Between the Dream I Don’t Need to Continue or the Old Friend I Never Expected

The livestreamer's shriek cut through the room. "We're the ones who should call the police! Ms. Matthews, your husband forced himself on a college student! You're an accomplice!"

The chat exploded:

*"Is this teacher crazy? The evidence is right there!"*

*"Where is the administration? Why are they keeping this trash around?"*

*"Georgia, don't be afraid! The internet has your back!"*

At the door, several female students were already tearing up.

"Georgia is so pitiful. She was handed over to an old man by the teacher she trusted most."

"Exactly. She doesn't deserve to be a teacher."

Georgia clutched her belly, sobbing so hard her knees buckled.

Ice settled in my veins.

Three years ago, I had traveled to Yufeng Village. I stumbled upon Georgia's parents trying to marry her off to a bachelor in his fifties just before her college entrance exams—all to secure a bride price for her brother.

She had knelt in the mud, arms wrapped around my legs, begging through her tears: *"Teacher, I want to study. Please save me…"*

My heart had cracked open.

I stopped the marriage. Promised to sponsor her tuition until graduation. She worked herself to the bone and got into a top-tier university. The day she received her acceptance letter, she called me, voice breaking. *"Ms. Matthews, I will study hard and repay you one day."*

I had been so proud.

This summer, she wanted to earn living expenses. I thought placing her in Dominic's company was a kindness.

I thought I was extending a hand.

Instead, I was digging my own grave.

My silence stretched. Georgia looked up, teeth pressing into her lower lip. "Ms. Matthews, I know you and Mr. Sawyer have a good relationship, but my child is innocent…"

Alex cut in. "Georgia, you're too soft! Even if that scumbag divorces this old hag to marry you, we still need a million in compensation for emotional damages!"

A laugh escaped me—cold, sharp, brittle as glass. "A million? Georgia, do you really think you're worth that price?"

Gasps rippled through the students at the door.

*"Did a teacher really just say that? I'm going to be sick."*

*"So vicious! She's cursing her own karma."*

*"A woman like that shouldn't have children!"*

Georgia's face drained white. She swayed. The livestreamer caught her, wailing at the camera. "Everyone saw that! This woman doesn't treat Georgia like a human being!"

Alex snatched a ceramic mug from my desk and raised it over my head.

I didn't flinch.

My gaze locked onto his. "Go ahead. Attempted assault, destruction of property, disturbing the peace. That's enough to keep you in a detention cell for a nice long vacation."

His arm froze mid-swing.

"And you." I turned to the livestreamer. "Filming in a faculty office without permission. Privacy infringement. Believe me, I can have security here in two minutes to escort you out."

The color drained from her face.

Sensing the momentum shift, Georgia wept harder. "Ms. Matthews, how can you be so cruel? I only came to you because I had no way out. If Mr. Sawyer would just take responsibility, I wouldn't be here…"

"Take responsibility?" I rose, smoothing my skirt. "For what? For something he never did?"

I rounded the desk, closing the distance until barely a foot separated us.

"Georgia. Look me in the eye and tell me the truth." My voice was quiet now. Dangerous. "Is the child in your belly really Dominic Sawyer's?"

Her gaze flickered—just for a heartbeat—before hardening. "Of course it is!"

"Is that so?"

A smile curved my lips. Slow. Razor-edged.

"Then tell me: that night, what color underwear was Dominic wearing?"

The office fell into dead silence.

Even the scrolling comments seemed to freeze.

Georgia stood there, mouth hanging open, unable to make a sound.