A Late Confession

My 18th birthday party was held in the most luxurious hotel ballroom in the city. A crystal chandelier hung at the center of the ceiling, scattering countless sparkles that made my eyes dizzy. I wore a custom-made pink dress, my fingers gripping the hem so tightly the fabric's texture almost imprinted on my palm. My heart raced as if it would shatter my ribs, and the diary tucked in my dress pocket felt hot under my touch. Inside were all my feelings for Henry Scott, from when he said he'd take care of me at age ten—every word filled with a young girl's most secret happiness. "Helen Scott, what are you hiding? You're being so sneaky." Cousin Margaret's voice suddenly cut through the party noise like a sharp needle. She was quick and sharp-eyed, snatching the diary right out of my pocket before I could react. The leather cover was easily flipped open, and amid the rustling pages, she loudly read out those clumsy yet passionate sentences: "Today Henry bought me a strawberry cake; the cream was sweet, like the warmth when he touches my head." "It started raining, Henry gave me a ride to school; his jacket smells faintly of cedar"... Every word stabbed like countless little bugs crawling into my ears. My cheeks flushed, blood rushing instantly to the top of my head, and I instinctively glanced toward Henry Scott. He stood not far away, wearing a perfectly tailored black suit, his posture straight and proud. The light fell on his face, outlining sharp, cold features, but his eyes were as cold as ice, without a hint of warmth. "Mr. Scott, take a look—our Helen Scott has been hiding feelings for you for quite some time now." Margaret Scott laughed loudly and handed the diary to Henry Scott. Henry Scott raised his hand to take it; his fingertips brushed the cover without the slightest hesitation, then he turned and walked toward the nearby trash can. With a soft "shh" sound, he mercilessly threw the diary into it, the exposed edges of the paper glaring sharply under the light. "Disgusting." He said only one word, his voice low, but they hit my heart like a heavy hammer. My whole body trembled, teeth clenched on my lower lip, and tears fell uncontrollably. "Henry Scott... it's not what you think, I just..." I tried to explain, but my voice broke so badly I couldn't even form a full sentence. "I never had any inappropriate feelings for you." He turned his head to look at me, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust, sharp like an ice-tempered knife. "By the way, let me introduce you to Jennifer Lopez, my partner." As soon as he finished speaking, he reached out and naturally hooked his arm around the waist of the woman beside him. Jennifer was wearing a red dress, her makeup flawless. At this moment, she was smiling and nodding to everyone, and when her eyes landed on me, they carried the unmistakable pride of a winner. "We have other matters to attend to, so we're leaving now." After Henry Scott finished speaking, he turned and left with Jennifer Lopez without looking back. The sound of high heels tapping on the floor faded into the distance, leaving me standing there, enduring the barely concealed whispers and glances from those around me. "So she's secretly in love with her own guardian? How shameless." "No wonder Mr. Scott looked so disgusted; anyone would feel grossed out being pestered like that." "She looks so well-behaved, but I never expected such twisted thoughts." The gossip surged like a tide around me; standing in the middle of the crowd, I felt like a clown stripped bare. At that moment, I knew clearly that I couldn't stay here any longer. Running far away was my only way out.