Once the commotion died down, the classroom burst into laughter.

Humiliation burned through Thea Mitchell until she couldn't take it anymore. Tears spilled down her cheeks. Emma Snyder stood nearby, lips curled into a mocking smile as she eyed the cruel words scrawled across Thea's desk.

"Who would do something like this? Bullying poor Thea—how cruel," she said, feigning shock, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Sure, Thea might've been accused of awful things and caught in scandalous videos with God knows how many men, but she's pregnant now. We should really be considerate of her situation."

The room buzzed again with murmurs and snickers.

Arthur Cooper watched the whole spectacle, his face impassive, giving nothing away. "Thea Mitchell, once you've sorted out your personal issues, you're welcome to return to my class."

His coldness drove into her heart like a blade and twisted. She wanted to defend herself, but emotion locked her throat, and her fingers went white from how hard she clenched them. Clutching the box of damning evidence, she fled the room in disgrace.

Outside, a sudden downpour washed over her, soaking her to the bone and drowning out her sobs. Her foot slipped, and she dropped to her knees. Pain sliced through her as she tried to stand, only to collapse again—exhausted, defeated.

The ache in her heart was unbearable.

That night, fever burned through Thea. In her delirium, a burning warmth pressed against her back. The air hung heavy with whiskey and tobacco. Through blurred vision, she made out Arthur Cooper's flushed, drunk face.

"Arthur… let me go," Thea protested weakly. Her attempts to push him away were feeble. "You've already accused me. You've already said I hurt Zhuri. What more do you want from me?"

Arthur was drunk out of his mind. He bit down hard on her shoulder and muttered, "Today is the anniversary of Zhuri's death…"

He gripped her chin cruelly, eyes bloodshot, and dragged her to the floor-to-ceiling window.

"Four years ago, you set her up to be mocked by everyone," he accused, forcing her to face the world outside. "Now let them see you grovel—begging beneath me."

A crowd had gathered below. Thea's heart felt like it was being scorched by flames. She fought with everything she had, but Arthur's grip was unyielding.

"No, please…" she begged. Tears streamed down her face as the whispered plea barely made it past her lips.

Arthur knew her too well. Even as her mind screamed in shame and denial, she couldn't stop the tears, and at last her strength gave out.

Voices jeered from below. Cameras flashed without mercy, each burst of light stabbing into her like a needle.

He forced her to look outside, baring her most vulnerable self to the hungry eyes below. Her consciousness began to slip just as she felt warmth trickle down her legs—blood...

Breathless and faint, Thea blacked out.

When she woke, she was in the campus infirmary. Arthur was nowhere in sight. The attending doctor dropped medication onto her bedside table, his tone dismissive.

"You've had a miscarriage. Take the medicine, or you'll just waste more of my time cleaning up after you."

He looked her over with disdain, irritation plain on his face.

"A student like you—so young—already getting involved with God knows who and getting pregnant so carelessly..."

With effort, Thea wiped the cold sweat from her brow. Her face was pale as she cradled her abdomen, her heart growing colder by the second.

Just then, her phone buzzed.

It was an urgent message from the administration office, summoning her to cooperate with an ongoing investigation.

Gathering what little strength she had left, Thea made her way there. Arthur and the dean, Ronin Jackson, were already waiting.

"Thea Mitchell, you've always been a well-behaved student. Care to explain this?" Ronin's voice boomed as he tossed a manila envelope onto the table beside her.

Photographs spilled out—taken the night before—of Arthur pinning her against the window, the crowd outside capturing every moment.

"Dean Jackson, there's no need for an explanation," Arthur cut in smoothly.

"These photos… They were taken after Thea tried to seduce me and slipped something into my drink without my knowledge. It's on me for not recognizing her unbalanced feelings sooner and letting them lead her to this."

Thea looked up in shock, her heart shattering at his lies.

Swallowing back tears, she tried to speak. "It wasn't me. It was—"

The office door swung open, and a sugary voice cut in.

"I can vouch for Professor Cooper!" Peyton Murphy declared, striding in.

"I saw it all with my own eyes. Thea called him away under the pretext of asking a question. I followed because I was worried, only to be locked outside—but I still saw her try to spike his drink when the seduction failed!"