Chapter 4 - The Fake Tears
The cinematic realism of the suffocating tension paralyzed the wealthy audience in the auditorium.
Vincent, refusing to back down after Claire’s cold declaration, immediately launched into a theatrical, highly calculated performance. He dropped to one knee right in the aisle, his fists tightly clenched as he forced fake, desperate tears into his eyes.
"Claire, please!" Vincent choked out, his voice echoing loudly to ensure the university board and the wealthy parents could hear his tragic story. "I didn't die! I was kidnapped! I had severe amnesia for years! The moment my memories finally came back, I moved heaven and earth to find my family!"
Standing in the background, looking deathly pale but trying to maintain the lie, was Sophia. The blonde mistress in the tight black dress stepped forward, dabbing her dry eyes with a tissue.
"It's true," Sophia whimpered loudly to the crowd. "I found him wandering the streets. I nursed him back to health. We just want to reunite this beautiful family."
Vincent reached his heavily tattooed hand out toward the eighteen-year-old boy in the academic robe.
"Noah, my beautiful boy," Vincent cried, his eyes flashing with hidden, greedy malice. "I am your biological father. I have a legal right to be in your life. I am here to help you manage your new future."
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He expected the teenager to break down, to desperately embrace the father figure he had missed his entire life.
👉 Vincent smiled a toxic, hidden smile, completely unaware that Noah was about to shatter his entire reality.
