“Because I’m in charge of your class, that’s why. I heard everything outside. Being spoiled might only be immoral, but working as an escort? That’s against the law. Westbridge University will never tolerate a student with such disgraceful character.”

“I worked as an escort? I was kept by a sugar daddy? Do you have proof? If not, I can sue you for defamation.” My tone turned cold as I lowered my head to text.

Jessica smacked my phone away. “What? Messaging your clients? Planning to spin this back on us?”

Ms. Thompson didn’t stop her. Instead, she added,

“You refused to call the police earlier—that’s proof enough. You’re a girl who’s lost her way, and now you want everyone to talk about it openly? Are you shameless or just beyond shame?”

I exploded. “You’re a teacher, and you’re personally insulting me? With ethics like that, I could report you to the Department of Education.”

She sneered. “You break the law yet dare threaten me? Go ahead. Who do you think they’ll believe—a teacher or a spoiled little sugar baby?”

I glanced at my phone Jessica had knocked down. The screen was still lit—recording. Good.

I slipped it into my pocket and stopped arguing. All I had to do was wait for the police.

Then I heard a voice I couldn’t believe—Ryan Johnson, a senior from my department. He looked at me with wounded eyes.

“Emily, I thought you just weren’t interested in dating me. I never imagined it was because you’d rather be with an older man for money. You’ve disappointed me so much.”

The way he looked at me, as if I’d done something filthy, made my stomach churn. I snapped,

“Ryan, I told you a long time ago I wasn’t interested. Now you’re using this as an excuse to humiliate me? You’re pathetic.”

His face twisted with rage.

“You—sleeping with old men—you’re calling me shameless? You’re just a whore. The whole campus knows now. People already streamed your little showdown. Want to see the comments?”

He shoved his phone in my face. On the screen was my terrified expression, overlaid with filthy captions:

“She’s so cheap. If old men can sleep with her, I’ll pay too. How much for a night?”

“College girls these days have no self-respect.”

“Look at her tight clothes—clearly dressing for men’s eyes.”

“Everyone knows college girls charge more.”

“Pathetic. If this school has someone like her, she should’ve been expelled already.”

“Her teacher wanted to handle it quietly, but she still plays the victim? What a slut.”

“Damn, her boobs are huge. No wonder old men like her.”

The comments broke me. I hadn’t realized how far this had spread. My hands shook uncontrollably.

Ryan kept cursing, relentless:

“You turned me down because I’m poor, didn’t you? You’re just a gold digger, a vain bitch. I can’t believe I ever liked someone like you.”