Chapter 4

Gregory's POV

The moment the livestream showed the towering iron gate, the internet exploded.

[Are we sure this is a school? Not a prison? Is this idiot principal mentally ill or something? Some kind of confinement freak?]

[Clocking out looks like a prison break. Does he have a warden fantasy? Is this cosplay or what?]

[Honestly, I’m shocked. This isn’t just a moral issue anymore. This looks illegal. Is anyone from the Department of Education here? Do rules like this even exist?]

[Department of Education staff here. We’ve never seen rules like this. Schools also aren’t allowed to keep guard dogs.]

[Don’t ask why. Old shameless men like this just need to be dealt with. Ma'ams, just go for it! Hit him!]

Outside the gate, some villagers were reckless enough to try climbing over.

Unfortunately for them, when the gate was built, I had specifically instructed the factory to install barbed spikes on top. If they wanted to climb, they’d pay the price.

Unable to get in, the villagers grew even more enraged, hurling stones while shouting abuse.

“Mr. Miles, you sick old pervert! You’re in your forties and still single. Can’t keep your eyes off young female teachers. Don’t you feel disgusting?”

“Mr. Miles, I’m speaking as a parent right now! Open the gate! I’m taking my kid home and pulling them out of this school. With a principal worse than an animal, who would dare leave their child here?”

“Mr. Miles, you dirty old lecher! How many female teachers and students have you harmed over the years? Turn yourself in now, or I’ll come in there and kill you myself!”

“Why else would he do this? He’s just a thug, locking up female teachers to satisfy his filthy desires!”

Each filthy insult slammed into my chest like a sledgehammer, sending waves of dull pain through my heart.

I came here at twenty-four as a volunteer teacher. I could have returned to the city in my second year, but I chose to stay, determined to put down roots in the mountains so more children could have an education.

Ten years of teaching. Ten years as principal.

I poured my youth and every cent I had into this school.

Over twenty years, hundreds of students from these mountains had gone on to university.

I endured nonstop pressure from my family and stayed single for two decades, dedicating myself to raising children from the mountains, working carefully, tirelessly, without complaint.

And this was the result. I was called “sick old pervert,” “dirty lecher,” and a "thug driven by lust."

It felt like an invisible hand crushed my heart, leaving me barely able to breathe.

Still, I clenched my teeth and forced the words out, almost on a breath alone. “There is no reason. You are not allowed to leave.”

That sentence completely ignited the crowd.

“Stop talking to him! Grab the keys and get the teachers out!”

Stones slammed again into my back and legs, and soon blood streamed from the back of my head.

I curled up, clutching my head, as Mildred and Giselle rushed forward together, trying to snatch the keys from me.

Outside, the villagers grew bold enough to bring ladders and climb in. Then, five or six strong men pinned me to the ground, and more than a dozen hands were fighting to pry the keys from my tightly clenched fist.

At that moment, Brutus came charging in, teeth bared, barking furiously as he threw himself in front of me.

Mildred, Connie, and the others froze in shock.

Mildred turned to Connie and surprisingly asked, “Wasn’t the dog locked up? How did it get out?”

It hit me then.

I had thought Brutus was off hiding somewhere, slacking off. But it turned out that they had locked him up.

So, this violent attempt to break through the gate hadn’t been spontaneous. It had been planned.

To be honest, when Mildred and Giselle had questioned me earlier, their words had shaken me deeply.

I knew what I was doing was unfair and cruel, even.

But now, the last trace of guilt I felt toward them had completely vanished.

And as for their actions and the villagers’ attack, I would show no mercy.