Chapter 4
The documentary about motherhood was unmistakably her work!
She just hadn’t finished the final edits yet, so it was still sitting in her cloud storage.
But… how did it end up as an entry?
Even more shocking was when the presenter took the stage and announced, “Congratulations to this year’s Gold Award winner for the University Film Festival… Chloe Grant!”
Amid the applause, Chloe, wearing a stunning snow–white gown, ascended the stage.
The audience erupted. “Oh my god, I didn’t expect the gold award winner to be so beautiful! With
that face, she could debut as an actress!”
“Not just beautiful, but so talented too! Her future is limitless!”
Under the dazzling spotlight, a faint, proud smile finally graced Chloe’s usually cool lips.
It wasn’t until Chloe went backstage and saw Madison that her smile faded.
“Chloe,” Madison said, her face grim, getting straight to the point. “What’s going on? How did my
work become yours? Where did you get my film?”
Chloe’s smile cooled. “Madison, watch your tone.” She spoke dismissively, her manner haughty.
“You should be thanking me. The University Film Awards have been a nobody for years, but this
year,
because I won, the whole internet is buzzing about the ‘gorgeous student director‘.‘
Not only that, someone just contacted me about giving my documentary ‘Mother‘ a theatrical release. Do you think that would happen if you had won?”
Madison was infuriated by her superior tone. “You steal someone’s work and have the nerve to be
so self–righteous?”
But then Chloe snapped. She suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Madison by the throat like a madwoman. “Steal? How dare you accuse me of stealing! Madison, it’s you! You’re the one who
stole Ethan from me!”
Choked and gasping for air, Madison stared in shock at the girl before her. The usually aloof campus belle now had a frenzied look in her eyes.
Madison suddenly remembered what the man by the lake had said, Chloe had been targeted and tormented because of Ethan, developed depression, and took a year off school.
Chloe raised one hand, revealing countless scars on her wrist, and let out a strange, twisted laugh.
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“Look. I’ve tried to die for Ethan so many times. What do you have that compares to me? I only took one film from you, but you… you took Ethan away from me…‘
11
Struggling to breathe, Madison instinctively said, “No… Ethan and I are only together because…”
BANG!
The dressing room door was kicked open. Ethan stormed in. “Chloe!”
His face changed, and he rushed to grab hold of Chloe.
Chloe immediately released Madison, collapsing to the floor, gasping for air, her body convulsing.
It was a panic attack!
Ethan skillfully placed a paper bag over her nose and mouth, holding her tightly. “Don’t be afraid…
don’t be afraid, I’m here… no one can hurt you…”
Chloe clung to Ethan like a drowning person clutching a lifeline. Madison stood there watching them, suddenly feeling like she was the one who didn’t belong.
It wasn’t until Ethan looked up at her, his eyes filled with anger, that he spoke. “Madison, what did you say to her! Don’t you know she has depression?!”
His words showed no notice of the bright red fingermarks on Madison’s neck.
Madison snapped back to reality and shook her head instinctively. “I didn’t say much, just told her
that the film was my…”
})
But Ethan cut her off impatiently. “It’s just a film! Was it really necessary?!”
“What do you mean, ‘just a film‘…”
Madison started to argue, but then she realized something, her face gradually paling.
“Ethan… did you give my film to Chloe?”
Ethan’s hand holding the paper bag stilled for a moment. Finally, he said coldly, “I’ve had the payment for the film transferred to you. Consider it… as me buying it from you.‘
Madison felt all the blood in her body run cold. She should have guessed…The only person who
knew her cloud storage password was Ethan.
She had once proudly told him, “Ethan, you know what? My bank PIN is my dad’s birthday, my room code is my brother’s birthday, and my cloud storage password… is your birthday!”
“That means you’re the third most important person in my heart!”
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And yet… he had taken her film and given it to Chloe to submit? And even said… “Money?” Tears finally streamed down Madison’s face. “You think I wanted money?! You know perfectly well…”
You know perfectly well this film was my tribute to my late mother.
You know perfectly well it’s my letter of apology to my mom in heaven.
How could you still…
Seeing the tears on the girl’s face, Ethan’s heart clenched inexplicably. He instinctively reached out to wipe them away.
But just then, “Ethan…” Chloe in his arms moaned in pain. He immediately forgot everything else,
bending down anxiously.
“Chloe, are you okay?”
Madison stared blankly at Chloe and Ethan. Holding each other tightly, they looked like lovers saving each other. She finally lost all strength to question further. Staggering, she stood up and left.
***
Back in her dorm, Madison immediately drafted a social media post. It included screenshots of her video editing timeline and behind–the–scenes footage, enough to prove that Mother was her work.
But just before hitting ‘send,‘ she hesitated. The image of Chloe’s obsessive, frantic face flashed in her mind. Her depression was probably real. If she posted this clarification, would Chloe’s mental state be able to handle it…
While she was still hesitating, BANG!
The door was violently kicked open. Several bodyguards in black rushed in and pinned her down.
