Babel Novel
73
There was a tidal wave of cynicism rushing toward Marie
She was panicked. Looked at the crowd around, she made a futile attempt to explain, but was unable to find the proper words.
She turned to Annie for help, but Annie’s head hung low. Annie held Steven’s arm tightly, refusing to meet Marie’s gaze.
It was like the two were total strangers.
Marie was in despair.
Click! Click!
Someone fished out the phone to take pictures.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.
Then more and more people followed suit to snap pictures of her.
Frightened, Marie waved her hands, and finally covered her face with them.
“Stop! Don’t shot me! Please don’t!”
“Why? Such a piece of earth-shattering news requires photographic proof! Otherwise, no one will believe that ‘Marie in the Sky’ is you!”
“Yes! That is right. Don’t tell me you still want to go on with your game of cheating?”
A bunch of hedonistic boys from rich families were jesting around, trying to make news for fun.
As for how Marie felt, they were not interested in it.
Anyhow, some wanted to take revenge. After all, they had indeed invested a lot in the disguised female divinity online, and were unable to accept the discrepancy in her appearances.
When everyone had had with photos, Annie stepped in.
“Enough! Stop taking pictures! She did not do it on purpose. She is just trying hard to support her life. Can’t you let her go?”
Upon hearing that, everyone stopped finally.
In fact, they had already taken plenty of photos.
Marie was sobbing. No one could bear to be publicly humiliated in this way.
Annie consoled her, “Marie, don’t cry. I’m sorry. It is all my fault. If I have not stepped on her toes, she won’t be against you.”
Hearing that, Marie quickly glanced at Zoe with hatred.
Zoe curled her lips and showed a sarcastic smile.
In such a state, Marie was really stupid for not
realizing who the dirty hand behind her misery was. She deserved such an end!
Steven frowned at such a scene.
He didn’t want to make it big. After all, it was the 70th anniversary of the school. After a while, various leaders of the school and the city were about to arrive, and it was not a sight to behold.
Hence he asked everyone to walk away.
At this point, everyone knew that the show was basically over, and there was nothing more to see here. Thus they didn’t say anything anymore and walked away.
Annie offered Marie a few words of comfort before asking Marie and Tammy to accompany her to a guest room upstairs to take a rest.
After everyone left, Annie finally turned back and stare at Zoe.
“Now, sister, you must be content to cause such a ruckus!”
Zoe raised her eyebrows.
She gazed at Annie with an amused look on her face, “Are you saying I start it?”
“I admit, what Marie and Tammy said started it, but didn’t I explain it on your behalf? Why are you still being pushy and mean to Marie? Don’t you know she was from a poor family and became an internet celebrity to make a living?”
“I’m not interested in listening to your version of her dirty laundry!”
Zoe interrupted her bluntly.
With obvious disappointment on her face, Annie covered her chest in pain.
“Sister, when did you become like this?”
Steven revealed faint disappointment in his eyes too.
Nevertheless, he didn’t say anything.
Supporting Annie with his hand, Shawn reminded in a soft tone, “Annie, the principal is coming. Let’s move on and take a seat!”
Annie wiped her indistinct tears from the corner of her eyes and muttered, “Steven, you’d better go in first! I want to go upstairs and check on Marie. I will be right back after I make sure she is all right.”
Steven nodded. “Ok.”
Steven left.
Annie and Zoe were the only left there.
“All right, since everyone’s gone, stop acting!” Zoe said faintly.
Annie finally tucked away her grief face.
She straightened her back. She looked distressed and heartbroken a moment ago, but now she wore a proud smile on her face.
“I really underestimated you, but do you think
exposing Marie’s true identity will have any influence on me? Oh! She’s just a brainless fool, and I wouldn’t have taken her with me if she hadn’t been trying to curry favor with me. She’s so stupid and easy to use!”
Zoe gave her a faint look.
“So? What did you want to tell me?”
Annie smiled gently, stepped forward, and whispered in her ear, “Do you think you can capture Steven’s heart again? Let me tell you, I could send you to hell five years ago, and I can do the same now!”
Zoe’s eyes turned cold, yet Annie continued.
“No one likes a venomous woman who persecutes her sister! It is no exception for Steven! You know what he loves about me? My appearance? Oh, no, it’s my kind heart and mile temperament that he loves best. As long as I keep it up, he’ll never fall for you, understand?”
Zoe sneered.
“Annie, what magic spell does Steven have you under? Why are you so confident that he was charming enough for me to bear him in my heart?”
Annie’s face changed slightly.
She looked at Zoe with hatred in her eyes.
“You still deny it? If you’re really over him, why do you dress like this, knowing that he will be here? Don’t fool me about what you’re thinking! You’ll never have him!”
“Tonight, I’ll show you what it tastes to relive a nightmare! I’ll destroy the reputation, confidence you’ve been working so hard to build up over the last five years. You will end up just as poor and lost as you were five years ago.”
As she said this, the rage and jealousy smothering in her chest were finally released for a moment.
She straightened up and looked at Zoe with a confident face, as well as the winner’s pride and arrogance.
Zoe gazed at her for a moment before shaking her head slowly.
Then, she said with deep sympathy, “Annie, you are too naive! You plan to make a scene on an event that happened five years ago and trap me in a situation beyond redemption?”
Annie said in a cold voice, “It is your fault! How dare you come out on such an occasion today?”
Zoe smiled.
“Why not?”
Annie frowned, “What do you mean?”
“Ah, nothing! I just feel sorry for your confidence.”
Annie’s pupils dilated
Zoe took a step closer to her and whispered, “Are you really so sure that the manuscript you stole from my computer five years ago was the original?”