Someone posted a video anonymously.
Malicious editing and leading captions had turned Emily, the victim, into a party girl who'd thrown herself at people and framed the innocent.
The post blew up.
The comments underneath were filthy, too vile to read.
People dug up her personal information.
People tracked down the courtroom footage from that day.
"This trial video was released publicly by Carlisle's law firm. It's completely real."
"Even her own mother gave up on this daughter. You can imagine how rotten her character must be."
"Attorney Carlisle is such a good person. How could she have a daughter this shameless? What a pity."
"That Pruitt family is pitiful too, hit out of nowhere with a disaster like this. If you ask me, Bruno Fox and his daughter should both be thrown in prison!"
Shares passed ten thousand, and the storm kept building.
Not long ago, the top university's official account had posted a notice too.
Emily's acceptance was revoked.
Former classmates, friends, messages poured in, all of them asking.
The hand holding the phone was shaking hard.
Emily lifted her head, dazed, her eyes full of pain and helplessness.
"Dad, what do I do? What am I supposed to do…"
I moved to comfort my daughter.
Annette spoke first.
"This is what your stubbornness has cost you."
"Emily Carlisle, you really are the disgrace of my life."
"I've done my duty faithfully my whole life. I never imagined I'd raise a daughter as worthless as you!"
Emily backed up a few steps, staring at Annette in disbelief.
And when she saw the coldness in her mother's eyes, everything she'd been holding together until now came apart completely.
She screamed, smashed the phone, tears streaming down her face.
"Mom, why won't you just believe me?"
"You'll take Thomas Pruitt to the amusement park, you'll make time to tutor him, you'll spend millions to get him into that university, but you won't believe a single word I say."
"I'm the one who's your daughter!"
She grew more and more frantic.
Like she was pouring out every wound of all those years at once.
"I've tried so hard to do everything the way you wanted."
"I studied hard. I killed myself to get into that university."
"I made you the whole goal I was fighting for, stayed up all night memorizing, tiptoed around you trying to make you happy."
"So why, why is Thomas Pruitt the only one in your heart! What else do I have to do to make you believe me!"
Something in Annette's expression finally cracked.
Her lips parted, like she wanted to say something.
But my daughter suddenly ran for the window.
And without looking back, she jumped.
