Chapter 7

I collapsed onto the sofa, waiting for my son to return.

The memory of Ryan Evans' young, powerful body made my cheeks burn.

"What an audacious little brat!"

"Actually, this isn't so bad either..." I was startled by my own thought.

Soon, the phone rang. I answered—it was my best friend Emily, saying something terrible had happened.

She immediately sent me a video on WhatsApp. It was an explicit clip of Ryan and me, completely uncensored.

I was both furious and humiliated. Is Ryan an idiot? How could he post this online?

Emily told me the video had gone viral. It was in almost every group chat.

My eyes went dull with despair. I was completely shattered.

If Jacob saw this, I couldn't imagine the consequences.

Just as Emily said, the video was everywhere. People were leaving vile comments online.

Those who recognized me and Ryan called me a bitch. They said I was a cougar seducing my son's friend.

Then Ryan called. "Aunt Sophia, please believe me. I didn't leak that video online!"

I was seething. If he were here, I would slap him twice. "Are you stupid? How could you let this get online?"

He claimed it wasn't him. Then who was it?

I didn't believe a word he said. I hung up, wondering how to salvage my reputation.

Jacob came home. He screamed at me the moment he saw me. "You slut!"

My heart turned to ice. Two silent tears traced down my cheeks. He knew.

I felt utterly wronged. If it weren't for him, would I have fallen for Ryan's scheme?

He was like a madman, his eyes bloodshot. He smashed everything in sight. "Have some self-respect! I know you want a man, but not my friend!"

"What will my classmates think? What will my teachers think?"

I choked up, unable to speak. With his introverted personality, he couldn't handle the stares. The SAT was in a month. His future was ruined.

He banged his head against the wall. Each thud filled me with despair. His pain was my agony.

"Jacob, let me explain. It wasn't intentional."

I held him tightly from behind and told him everything.

He struggled wildly at first, but gradually stilled. He stared blankly at the wall, lost in thought.

After a long silence, he spoke hoarsely. "So you knew about all those things I did at night?"

I nodded shyly. There was no use hiding it now. I blamed everything on Ryan.

He corrupted Jacob with adult films. He stole and sniffed my private garments. He fabricated the persona of Mr. Anderson to deceive and humiliate me.

Jacob's expression was complex. "I want Ryan in jail. How dare he do this to you!"

"Okay, whatever you say. Please don't be angry with me, honey. Don't let this affect your SAT." I gently stroked his head, comforting him like when he was little.

But he pulled away with disgust. "Then sue him now!"

I called the police immediately. I had ample evidence that Ryan had deceived me. He would get at least three to five years.

I felt a pang of regret for Ryan. He was about to take the SAT too. This would ruin his life. But for my son, I had to do it. Jacob was my entire world.