Chapter 4My Sister Put Me on Trial, But the Verdict Was Hers

“Second charge: Cold-bloodedness!”

The Judge of Truth tapped his gavel.

The trial resumed.

I was accused of maliciously setting fire to the orphanage, which resulted in Mrs. Thorne’s legs being amputated.

This memory extraction started a few days before the fire.

In high school, I had already blossomed into a beautiful young woman.

The pretty-faced Chloe Evans linked arms with me.

“Stella, I heard a lot of famous entrepreneurs are coming to the orphanage’s donation gala tomorrow night!”

I smiled faintly, pulling my arm away.

“Really?”

I wasn’t as easy to fool as I was when I was little.

By this time, I had started to vaguely realize that Chloe’s words and actions didn’t align, and I was gradually distancing myself from her.

Mrs. Thorne walked gently into the yard.

“Stella, Chloe, dress nicely tomorrow, put on a good show, don’t show any weakness.”

Watching her softly caress Chloe’s hair, a flicker of darkness crossed my eyes.

Someone in the live chat noticed my expression.

“What’s with Stella Stone’s expression? Is she jealous of our Chloe?!”

“She’s definitely jealous that the director likes our Chloe!”

Soon it was the day of the gala. I, who usually boarded at school, returned to the orphanage to help.

While going to the storage room to get vases,

I overheard Mrs. Thorne on the phone.

“Mr. Sterling, I know your preferences. Don’t worry, I’ll arrange everything.”

Standing by the wall, enveloped in shadow, I felt a deep unease.

Maya Lee looked at my furrowed brow, concerned.

“Sister Stella, what are you thinking about?”

I stroked her head.

She flinched, and my expression changed.

“Has someone been bullying you?”

Maya was a few years younger than me, and had only been at the orphanage for a couple of years. She was always good at reading people.

When I occasionally returned to the orphanage for breaks, I’d often help her with her homework.

Watching her tightly clutching her sleeve, her eyes darting away, my heart filled with questions.

I suddenly grabbed her hand, rolling up her sleeve.

“What… how did this happen?!”

My voice trembled. Maya’s thin arms were a canvas of bruises and angry red welts.

Maya cautiously looked around. Seeing no one, she burst into tears, burying her face in my embrace.

Listening to her tearful whispers against my ear, my eyes burned, as if about to spill blood.

“Can anyone in the live chat hear what the little girl is whispering to Stella Stone?”

“Can’t hear it. This situation means her subconscious hid the conversation…”

“She’s not planning something bad, is she?!”

“Stella Stone’s expression is terrifying.”

I followed Maya to her room. Another bed in the double room held a pale-faced girl.

My face was grim. Maya met my gaze and nodded fiercely.

In the video, I seemed about to rush out.

But then I suddenly thought of something and stopped.

I turned and poured a glass of water for the girl, bringing it to her dry lips.

The audience whispered amongst themselves.

“Stella Stone seems quite kind, actually!”

“You don’t know her real thoughts, maybe she’s plotting something.”

“Don’t forget she’s an arsonist!”

At the gala, Mrs. Thorne enthusiastically greeted the orphanage children and donors for photos.

Seeing the children’s fearful expressions, the anger in my heart burned uncontrollably.

The orphanage grew quiet.

Mrs. Thorne, all smiles, led the donors through the dormitories.

I hid behind them, my face like frost, watching their sickening, laughing interactions.

I gently twirled a lighter in my hand.

“Look! She’s the one who set the fire at the orphanage!”

“Stella Stone is so venomous! She wanted to burn the donors and the orphanage children to death!”

“Is she some kind of sociopath?!”

Chloe Evans’s lips curled into a faint smile, her expression serene as she looked at me.

Her eyes gleamed with malice as she met my gaze, mouthing the words:

*Stella Stone, arsonist, you’re done for!*