Chapter 3
716 Words
As Friday drew closer, Henry and Tiffany became even more desperate and even nastier.
They spent a fortune hiring internet trolls and flooded social media with paid articles.
"Outstanding Entrepreneur Henry Powell's Daughter to Marry Into Wealth, Double Celebration Ahead!"
"Heartless Daughter Refuses Kidney Match Test, Leaves Stepfather's Son to Die!"
"The Truth About a Female College Student Raised by a Mysterious Older Man After Living in an Orphanage!"
The stories spread like wildfire. People who knew nothing about me tore me apart online.
At school, whispers followed me everywhere.
Somebody even splashed red paint across my desk and scrawled ugly words:
Ungrateful Monster
Conrad sat in his penthouse office overlooking the entire city, scrolling through the headlines. His brows knitted slightly.
"Want me to wipe all of this off the internet? I can bankrupt Henry's company while I'm at it."
I lounged on the leather sofa across from him, lazily popping imported Chilean cherries into my mouth. I shook my head.
"No. The higher they fly, the harder they'll fall. They're so obsessed with appearances, so desperate to bask in the admiration of the city's elite. Fine. Then I'll wait until they're at the very peak of their glory, and crush the thing they treasure most beneath my heel."
Conrad looked at me, amusement flickering in his deep eyes.
"Good girl. I taught you well."
He stood up and walked over, placing a black velvet box into my hands.
"Your armor for tonight. Go get changed."
At eight o'clock Friday night, I arrived at the most luxurious seven-star hotel in the capital, Peace Tower.
To show off his title as Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year, Henry had rented out the hotel's Diamond Ballroom, the biggest and most extravagant hall available.
Crystal chandeliers glittered overhead. Designer gowns and expensive tuxedos filled the grand hall.
Henry wore a custom tailcoat and wandered among the guests with a champagne glass in hand, basking in their compliments.
"Congratulations, Mr. Powell!"
"Double blessings this year!"
"I heard your daughter is getting engaged to Mr. James tonight. How wonderful!"
Henry laughed until his face nearly split. "Oh, you're too kind. It's all for her happiness."
Nearby, Tiffany strutted around in an outrageously flashy red evening gown, arm-in-arm with Dave. She bragged shamelessly to the wealthy socialites.
"My Sharon is just too kind-hearted. She insisted on donating a kidney to her little brother. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen. After the surgery, I'm buying her a sports car to make it up to her."
Every word was a lie. Yet she played the role of a loving mother perfectly.
Time ticked by. The banquet was about to begin.
Henry glanced at his watch. His smile faded.
He waved over a bodyguard. "Where the hell is that brat?"
The bodyguard shook his head. "No sign of Miss Powell yet."
Tiffany hurried over anxiously. "What if she ran away? Mr. James already sent over the engagement money!"
Henry's expression darkened. "She wouldn't dare. Seal off the exits. The moment she shows up, drag her onto the stage."
I stood behind a one-way glass panel on the second floor, coldly watching everything.
The host stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Mr. Henry Powell's celebration banquet for receiving the Outstanding Entrepreneur Award! Tonight, not only will Mr. Powell share his success with everyone, but he also has two pieces of wonderful news to announce!"
Amid enthusiastic applause, Henry adjusted his bow tie and strode confidently onto the stage.
He accepted the microphone. "Thank you all for coming. Everything I've achieved today is thanks to all your support."
He rambled on about corporate responsibility and painted himself as the image of a perfect businessman.
Then his tone softened dramatically. "But today, the person I want to thank most... is my daughter, Sharon."
He pointed toward the ballroom entrance. His voice rose several octaves.
"And now, please welcome my beloved daughter to the stage! Tonight she will exchange engagement gifts with Mr. James! And sign an organ donation agreement to save her stepbrother's life!"
Spotlights instantly flooded the entrance.
Every guest turned toward the doors expectantly.
I took a deep breath, pushed open the doors to the hall, and descended the spiral staircase, step by step, into the spotlight.
- Writer
