At her command, the already enraged "justice warriors" swarmed the stage, shoving aside the faculty. They started tearing at my clothes right there on the auditorium stage.
Punches and kicks flew. They even turned on bright lights to photograph my tear-stained face.
My eyes blazing with fury, I spat out each word.
"Back off, Rebecca. Leonard is my nephew! You're going to regret this!"
The auditorium fell eerily silent. The girls at the forefront, who'd been tearing at my clothes, froze mid-action, turning to Rebecca with questioning looks.
Rebecca, momentarily stunned, quickly regained her composure and continued her haughty commands.
"This isn't the 1980s. You think anyone's buying that 'he's my relative' BS? Get real!"
Fighting through the searing pain, I struggled to my feet, meeting her gaze head-on.
"Back off now, and I'll let this slide. But if you keep this up, forget Leonard! You'll have the law to answer to!"
To my surprise, Rebecca's eyes bore into mine as she let out a shrill, maniacal laugh.
"Well, aren't you ballsy, you old hag? Lying through your teeth like that! You think we're all idiots? You're a 22-year-old senior! Where the hell did you get an 18-year-old nephew from?!"
Her words sent shockwaves through the crowd, igniting a frenzy of whispers and speculation.
"Right? Where'd she conjure up a nephew who's only four years younger? Talk about digging your own grave."
"Gross. Can someone expose her already? This is textbook 'the lady doth protest too much'. Nearly graduated and still chasing freshmen tail. Pathetic."
Seeing my silence as weakness, Rebecca lunged forward, delivering a vicious kick to my knee.
"Can't take the heat? Then stay out of the kitchen, you skank.
"Ever heard of a mirror? Or are you too busy pissing all over yourself? Take a good look at that ugly mug of yours. Do you think you're in my man's league?
"I thought you were some cunning vixen, seducing my boyfriend. Turns out you're dumb as rocks. Disgusting. With that face and IQ, you're only fit for the streets. Even the hobos would turn you down!"
Her eyes glinted with malice as she spat, "Justice warriors, let's go! We're gonna mess up that plastic surgery face of hers. See if she's got the guts to chase men after this! Filthy whore!"
The faculty, including Dean, who had initially sided with me, began to waver under Rebecca's relentless slander.
Doubt crept into their expressions.