Later, he didn't even bother investigating. He just posted an official announcement declaring that the school would never tolerate a teacher with such corrupt morals.
One announcement. That was all it took to seal my guilt.
The people who'd been on the fence grabbed their keyboards and joined the mob.
I didn't even dare open my text messages. I knew every single one would be filled with the vilest curses imaginable.
Principal Lawrence clearly knew Jennifer was livestreaming. He walked right up to the camera.
"Rest assured, our school will not allow this kind of parasite to poison our children's futures. We will hold her fully accountable."
The students in my class were stunned by the spectacle, whispering to each other in their seats.
I didn't waste another breath on any of them. I pushed past Principal Lawrence, who was blocking the doorway, and walked out of the classroom.
"Since that's how it is, I'll see you all in court."
I went home and immediately contacted a college friend who worked at a law firm.
In my previous life, she'd heard about what happened to me and offered to help on her own.
But within two days, she couldn't reach me anymore.
She assumed I'd lost my nerve.
The truth was, someone had shown up at my door and trashed my apartment. My phone and laptop were both destroyed.
By that point, my depression had already progressed to severe. When I saw the wreckage of my home, I didn't have the will to fight back anymore.
But this time, everything would be different.
By the time I finished contacting the lawyer, the livestream had already gone viral.
Just like in my previous life, my mother called.
"Melissa Donaldson! You've humiliated this entire family! Why don't you just go die!"
I'd heard these exact words once before. But hearing that familiar voice again still stung.
"Do you have any idea what people are saying about you online? The neighbors, the relatives, they're all saying I raised a daughter who turned out to be a parasite! You've ruined my entire life!"
"If I'd known this was coming, I should've strangled you the day you were born!"
She ranted for what felt like an eternity before finally going quiet.
I picked up the phone.
"Have you ever said any of this to Jennifer?"
"What does your sister have to do with this!"
The answer I expected.
Even though she knew perfectly well that Jennifer had orchestrated this whole thing to destroy me.
"Your sister was disciplining you. Isn't that her right?"
"Timmy is in your class! Your sister just asked you to look after him a little, and you couldn't even do that. You brought this on yourself!"
Look after him.
What Jennifer called "looking after him" meant ignoring it when Tim cheated on exams. It meant pretending I didn't see him snapping a female classmate's bra strap. It meant taking his side when he bullied other students.
On the other end of the line, she was still screaming.
I didn't respond. After I hung up, a wave of exhaustion hit me all at once.
My mother had favored sons over daughters her whole life, but somehow I was the only daughter she despised.
After Jennifer was born, my mother had been dead set on trying for a boy.
I was her disappointment.
Growing up, everything I wore and used were Jennifer's hand-me-downs, even though our family wasn't that strapped for cash.
When I told her I wanted a new outfit, she just threw one of Jennifer's faded dresses in my face.
"This family only planned for one daughter. You were never supposed to exist. Be grateful you have anything to wear at all."
That was when I understood. I was never wanted.
What I hadn't expected was that the neglect would curdle into resentment and scheming.
Jennifer married and had a child right after college, while I went all the way through grad school.
Relatives and family friends all said our mother should be proud.
But she lived in the house I bought, took the supplements I paid for, and never once gave me a kind word.
Jennifer was even worse. I was still in college when she started asking me for money.
