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During this time,Chloe’s assault case went to court.
Since she was a minor and had caused moderate harm, she was slapped with a civil fine.
Outside court,Chloe stopped me.
“Where’s my dad?”
I shrugged.“We’re divorced.I don’t know where he is.”
Her shoulders slumped.
“Where’s your mom?”
“She’s been acting strange,talking to herself.”
Chloe’s eyes welled up,her voice low.
Her phone rang.A girl’s voice came through:
“Chloe,your dad posted online,saying you’re not his kid.He’s suing you for slander!”
Chloe’s face hardened.She hung up and ran.
Later,I found out that James had posted a fake paternity test online.
Chloe stormed into his workplace,causing a scene.
I stayed out of it,traveling during summer break.
Back in Silverton,my dad called as I landed.
He said James hadn’t shown up to work and asked if I knew where he was.
Recalling Chloe’s odd behavior,I texted James.
He replied quickly,saying he was sick and had forgotten to request leave.
I reminded him of our upcoming divorce finalization.
He assured me he’d be there.
A week later,James showed up at city hall,gaunt and sallow.
Melissa and Chloe flanked him,never leaving his side.
He kept signaling me during the wait.I ignored him.
We got the divorce papers without a hitch.
Outside,I finally felt free.
James grabbed my hand.“Sarah,help me—”
Melissa covered his mouth.“Let’s go.It's our turn to get married now.”
She gave me an apologetic smile,pulling him back inside.
At home,I sent Tom’s evidence of James’s crimes to the authorities.
They launched an investigation.
James had always mocked my dad for being too honest, calling it old - fashioned.
I used to think it was a generational gap.
While probing James and Melissa,Tom found unexplained assets in James’s name.
Digging deeper,they uncovered years of bribery.
When the ethics board found James at Melissa’s house,he was bloodied,chopping meat in the bathroom,muttering,“Expose the mistress,clean the school!”
They called the police.
In a corner freezer,they found a girl’s body—Chloe’s—she'd been murdered and hadn't been disposed of yet.
It turned out that James had been held captive by Melissa and Chloe, and they'd been feeding him something that drove him insane.
He killed Melissa and his daughter.
Sane during the act,he was sentenced to death.
Online debates raged.
Some felt sorry for Chloe,while others thought it was karma for being the product of an affair.
My school issued a offical statement:
Sarah Mitchell married James Carter 16 years ago,during which time he was already involved with high - school student Melissa Evans.
Netizens celebrated my escape.
“Scumbag and mistress locked together—family reunion!”
“Fifteen years,no marriage license?Anyone would’ve questioned it!”
I posted my divorce certificate online.
Later on,I quit teaching,founding my own education company.
Over years,I’ve trained countless talented students,and they've gone on to shine across the country.
