Framed by My Students, Reborn Without Mercy

After the college admission exams, I stayed up three nights in a row, helping students research their university applications.

From the top-performing students to those at the bottom of the class, I considered each one carefully, mapping out multiple options and future career paths adapted to their strengths.

But when the admission notices arrived, I was stunned to discover that every single one of them had applied to Ridgeway University.

I had never even heard of this university before.

After some research, I found out it was an unaccredited institution.

The incident caused an uproar. School administrators, parents and even the education board launched an investigation.

During this chaos, the class monitor, Vivian Shaw, suddenly stood up and asked, “Ms. Claire Williams, isn't this the university you told us to apply to?”

“We followed your advice in everything. Why did you betray us?”

“Yes, now my future is ruined!”

“You have such a cruel heart! Just to recruit for Ridgeway University, you were willing to sacrifice all of our futures!”

It was in that moment I realized, this was their revenge.

They were striking back against me for the strict discipline I had enforced over the past three years, even if it meant destroying their own lives in the process.

I had no way to defend myself. Overnight, I became a pariah in the education world.

Judgment poured in from every direction, educational institutions, furious parents and the internet.

Eventually, I was dismissed from my teaching responsible.

The relentless harassment didn’t stop there.

In the end, an enraged parent attacked me and I bled out on the cold floor.

That was how I died.

But when I opened my eyes again, I was back in the classroom.

The students sat in front of me, pretending to be obedient, asking which universities they should apply to.

I sighed, my heart hollow. I no longer wanted to concern myself with their futures.

——

For three years, I had poured my heart and soul into guiding them.

Perhaps my methods had been too strict.

But I had taken a failing class and lifted them to the top of the grade.

They had performed well on the college entrance exams, every one of them had made it past the cutoff for first-tier universities.

Among them, Vivian had scored 712, making her the top student in the entire city.

Next was the vice-class monitor, Sophie Lane, who achieved 703 points, enough to enter Lakeshore Institute or University of Meadowbrook with ease.

I had been proud of them. I had truly been happy for them.

But I never imagined that behind all of it, a massive conspiracy had been quietly brewing, one that would ultimately drag me into a bottomless abyss.

“Ms. Claire, thank you for your hard work over the past three years in nurturing us into capable individuals,” Vivian once said, standing up to express her gratitude.

Led by her, the rest of the class rose and echoed in unison, “Thank you, Ms. Williams!”

In my previous life, the sight had moved me to tears.

For me, this had felt like the greatest reward.

But now, reborn with the weight of hindsight, I knew. It had all been an illusion.

“Ms. Williams, I heard you’re helping this year’s graduates plan their futures?” Vivian asked again.

The other students quickly joined in, each requesting my guidance.

And just like before, I eventually agreed.

I spent three sleepless nights drawing up personalized plans for their futures.

They used this as their opportunity.

They turned on me, accusing me online of coercion and bribery, claiming I had manipulated them into applying to Ridgeway University.

Even now, I still couldn’t believe it.

The ones who hurt me the most were the very students I had loved the most.

“Yes, Ms. Williams, please help us think it through!”

“My parents also said they’ll follow your advice. Wherever you say, I’ll go!”

“Coincidentally, my grandfather said the same thing.”

I raised my hand to stop them.

“You’re all adults now. The path ahead should no longer be dictated by me,” I said calmly.

“Besides, you must already have schools you're interested in. You don’t need to listen to me anymore.”

It was the first time I had ever refused a request from my students, sincerely and from the bottom of my heart.

In the past, I would have agreed without hesitation.

No matter how difficult or exhausting, I would have done everything in my power to fulfill their wishes.

In the end, I came to understand that the education I had devoted myself to had produced a group of heartless ungrateful brats.