The Birthday Party 2
1109 Words
Gasps and murmurs followed at the sight of the next pictures and videos that were revealed. The smiling Melissa frowned, wondering what it was that made everyone start murmuring. Her eyes almost popped out of their socket when she turned and saw what was making everyone murmur.
“Really? So she has been deceiving everyone?”
“I can't believe this.”
“This is evil. How dare her deceive us all these while.”
Their murmurs increased with each passing second and immediately, she stood up and rushed to the projector.
“Turn this off. Someone turn this off,” she yelled.”
“Who did this? Didn't you hear what I said? Turn it off.”
Like a mad person, Melissa held the remote control of the projector and tried turning it off but it was to no avail as the videos kept playing.
She froze as Mrs Hank’s questioning voice came up behind her. “What is this, Melissa? Are these true?” She turned around with a desperate shake of her head.
“Mother, these are fake. Someone faked these.”
“They don't look fake to me.” The woman snapped. Tell me the truth, Melissa, are these true? Are your legs fine?”
“Mother, you know that's not true. This topic is sensitive for me. Considering that you know my condition.” As her mother-in-law alone was the least of her issues, she stopped her hands from trembling in fear.
Searching through the crowd, her eyes widened as they fell on Eve. She hastily limped through the crowd and got to the spot where she sat with Ella.
“You did this, right?” Everyone’s attention was diverted to them.
“What?”
“You did this, Genevieve. How dare you fake photos and videos of me. How dare you ruin my birthday party?” She screamed.
“I don't know what you're talking about.” Eve ignored the girl before her, brought her tumbler to her lips, and gulped down the whole content in a go.
“Oh, you don't?”
She shrugged.
Anger overtook Melissa and before anyone could stop her, she grabbed Eve’s arms and forced her up, her pants loud in frustration.
“Stop lying, already. I know it’s you. You want to ruin me so badly.” Her hold on Eve’s arms tightened even further and she dragged her to the front of the projector. And Eve let her pull her. At least, for now.
“Come on, tell everyone that this is a lie. Tell them you faked this.”
“Did I?” She chuckled. “Let go of my arms,” she commanded.
Melissa clenched her fist, stopping herself from lunging at Eve with everything in her.
“Tell them,” she yelled. Unrelenting. Panic rose even further in her chest as she stared into the eyes of the guests waiting for either of them to confess.
“Tell them what? That you have been pretending?”
“I'm going to sue you for defamation, Eve. Tell them you faked these videos.”
Eve pulled her arms from Melissa’s hold harshly and made her stagger backward a bit.
“It’s high time you stop pretending, Melissa. Your game is becoming boring. You tell them the truth.”
“Genevieve.”
“I'm tired of your games. I was going to let it be and watch you play till the end but you see my dear, it's becoming frustrating. How about we tell everyone the truth now? The truth that your legs were never injured and you’ve been deceiving everyone for years,” Eve revealed without a second thought.
“Stop it. That's a lie. I can't believe you are still this bitter. Did you forget that you caused me an accident?”
“I did? I can't recall. It's all ending today, Melissa. We have to let the cat out of the bag now. I'll show you.”
Before she could turn around and walk to the projector, she felt a strong hand grab her arm and bring her back. Noah glared down at her.
“Don't create a scene.”
Melissa rushed to his side. She held the hem of his suit and peered up at him. “Noah, she's lying. We should throw her out of the party. I'm feeling sick.”
Her words elicited a glare and an eye roll from Eve. “Don't worry. I'll leave once I'm done telling everyone the truth. Why don't you sit back and watch.”
“I won't let you ruin my party.”
“Forget about that. I have more evidence that you are pretending.”
She tore her arms off Noah’s hold and walked to the projector.
“Don't even go there. Leave,” Melissa cried, her body trembling.
“If you're not guilty, why don't you let me show them what I got.”
“Your photoshopped evidence?”
“I also have proof that it's not photoshopped.”
Before Melissa could say anything, her hands pressed a button on the remote and it started playing out in the projector.
Again, gasps and murmurs enveloped the hall where the birthday party was held.
“Do you remember him? The doctor,” Eve asked.
“I don't know him.”
“He gave me this video.” It was a clip of Melissa having a deal with her doctor. She had asked him to make a false report that she would not be able to walk normally her entire life. She also asked him to make stitches on her body and make it look real that she was involved in an accident.
The video content displayed the wraps of cash she placed on his table. Seeing the shock on Melissa’s face as she watched the video, Genevieve couldn't help but smile. She’d waited for this day for long.
To let the cat out of the bag.
Melissa must be wondering where she got the video from. Well, ever since she became Miss. Gray, it became so much easier to get things that she wanted. Getting this was like picking up a grocery bag from a shop. It was as easy as flicking her fingers.
“Shocking right? A year ago, you blamed me for doing this to you but now that the truth is out, I wonder what exactly to do with you.
Melissa swallowed and glanced at her guests. Their gazes were filled with disappointment for her. Her heartbeat further increased as she saw Noah coming closer to her. She was doomed.
Doomed for real. Noah hated lies.
“Explain.”
- Writer
