“Jeanette, we're leaving.”
I took Jeanette by the hand and turned to go without a backward glance.
When we'd walked a good distance, Jeanette asked in a low voice, “Dad, wasn't that a little harsh? He's a fellow student, after all.”
I stopped and looked at this foolish daughter of mine, the one who in her last life had been driven to leap from a rooftop.
“Remember this. Never hand out your sympathy carelessly.”
She nodded, half understanding.
“I'll do as you say.”
Three in the afternoon.
Jeanette and I had just gotten settled at the hotel off campus.
Jeanette's phone rang. It was her advisor, Caroline Lambert.
On the other end, Caroline's voice carried an authority that brooked no refusal.
“Jeanette, come to the student affairs office right now.”
“And bring your parent.”
Jeanette had it on speaker.
I sat on the couch and lifted my teacup, taking a sip.
So it had come, just as I'd expected.
Jeanette spoke up, her face all confusion.
“Advisor Lambert, has something happened?”
“Has something happened? You've got the nerve to ask?”
Caroline let out a cold laugh.
“Hilary Abbott is sitting in my office right now! He says that at noon, in the stairwell on the third floor of the science building, you put your hands on him and forced yourself on him!”
Jeanette shot to her feet, the color draining from her face.
“I was with my dad at the hotel all through noon. I don't even know where the science building is!”
“Yelling at me won't help you! That boy's clothes were left all rumpled, and his neck is covered in fingernail scratches from a girl!”
Caroline's tone turned severe.
“The damage to his reputation is severe! The two of you get over here now! If this isn't handled right, you can forget about attending this school at all!”
The line went dead.
Jeanette held the phone, her hands trembling.
“Dad, has she lost her mind? We didn't even give him directions!”
I set down the teacup, my eyes going cold.
In her last life, he'd used the pretext of asking for directions to frame Jeanette.
This time, I'd cut off that pretext.
And yet he'd still managed to conjure up a stairwell out of thin air.
It seemed he was dead set on destroying Jeanette.
“Don't be afraid.”
I stood and picked up my bag.
“Come on. Dad will go take a look with you.”
When I pushed open the door to the student affairs office, the only sound inside was sobbing.
Hilary Abbott sat on the couch, his shirt collar yanked halfway open to reveal the scratches on his shoulder.
Advisor Caroline Lambert sat behind the desk, her face like iron.
The moment she saw us come in, Hilary glared at us all the more.
“Stay back…… stay away from me……”
He pointed at Jeanette, his whole body shaking.
Jeanette's eyes went red with fury.
“Hilary, what are you talking about! I never went anywhere near the science building today!”
Caroline slammed her palm down on the desk.
“Jeanette, you dare to threaten the victim now?”
I stepped forward and put Jeanette behind me.
“It's Advisor Lambert, correct? Nothing has been investigated yet. Isn't it a little early to be pinning the label of victim on anyone?”
Caroline knit her brows at me.
“You're Jeanette's father?”
“I am.”
“And how do you usually raise your child? The state's top liberal arts scorer. What good are the grades? Morally bankrupt!”
Caroline pointed at Hilary.
“This young man just came here from the countryside, clean and decent. Now your daughter's scared him half to death. How is he supposed to hold his head up at this school from here on?”
I pulled over a chair and sat straight down.
“Advisor Lambert, since you've already decided my daughter did it, where's your proof?”
Caroline gave a cold laugh.
“Proof? The scratches on that boy's body are the proof! His clothes are torn to shreds. Don't tell me he did that to himself?”
