The Day My Daughter Celebrated Chapter 5

The party happened anyway.

That day, the house filled with Stella's "followers."

They wore matching t-shirts printed with "Life Comes from Joy."

The entire living room was decorated in bright colors, with a huge banner reading: Celebrating Stella's 18th Anniversary of Joy Day.

I locked myself in my room, pulling the covers over my head.

But the noise and laughter still invaded my ears relentlessly.

David called several times. I didn't answer.

I didn't know how to face him.

Someone knocked on the door.

It was Stella.

"Mom, come out for a minute." Her voice was calm.

I didn't move.

"Everyone's here. You're the only one missing. As one of the main characters, you shouldn't be absent."

I still didn't move.

Her cold voice came through the door: "If you don't come out, I'll bring Uncle David in and have a nice chat with him about your romantic escapades."

I threw off the covers abruptly.

I couldn't let her harass David.

I walked out of the room. Every eye in the living room focused on me.

The music stopped. The noise stopped.

Stella stood in the center of the crowd, holding a microphone.

"Everyone, welcome to my Joy Day party!"

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause.

"Today, we're not just celebrating the source of my life, but thanking the person who gave me life."

She extended her hand toward me.

"Mom, come here."

I stood frozen.

She walked over, grabbed my hand, and pulled me beside her.

A spotlight hit us both, so bright I couldn't open my eyes.

"Today, I prepared a special gift for my mom."

She retrieved an elegant gift box from nearby.

Opening it revealed a huge greeting card.

She read it aloud in front of everyone.

"To my dear mother Monica: Thank you for that passionate night eighteen years ago, when you used your joy and love to conceive me. Your pleasure was the starting point of my life. Wishing you joy like this every year, every day."

The crowd burst into raucous laughter and whistles.

Those gazes were like countless needles piercing my body.

I felt the world spinning, barely able to stand.

David had somehow arrived. He rushed through the crowd and pulled me protectively behind him.

He looked at Stella furiously. "Have you lost your mind? Do you know what you're doing?"

Stella looked at him, her smile icy.

"Uncle David, don't worry. I have another big gift for my dear father."

She raised the microphone, announcing to everyone.

"Although I don't know who he is, I'm sure he was a wonderful man!"

"Right, Mom?"

She turned to look at me, her eyes full of vengeful satisfaction.

"You must have loved him, right?"

"After all, he gave you Joy Day every day!"

"ENOUGH!" I finally snapped, screaming hoarsely.

My rationality shattered completely in that moment.

I rushed back to my room and pulled out something wrapped tightly in brown paper from the deepest part of my nightstand drawer.

I ran back to the living room, charged up to Stella, and threw the package violently into her arms.

My voice was distorted from extreme rage and grief.

"This is your Joy Day! This is your wonderful father!"

"Stella Chen, you wanted to know the truth? Look! Take a good hard look!"

David tried to stop me. I shoved him away.

Everyone went silent, staring at us in shock.

The smile froze on Stella's face.

She looked down and opened the brown paper package with confusion.

Inside was a stack of yellowed papers.

The top sheet was printed on standard paper, the title large and black.

Case Filing Notice.

Her gaze slowly moved down to the case classification line.

Two words were printed clearly.

Rape.