The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 302
“I object!”
A clear, firm voice echoed through the venue.
The sudden shout instantly drew everyone’s attention. The crowd turned to look and saw Yvonne Sherwood standing at the entrance, dressed in hospital pajamas, her face pale but her gaze resolute. Gauze was wrapped around her forehead; clearly, she had just rushed over from the hospital.
The entire room went into an uproar.
Gloria stood up abruptly, gasping, “Yvonne? What are you doing here?”
Yvonne ignored her mother’s exclamation. She walked straight toward the stage, her eyes locked on Tamara.
Tamara’s face went deathly pale, her fingers unconsciously clutching the hem of her wedding dress. “Y-Yvonne…”
Yvonne let out a cold laugh. “What? Surprised to see me?”
She turned to look at Milford, her voice clear and steady. “Milford, you can’t marry her!”
Milford was stunned. “Yvonne, you…”
Yvonne took a deep breath. Her gaze swept over the guests before finally landing on Leilani, revealing a fleeting smile of gratitude.
Leilani looked surprised as well. Wasn’t Yvonne in the hospital? How did she manage to appear at such a critical moment?
Yvonne looked away and walked step by step to the center of the stage. The gauze on her forehead was still seeping blood, but her eyes had never been clearer. She looked around, her gaze finally settling on the pale-faced Tamara, speaking every word with emphasis.
“Four years ago, it wasn’t Leilani who pushed me down the stairs. It was you, Tamara! You are the attempted murderer who pushed me down the stairs four years ago!”
The crowd erupted in shock.
Milford whipped his head around to look at Tamara, his eyes filled with disbelief.
However, he had been conditioned by Tamara for so many years. Hearing Yvonne’s accusation, his first reaction wasn’t to suspect Tamara, but to reprimand Yvonne. “Yvonne, what nonsense are you talking about? How could Tamara be the one who pushed you back then? Did you just come out of the hospital? Is your head still confused?”
Hearing Yvonne’s words, Tamara trembled with fear, her voice turning shrill. “You’re lying! You lost your memory! How could you possibly remember?”
Yvonne sneered. “I did lose my memory, but now I remember everything! You didn’t expect that when I went to see you four years ago, I brought a voice recorder with me, did you?”
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Yvonne slowly took a voice recorder out of her pocket, her fingertip gently pressing the play button.
“Tamara, I have evidence that you hired someone to take your exams for you.”
Yvonne’s voice from four years ago rang out clearly.
“You… what nonsense are you talking about! I don’t know what you mean!”
Tamara’s voice in the recording was obviously panicked.
“Whether I’m talking nonsense or not, you know the truth deep down. If the school finds out about this, your scholarship will be revoked, and you might even be expelled.”
“Yvonne! Mind your own business!” Tamara’s voice suddenly turned sharp.
“This isn’t just business; it’s cheating. It’s fraud.”
“Ha… Who do you think you are, Yvonne? The arbiter of justice?”
“I just don’t want you to steal someone else’s opportunity using those methods.”
“Shut up!”
In the recording, Tamara’s voice suddenly became hysterical. Immediately after, sounds of a violent struggle could be heard, followed by Tamara’s twisted, manic voice.
“Go to hell, Yvonne!”
“Thud!”
A dull, heavy sound emitted from the recorder in Yvonne’s hand, followed by a long silence.
The recording ended. The entire banquet hall was dead silent as everyone stared at Tamara in shock.
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