He gave me a glimmer of hope in my darkest days, only to cruelly snuff it out.
Henry staggered backward and nearly dragged Queenie down with him.
1/2
Without looking back, I walked away.
+15 BONUS
Behind me, I could feel his burning gaze as he shouted angrily and desperately, “We can have more children in the future! I never did anything to betray you. Just forgive me this once!”
He never betrayed me, yet he couldn’t let go of Queenie’s hand.
Soon, the competition began.
Queenie and I took turns performing on stage.
After finishing her routine, Queenie looked at me smugly and whispered, “I will be the winner. You don’t stand a chance.”
I saw something suspicious in her eyes.
Just as I was about to press her for details, the host announced that I had won.
Queenie stood on stage with her mouth agape in disbelief.
“Impossible! I made sure everything was taken care of. How could you have won?”
A tall man stepped onto the stage. His deep voice carried a pleasant timbre. His gaze seemed to sweep over me.
“You thought bribing the judges would guarantee your victory? I will report this matter. Everyone involved will be punished! And you, Queenie, from this day forward, will have no future in dance. No institution will accept a dancer who bribes judges.”
Queenie broke down on the spot.
The man walked up to me and handed me the competition certificate.
I stared at him blankly, and a strange sense of familiarity washed over me.
“Little beggar, are you going to take your competition certificate or not?”
Memories from my childhood surfaced in my mind.
I finally remembered how I knew him. He was the neighbor who used to bring me food.
His name was Matthew Foster.
