Seeing the greedy look on Sebastian's face, I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms.

Just then, my phone lit up, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts.

"Ms. Mercer! I got first place in all of Adrana! The teachers at school said they're giving me a scholarship! My parents finally agreed to let me continue studying, and they even returned that lame guy's bridal gift.

"There are a few more women in our village who want to learn art. Can you keep teaching them?"

Cute emojis filled the screen one after another, and all of my anger melted away.

When I looked up, Sebastian already had his arm around Jayla as they walked off. Even from a distance, I could hear them talking.

"We're going to be rich. One more round and we can move to Spoywana…"

I curved my lips into a cold smile, switched off my recorder, and replied to my student.

"Mr. Emerson, I'll make sure to 'show my gratitude' this month," I murmured.

...

Back at my desk, the first thing I did was organize all the evidence I had.

Because Sebastian's case involved multiple violations and potential criminal charges, I worked through most of the night.

He acted so brazenly simply because no one had ever pushed back.

He would always use that line, "handle it however you want," to corner his employees again and again.

His staff were innocent, and the students who signed up for these art exams were even more so.

Most came from rural counties nearby. For many of them, this exam was their one chance.

I held the USB drive tightly and made up my mind. I was going to send him to jail.

Just as I stood to head to the accounting office, Sebastian suddenly appeared behind me.

"Hey, Carmen, what are you working on?"

I had goosebumps, and I clenched my fists instinctively. After a brief moment of thought, I immediately got to my feet, putting distance between us.

"Just following up with clients, Mr. Emerson. I still have that 150-thousand-dollar quota to hit."

"Where's Jayla? Why are you back alone?" He plopped down in my chair without asking, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. Then, he grabbed my water bottle and took a drink from it.

"Carmen, you're working too hard. How about I give you an easier gig? You won't even need to pay back that 120 thousand dollars. Jayla bullies you all the time. Don't you want a chance to get even?"

The sight of him made my stomach twist. Rage raced through my body.

He kept pushing my limits, over and over. I was really on the verge of losing it.

My eyes darted around, instinctively searching for anything sharp enough to drive into him. Then my gaze fell on a photo beside my computer.

It was a group picture of me and ten of my students. Their bright, genuine smiles forced me to take a breath and pull myself back from the edge.

"No. They are waiting for me," I thought.

I dug my nails into my thigh and forced out a twisted smile. "Do you want me to take on more classes or take over Jayla's clients? Mr. Emerson, just tell me what you need. I'll get it done."

My answer infuriated Sebastian. He kicked over a pile of student artwork, sending watercolor paper flying across the floor.

"You ungrateful brat! If that's your attitude, your quota is doubled this month, then! And if you can't pay off your debt, you'll work for me for life!"

With that, he stormed out and slammed the door behind him.

I had planned to check the transaction records while no one was around, but the files were all encrypted. There was nothing I could do.

When I returned to the rundown dorm he assigned me, I found Jayla inside. She was violently hacking my LW handbag apart with a pair of scissors.

The moment she noticed me, she spun around, brandishing the scissors as she charged.

"You bitch! How dare you ruin my career! I'm going to kill you!"

I kicked Jayla's wrist, sending the scissors flying, then shoved her hard onto the trashed couch.

She looked completely unhinged. Ash and spilled liquor stained her clothes and face, and she kept cursing nonstop, "Carmen, aren't you something? When did you start sleeping with Sebastian?

"Cutting off someone's income is basically asking for a fight. I swear I'm going to take you down today!"

She tried to lunge at me again, but all I felt was pity for her. "I didn't do anything. Sebastian is just my boss."

"Bullshit!" Tears smeared across her face as she leaned in close, her voice sharp with pain. "If you didn't seduce him, where would a clueless fresh graduate get money for a brand-new runway bag? He handed all my clients over to you. Last month I only made a thousand dollars!

"Do you think he chose me for the interview tomorrow because I'm qualified? He just wants to piss you off! It's all because of you that I can't even pay my dad's hospital bills now!"

Jayla suddenly grabbed a vase and swung it at my head.

I ducked hard, sidestepped, and immediately hit the record button on my phone. "Jayla, think very carefully. You don't know where this video might end up."

Seeing my cold expression, she froze. Fury burned in her eyes, but she still had enough sense left to back off. With that, she stormed out.

I felt nothing but exhaustion.

Mom had brought that LW handbag back for me from Braoze. Jayla could never pay for the damage she had caused.

I looked at the mess covering the floor, and the adrenaline that had carried me through her attack began to drain away. I sat there in a daze for a long time.

It took nearly an hour before I returned to my senses and started documenting the damage.

By the time I finished cleaning and gathering evidence, it was past midnight. I was about to rest when my phone lit up. It was a message from Sebastian.

A disgusting, stomach-turning photo of his lower body flashed on my screen.

I clutched my phone and shot to my feet before rummaging through my bag.

After I took my medication, my racing heart slowly settled.

When I looked at the photo again, he had already deleted it.

"Carmen, Ms. Buckley isn't feeling well, so you'll do the interview tomorrow. You've contributed so much. I will make sure you're rewarded."

I took screenshots of his text, but didn't reply. Instead, I turned my laptop on and drafted a civil lawsuit through the night.

The next morning, I intentionally showed up late and ignored all his calls.

At the entrance of the building, the place was packed. The lobby was filled with flower stands and banners.

"Mr. Emerson, you're really making a name for yourself!"

"Helping students to get top scores in the exam is an incredible achievement!"

"Mr. Emerson is truly devoted and selfless…"

The more festive the scene appeared, the heavier my chest felt.

His "success" was built on teachers' and students' sweat and suffering. He had done nothing, yet he was the one basking in all the glory.

As the Adrana TV crew arrived, several program directors rushed forward to greet them. "Where's the star teacher?"

"Inside, please come in."

I slipped out of sight and headed toward the back entrance. Right then, his call came through again.

"I told you to be here early! What the hell are you doing?"

I mumbled vaguely, and he immediately blew up. He shouted, "Carmen, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance! Don't blame me if you miss it!"

I couldn't help but smile as I watched Jayla walk in, all dolled up for the cameras.

I said, "Mr. Emerson, I appreciate the offer. But I'm not interested."

Sebastian angrily ended our call. Then, he plastered a smile, took Jayla's hand, and led her proudly into the hall.

I tuned into the livestream. Laura Graham, the student who placed first, was speaking on behalf of the others.

"Thank you so much, Ms—"

"Thank me? Ms. Graham, you're welcome," Jayla interrupted, her smile bright.

Laura's parents valued sons over daughters to a brutal degree. If I hadn't noticed her talent for art, they would have sold her off long ago.

That day was her first time speaking in front of so many people, and her overwashed, faded school uniform only made her look even more flustered when someone cut her off mid-sentence.

"During training, it was Ms—"

"I'm the one who cooked for them, washed their clothes, and helped with their assignments," Jayla cut in again. "It's no big deal. That's what a teacher does."

Laura's fingers clenched so tightly around the bouquet that her knuckles turned white. My heart sank at the sight.

Jayla gripped Laura's shoulder proudly, parading the latter in front of the cameras like a prop.

"Everyone, you wouldn't believe it. This student is the most obedient one. She washed everyone's socks every day and even collected recyclables to sell. I heard her family had arranged a good marriage for her. Saving up for your bridal gifts, huh? Look at you. So eager to get married at your age…"

People stared at Jayla in disbelief.

Sebastian hurried forward, cutting her off, his smile forced. "Alright. That's enough for today. Interview's over. Everyone can go."

Suddenly, Laura snapped. She threw the bouquet to the floor and stomped on it again and again. "It was Ms. Mercer who taught me! It was Ms. Carmen Mercer who taught me!

"You two are nothing but thieves stealing her credit. You don't deserve any of this! Ms. Buckley, during training, I saw you sending photos to Mr. Emerson. What exactly is your relationship to him?

"Why isn't Ms. Mercer here today? What did you do to her? Spill it!"

Cameras flashed wildly, flooding the lobby with bursts of light.

Jayla's carefully painted smile froze. She lunged forward and wrapped her arms around the furious Laura, like a gentle, understanding mentor. She said, "That's enough for today's interview."

Laura looked straight at Jayla, who was slowly moving toward the exit. "Ms. Buckley, in still-life color studies, how do you apply color-simplification techniques to handle complex reflections on stainless steel objects? Do you know the answer?"

Jayla stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Laura cut her off sharply, "If that's how you taught me, I'd be one of the worst students in Adrana.

"Let's try something easier. In five minutes, how do you determine the placement, scale, and perspective of an object on the page?"

She stood right in front of Jayla, smiling innocently. "Oh, you don't know? Didn't you teach me? How do you not understand something this basic?"

A sense of pride swelled in my chest. Laura, who wasn't even close to me, was fighting for me with everything she had.

The atmosphere in the hall grew tense. Sebastian tried to usher reporters toward the door, mumbling something about Jayla not feeling well.

"You were never my teacher! You don't deserve the title!"

A loud crack split the air.

"How dare you disrespect your teacher! Who raised you like this?"

For a moment, the air seemed to freeze completely.

Jayla had slapped Laura so hard that the sound echoed across the lobby. My tears finally broke free.

Just then, police sirens wailed from somewhere outside.

I pulled out the legal notice, pushed open the door, and stepped inside.