"I see this place for what it is now. This prestigious school is nothing but a dumpster of filth."

"You won't handle it? Fine."

"We are nowhere near done. Just watch me."

I turned and stormed out, slamming the door on his furious shouts.