Chapter 8
A flicker of fear and panic flashed across her face.
“…Sergeant Major Harris, what’s that supposed to mean?”
The teammates who’d followed them in now stood to the sides.
The quiet exam room suddenly felt claustrophobic.
Everyone’s eyes turned toward Harris–even the doctor and nurse slowed what they were doing.
Mia broke the silence with a cold laugh.
“Jessica, last week I told our son Jason to pass a message to Captain Jake.”
“Emily’s dad died, and we needed him back home for the funeral.”
“Jason said you told him you’d tell Jake, then sent him home for dinner.”
“Sound familiar?”
The silence that followed was deathly.
Jessica’s face went pale.
She bit her lip, then doubled down.
“Mia, I really don’t know anything about this.”
“Jake, you have to believe me.”
No one responded.
She turned toward Jason, who was nibbling at his fingers, and snapped,
“He’s seven. Maybe he forgot.”
“Maybe he made it up ‘cause he didn’t want to get in trouble.”
Jake’s brow furrowed.
He looked at Jessica like he didn’t recognize her anymore.
He couldn’t believe it.
ོ འོ ཥཾ ཡཾ ཨོཾ བྷྲ ཧོ
She was throwing a seven–year–old under the bus to save herself.
Mia’s face turned red with anger.
She pointed at Jessica and shouted:
“I always thought you were sweet and gentle–turns out you’re a total fake.”
“You screw up, then blame it on a kid?”
“Have you no shame?”
“No wonder you’re always hanging around married men.”
“I should’ve seen it sooner.”
“Now it all makes sense.”
Tarifa 1 ifo–And Took His Reputation With Me
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Chapter 8
The room turned colder.
Jessica’s face was flushed, but not from guilt–from rage and humiliation,
The nurse who’d been tending to her leg dropped the cotton swab she was holding straight into the trash–like she couldn’t stand to touch her anymore.
Jessica felt the judgment from all sides.
And when the shame became too much, she snapped.
“Mia, you got any proof?”
“You’re accusing me? Show me the damn evidence.”
“Or are you just using your husband’s rank to bully someone lower than you?”
“You-!”
Mia lunged at her, but Harris held her back just in time.
Even Harris, a man who’d seen war zones and worse, was stunned by Jessica’s gall.
He pulled his wife behind him and motioned to Jason.
“Jason. Tell them.”
Jason, already scared out of his mind, sniffled and stepped forward.
“I went to find Jake, but he wasn’t there,” he whimpered.
“Jessica asked why I came, and I told her… then she said she’d tell him and I should go home to eat.”
“I didn’t lie.”
Jessica scoffed.
“Jason, sweetheart–didn’t your teacher ever tell you you need proof?”
“Making stuff up and blaming others… that’s what bad kids do.”
Jason stopped crying.
He stared at her in shock.
Then he shouted:
“I’m not a bad kid! I didn’t lie!”
“She said it! She gave me those big marshmallow candies and told me not to tell anyone!”
“I even gave two to Lily next door!”
And just like that-
Jessica had nothing left to say.
She turned toward Jake, eyes brimming with tears.
“Jake, let me explain-”
But Jake didn’t speak.
He just looked at her.
And in that look… was the end of everything between them.
And Tank Wie Donutation With Me
Chapter 8
Whispers started rippling through the room.
“Isn’t she a teacher? What kind of person does this?”
“No wonder she’s divorced…”
“She’s poison. We should all steer
clear of her.”
Sergeant Major Harris’s voice was grim.
“Jessica, I’ll be reporting this to the school board.”
“A person like you doesn’t belong in our program.”
Mia shot her a look full of fury–and just a touch of satisfaction.
Jessica couldn’t take the glares, the judgment, the rejection.
Her eyes rolled back.
She fainted.
But this time-
No one rushed to help her.
