Chapter 8

These days, whenever I stepped out to buy groceries, I was met with strange looks.

The neighbors all recognized me from those viral videos, pointing and sneering.

Their mocking laughter made me wish I could vanish into the ground.

Some even got hold of my phone number, asking about overnight rates.

They treated me like a common prostitute.

I was too terrified to answer calls, wearing a mask to hide my face outside.

Fortunately, my son had recently broken his bad habits, no longer obsessed with intimacy.

His mental state seemed stable, unaffected by the school rumors, which relieved me.

With only two weeks until the SATs, maintaining this focus should secure him a spot at a decent university.

Just as life seemed to settle, the police arrived.

I was preparing dinner when officers knocked on my door.

Their presence shocked me—I hadn’t broken any laws. The leaked video wasn’t my fault.

Detective Miller spoke first. "Mrs. Lowell? Cybercrime units traced explicit content to Jacob’s IP address. The volume is significant."

"To minimize disruption, we’re handling this discreetly at home. Please cooperate."

My face drained of color. "That can’t be true. Jacob’s always been quiet and reserved. How could he do this?"

As I swayed, Officer Garcia steadied me. "Mrs. Lowell, do you truly understand your son’s inner world? The videos he distributed featured you and Ryan Evans."

Her tone was gentle, almost pitying.

I collapsed to the floor, muttering denials.

But logic insisted the police had evidence.

Footsteps echoed outside—Jacob was home.

He showed no surprise at the officers, calmly stating, "You’re here sooner than I expected."

Detective Miller presented the warrant. "Jacob Lowell, you’re under arrest for distributing explicit material."

Jacob offered his wrists for the handcuffs, indifferent.

I clung to him, frantic. "This is a mistake! Please, don’t take him!"

An arrest would ruin his future.

The officers warned me against obstructing justice.

As they led him away, Jacob leaned close, his expression icy. "Did you enjoy my gift, Mom? Jail is my next present to you."

Rage blurred my vision, and I fainted.

I woke to Officer Garcia’s concerned face.

I begged for news about Jacob’s SAT eligibility.

Despite his cruelty, he was still my son.

She explained he’d confessed, facing a six-month sentence.

Despair nearly swallowed me whole.

Officer Garcia revealed Jacob’s plan was always to punish me.

He’d resented Ryan’s possessiveness, manipulating him into the affair.

Every step—lending the iPad, sharing videos, discussing intimate items—was orchestrated by Jacob.

He’d unleashed Ryan’s desires, making me a pawn.

After obtaining the video, he spread it openly, wanting to be caught.

His goal was my utter humiliation, followed by his own imprisonment to break me completely.

I’d rather endure jail or death than see him become a convict.

Grief choked me. How could he do this?

After his father’s death, I’d sacrificed everything for him, only to be repaid with hatred.

Officer Garcia gently asked if there was unresolved conflict between us.

Her words sparked a memory—Jacob’s childhood diary.

Weakly, I rushed to my bedroom, rummaging until I found a locked box.

With Officer Garcia’s help, we opened it, revealing a thick journal.

Hours passed as I read, tears streaming down my face.

I’d only ever cared about surface things: meals, clothes, grades. I’d ignored his heart.

Three years ago, he’d confessed a crush on a classmate, Lily.

I’d scolded him harshly, even reporting it to the school.

Lily’s parents transferred her away after a public humiliation.

That day, Jacob planted seeds of hatred.

But he and Lily kept in secret contact, she urging him not to blame me, promising to reunite in college.

Their hidden love lasted over two years, until Lily died of colon cancer six months ago.

Grief consumed him, while I pursued romantic flings, planning to indulge once he left for university.

Jacob discovered my intentions, his gloomy personality festering without Lily’s comfort.

He blamed me for their separation, believing Lily might have lived with his support.

To him, I was a hypocritical, promiscuous woman.

So he plotted my ruin, ensuring my disgrace and his own incarceration.

Knowing the truth, I felt the despair.