LOGINAfter my parents died in a car crash, my cousin stole the compensation money and moved overseas to start a business. My aunt begged me on her knees not to call the police. Then, she locked me in a dark basement for three months. I was close to breaking down and ending my life when Julien Lawson, the neighbor’s son, broke down the basement door and saved me. “Joyce, what they did is unforgivable! They stole the compensation money for your parents’ deaths. You were going to use it to open your own studio! “Marry me. I’ll protect you.” He was the only person who cared about me after my parents died. I was so grateful that I married him and had his child. I worked three jobs during the day to help support the orphanage that Julien ran. At night, I took care of our child and created design sketches. But no matter how hard I tried, none of my work was ever accepted. Even though Julien told me to keep at it, I felt discouraged and thought of giving up on my design career to focus on our family. One day, our child was sick. I went to take over the shift from Julien when I overheard him talking to my aunt on the stairs. “Julien, it’s been ten years. Joyce’s designs are getting better and better. She even passed the first round of the national competition. Are you really not going to tell her about the next round?” my aunt asked. Her voice trembled. Julien said coldly, “For years, I’ve been sending Joyce’s design sketches to Mindy to copy and enter in the competitions or publish as her own. “To help Mindy’s career, I can’t let Joyce move on to the next round. “Joyce has talent. If people notice her, she’ll be a threat to Mindy’s career!”
View MoreMindy screamed, “Officer, you’re mistaken! I didn’t do anything wrong! I didn’t do anything!” Julien also panicked. “Officer, there must be some misunderstanding. I…” I turned to him and said calmly but firmly, “I’ve already given the security footage of you throwing and kicking Jay to the police. “You hurt a child, and it led to his death. The law will punish you.” As soon as I said Jay’s name, Julien collapsed to the floor. His face turned even paler. Guilt overwhelmed him. He raised his hands. That was a sign that he was admitting his guilt. “I failed Joyce and Jay…” he said in a broken voice. “I deserve this. I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for what I did.” Seeing that, Mindy lost control and tried to fight the officers. She pointed at Julien, and her face twisted in anger. “He gave me those sketches! I didn’t know they were Joyce’s! “I didn’t know he was married! He lied to me!” Julien suddenly looked up at her. His eyes were bloodshot and filled wit
I laughed, but tears streamed down my face. “Julien, you’re a fool! You believe everything Mindy says? “If you had just asked at the hospital’s front desk, you would’ve known that Jay died the same day you refused to give him your kidney!” Julien swayed. His face turned even paler as he remembered the moment I was on my knees and begging him outside the operating room. He whispered, “So… he died because of me?” “That wasn’t the only reason he died.” I looked at him in hatred. “Jay was bleeding internally, too.” Julien held his head and dropped to the floor. He suddenly remembered how, on that day, he had thrown Jay to the floor. Then, annoyed that Jay was in the way, he had kicked him in the chest. He was eaten up with regret, like something sharp was tearing at his heart. He let out a low, pained growl, like a wounded animal. Mindy’s phone kept buzzing loudly. The sound felt like a curse. She looked at the screen and struggled to breathe as message after message po
The national design competition final was held in Central City. The host’s excited voice filled the room. “Congratulations to Ms. Mindy Stanley! Her design ‘Starry Night,’ with its unique creativity and skillful craftsmanship, has impressed all the judges and won the competition!” The applause was loud, and the spotlight shone on Mindy. With a bright smile, she walked up to the stage proudly to accept her trophy. “Thank you to the organizing committee,” she said excitedly. “‘Starry Night’ was inspired by my thoughts on life and my pursuit of beauty—” Suddenly, I raised my hand and shouted, “Mindy, you’re lying!” My voice cut through the noise. It was sharp and loud. Everyone turned to look at me. Mindy’s smile froze. She looked at me and panicked. I held up my tablet. On the screen were the design sketches for “Starry Night,” along with detailed timestamps showing when I created it. “The person who created the design is me, Joyce Stanley!” My voice shook, but I said
I spent a week alone taking care of Jay’s funeral at the funeral home. I chose a spot for Jay’s grave. It was sunny there. I hoped he was finally free from pain. My phone buzzed. It was a call from Julien. “Why isn’t Jay in his hospital room? Where are you? Why aren’t you at the hospital?” He sounded worried and angry. My voice was hoarse as I said, “Julien, come to the funeral home. Say goodbye to Jay… for the last time.” “The funeral home? Joyce, what are you talking about?!” Julien snapped. “Jay is sick, and you took him out of the hospital?! Is that what a mother should do?!” “Julien, don’t be so mean to Joyce.” Mindy’s soft voice came through the other end. She pretended to care for me. “Joyce, I know you’re upset that Julien’s been spending time with Samuel, but you can’t lie about such things.” Julien believed her and yelled, “You’re making this up just to get me to come back?! You’re sick, Joyce! I’m disgusted!” Then, he hung up. The dial tone buzzed in my e
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