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 cat. I

They wouldn't joke about something that could ruin

attention, the kid's going to

Amid all these casual opinions, a man had lost his

they were part of what drove him

online hate were all it took to

learned Mr. Simmons had jumped to

of Layna running out of school, barely dressed, terrified and shaking.

had already hired a lawyer to sue Mr. Simmons and the school, but now, with everything changed, he just felt lost-and deeply

he'd helped push Mr. Simmons over the edge. He was part of what

everywhere online; nobody

his wife, Juliana. "That Mr. Simmons...

the news," Juliana replied. "Teachers like

kids.

be

are acting like he's the

was seething. In her eyes, Layna

even for the dead-Scott

Scott stopped caring-about Juliana,