8
512words
I turned—Ethan Cole,the speaker.
His words ignited the crowd.
"It is!It looks like Master Clara's dress."
"Real?There's only one in the world if what he said’s real!"
"She's an unfamiliar face.Could it be a fake for attention?"
Victor,seizing the chance,gained confidence.
"Miss,I understand wearing a replica to stand out.Are you in trouble?I can help..."
"Who dares call this dress a fake?"
A commanding voice came from behind.
I turned—Mom and Grandma!
Mom wore a elegant dress,exuding refined grace.
Grandma,in a navy robe,radiated authority.
"It's Master Clara!"
"What!Master Clara?Wasn’t she in seclusion!"
"Look!That girl's wearing the twin bangle!Master Clara said she'd only give it to her own student!"
Grandma's arrival was a bombshell,which had people in the room immediately excited.
"Quiet!"
She scanned the crowd,speaking firmly.
"She's my granddaughter,Stella Summers,my secluded disciple.Need I say if her dress is real?"
I glanced at Victor and Luna—their faces were pale now,sweat dripping down from their forehead.
"Someone said they'd pay for the dress.Fine!Let's see if you have billions!"
Grandma's sharp gaze pierced through Victor.
He shrank,stammering apologies.
Ignoring him,she strode onto the stage,microphone in hand,voice resounding.
"Today,I'm here to seek justice for my granddaughter.Victor Summers,a hypocrite,claimed my granddaughter was a sponsored orphan,unable to eat or study without him.How ridiculous!His entire fortune all together is jusgt pocket change to me!"
"And..."
She produced a paper,displaying it to the crowd.
"They call Victor a philanthropist,a saint.Is that true?These are chats in his phone and bank transfers.Look closely."
"Selling children to Southeast Asia,hiring hackers to steal data,cooking books,domestic abuse..."
"This is your great philanthropist?A scum to the core he is!"
Tears poured out of my eyes non-stop as I watched Grandma's fervent speech.
Finally...his true face was exposed.
A lifetime ago, having discovered his secret,I reported him.
But my own voice was weak,and he bribed the police,escaping unscathed.
I paid dearly—my tongue was cut out,and I was reduced to his money-making tool,unable to speak.
This time things were different.I had Mom and Grandma behind me.
My suffering,the trafficked children,the bankrupted companies...the truth was finally out.
The crowd erupted,pinning Victor down,cursing and throwing punches at him.
Police arrived,and as hoped,Victor was sentenced to death,he was executed immediately.
Leaving the gala,I saw Luna,ragged and filthy,curled up in a corner.
Seeing me,she lunged at me,screaming:
"Why!Why did I lose again!Stella,why are you always so lucky?"
"I endured so much—Victor beat me,tortured me.I survived it all!And still,this!"
"Luna,you chose your path—a lifetime ago and this time.Your fate isn't just Victor's doing,but yours."
I turned away.
The second I was about to turn,Luna ran into traffic.A speeding car struck her,crushing her body.
"Luna!"
I called out reflexively,but saw only her resentful eyes close,a tear falling down from the corner of her eye.
Death was her choice.No one forced her.
Perhaps when Victor's first whip struck,she foresaw this.But choices were already made.
I stayed with Grandma,mastering her techniques.
Under her guidance,I won countless national awards,becoming a master ceramicist like her and Mom.
With my earnings,I founded a charity foundation,helping homeless children,giving them hope.
