The Bound Between Us

Chapter 998

Mr. Simmons' suicide rocked the entire community.

The story, already making waves online, instantly blew up again. The internet was split in two, with people arguing back and forth in every comment section.

Some started to reconsider everything after Mr. Simmons took his own life to prove his innocence.

"Maybe this is all just a misunderstanding. What if Mr. Simmons was innocent all along?"

"I'm starting to think the same. He never seemed like a bad guy to me. If he went as far as taking his own life just to clear his name, maybe he really didn't do it."

"But there were so many students at Westfield Academy who came forward. It wasn't just Layna. I still think Mr. Simmons was scared and that's why he jumped."

"Now he's dead. So young, too. What a waste."

"But an eight-year-old? What possible reason would a kid have to frame her teacher? People always say kids don't lie."

"The students at that school are a handful, though. I wouldn't take everything they say at face value."

"Come on, how could an eight-year-old be that wicked? Do you really think a little girl would take off her own clothes just to frame a teacher?"

"You'd be surprised. Didn't a similar thing happen just last month? Some student claimed her teacher hit her, got the poor woman fired, and then it turned out she made it up."

days see way too much. They're

it. Just last week, I saw a kid in our apartment complex tormenting a stray

Stranz family is loaded. They wouldn't joke about something

kid's going to have issues

was endless. Amid all these

sympathy, but not one of them admitted they were part of what drove him to his death.

of online hate were all

learned Mr. Simmons had

memory of Layna running out of school, barely dressed, terrified and shaking. He'd been furious then-she was his late sister's

had already hired a lawyer to sue Mr. Simmons and the

push Mr. Simmons over

nobody could

Juliana. "That Mr.

replied. "Teachers like that don't

and kids. After everything

be

acting like he's

eyes, Layna was

at all, not even for the dead-Scott felt his heart sink. He hung up without another

Juliana, about Layna's situation, about any of