Chapter 9
“Dad.”
I said softly into the microphone, my tone carrying a hint of grievance.
My father then walked onto the stage, patted my head, his cold gaze sweeping over the silent crowd below before finally settling on Derek’s ashen face.
“I came only wanting to see with my own eyes the environment where my daughter lives every day. I didn’t expect it to be so… fascinating.”
He deliberately emphasized the last word, full of sarcasm.
The entire venue fell deathly silent–you could hear a pin drop.
Derek’s face showed nothing but indescribable terror and despair, his whole body uncontrollably beginning to
shake, nearly unable to stand.
Kira looked as if all her strength had been drained away, staggering backward a step, her face deathly pale.
The principal took a deep breath, his face iron–gray, his voice trembling from barely suppressed fury:
“Derek! Kira! You two! This is absolutely ridiculous!”
The principal’s roar echoed through the silent auditorium, making people’s eardrums ring.
‘Based on just one photo, you maliciously speculated, made anonymous reports, and even publicly slandered a classmate during a solemn awards ceremony! What kind of behavior is this? This is defamation! This is serious misconduct! Do you have any regard for school rules and regulations!”
He was so angry his fingers were slightly trembling: “Quinn Sinclair’s father is the main donor for our school’s new ibrary! He’s the founder of the Beacon Scholarship Fund!”
Every sentence was like a heavy slap, harshly striking Derek and Kira’s faces.
The crowd below finally understood completely, their gazes toward Derek and Kira instantly changing from previous sympathy to complete contempt.
‘My god… so it was all a show they directed themselves!”
“How dare they? Slandering an investor’s daughter?”
“Their own minds are dirty, so they see everything as filthy! To actually think of using a father–daughter relationship to spread sexual rumors? So vicious!”
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Che cland
Thuan Dad Mou Minal Dorformance? All My Courtroom Evidence!
24.6%
Chapter a
“I used to think Derek was quite upright and Kira was kind–I was so blind! With acting skills this good, why didn’t they go to drama school!”
Discussion rose like a tide, every sentence stabbing at those two people on stage like needles.
Derek completely collapsed. His legs went weak and he crumpled to the ground, his face showing complete defeat and despair, unconsciously muttering to himself.
“Impossible… this can’t be… how could…”
I took the microphone.
“Derek, Kira, did you think that when I stayed up three nights straight to grab tickets, it was because I could only and deserved only to go home that way?”
“Did you think that because I dress simply, it’s because I can’t afford the designer brands you value?”
“Did you think that because I keep a low profile and don’t argue with you, it’s because I have low self–esteem and am easy to bully?”
My voice rose slightly, each question like a heavy hammer striking their hearts.
‘I need to be kept by someone? That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard all year.”
Derek lowered his head, staring fixedly at the ground, not daring to look at me again.
‘The reason I grabbed tickets was simply because I wanted to experience with someone I liked the ordinary process of working hard to get home.”
My gaze shot sharply toward Derek.
Unfortunately, you’re not worthy.”
My gaze turned to the many faces below holding their breath in concentration.
My grades–ranked first in my year, all the honors I’ve received are publicly verifiable, clean and honest, every oint earned through nights I spent in the library and problems I solved myself. Does anyone have any objection to
his?”
My gaze swept across the entire venue–no one dared respond.
inally, my gaze returned to that figure almost trying to shrink behind her chair.
As for Kira.”
The business class seat you schemed so hard to steal, the reputation you wanted to smear, even this man beside you whom you see as your support… in my eyes, none of these were ever treasures worth fighting over.”
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the Slandered Me to Millions (Cne the Fake Tours Live!) But Her Vival Performance? All My Courtroom Evidence!
24.9
Chapter 9
“What you treasure as precious is nothing more than garbage I can discard at any time.”
Having said this, I no longer spared them a single glance, efficiently handing the microphone back to the host beside
- me.
This farce should come to an end.
Later, Derek tried to come apologize to me.
“Quinn, I didn’t know… I really didn’t know anything…”
He was incoherent.
“It was all Kira who egged me on, she took those photos too…”
Looking at him desperately trying to clear himself and frantically shift blame, I suddenly found it somewhat laughable, and also somewhat pitiful.
“Do you know why I never told you about my family situation?”
He shook his head blankly.
“Because I wanted to know–stripped of all external glory and family background, if I were just an ordinary Quinn Sinclair, would you truly like me as a person.”
I said softly.
“Now I know the answer.”
As I turned to leave, I didn’t look back.
Father was right–while showing off wealth isn’t necessarily good, occasionally using it to see people’s true hearts isn’t bad either.
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