“No!”
I screamed and lunged forward, but my mother’s bodyguards grabbed me, pinning my arms as I thrashed helplessly.
Mark and his son rushed over after hearing the commotion.
Shawn gasped, then burst into dramatic tears. “Nathaniel! You… you and your uncle did all this to ruin my entrance banquet? How could you curse me like that?!”
Mark pulled him close, eyes reddened. “Miss Vaughn… I think it’s clear. We’re not welcome here. Come on, Shawn—we’ll leave.”
“Wait!” My mother’s voice was sharp with panic.
She turned, stormed over to me, and slapped me so hard my head snapped to the side. “You two are really bold! You dare ruin such an important day?!”
The photo of my father still sat in the car.
She walked over and kicked it.
The glass cracked. His gentle smile—preserved behind that frame—shattered beneath her foot.
Tears spilled from my eyes. “No! Dad!”
I surged forward, wild with grief, but the bodyguards held me down.
I was forced to watch—watch—as they poured my father’s ashes into the sewer, his photo stomped into shards and tossed into the trash.
By the time my body finally gave out, sobs wracking my chest, I was half-conscious. They dragged me by the arms and dropped me at her feet.
“Mr. Vaughn,” one of the guards reported, “it’s done.”
My mother gave a satisfied smile and stepped back beside Mark and Shawn, looking every bit the perfect, loving family of three.
“If this ever happens again, I’ll divorce Thomas on the spot,” she said coldly. Then to the guards: “Watch him. Don’t let him cause any more trouble.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
They yanked me aside like I was trash.
She bent down, her voice low and venomous. “Now open your eyes and watch how Shawn becomes someone you’ll never be.”
I coughed, blood staining my lips, and forced a bitter smile. “Don’t worry. He won’t make it to Stanford University—not even with 750 points.”
At that moment, Shawn stepped in front of the cameras, beaming like the star of the show. He raised a mic, dressed to perfection.
“To be honest,” he laughed, “I’m not even that good at studying. I just worked hard… and accidentally scored 700! Haha!”
Online comments buzzed instantly:
“OMG, this is the most humble brag ever! I'm crying real tears of envy.”
“Recording this to show my future kids: Work hard and you’ll score 700 accidentally!”
“Miss Vaughn’s son is so charming! Is he… single?”
Just then, a voice cuts through the noise.
“Excuse me—make way.”
A group of uniformed police officers pushed through the crowd, walking straight toward the stage.
They surrounded Shawn.
“Young man,” the lead officer said, “please come with us. We need you to cooperate in an investigation concerning your college entrance exam results.”
My mother froze.
“You must be mistaken!” she snapped, stepping protectively in front of him. Her eyes darted to me, instantly suspicious. “Was it Thomas again? Did he call the police?!”
She turned to the officers. “Comrades, Shawn is a good boy! Don’t believe anything that jealous lunatic says!”
The captain glanced down at his folder, unfazed. “Are you referring to the boy’s father?”
“Yes!” my mother snapped. “He’s behind this—”
“He died two weeks ago in a car accident,” the officer said calmly. “We have the report here. Ma’am… you really didn’t know?”
Her body stiffened.
Behind her, Mark went pale as chalk.
I stared at them from where I knelt, my arms still restrained, eyes bloodshot.
