Last Night’s Star Fell Without a Trace

A few days later.

"Mommy, are you unhappy?"

Sophie looked up, her large dark eyes full of concern.

"Mommy's fine, sweetie. Don't worry."

Virginia forced a smile, snapping out of her thoughts.

"Is Daddy really busy lately? He hasn’t come to see me in so long…"

The child’s voice was small, craving a father’s love yet too sensible to complain.

A pang shot through Virginia’s heart. She didn’t know how to answer.

"Was I not good? So Daddy doesn’t like me anymore?"

"Of course not!" Virginia gathered her close. "Daddy’s just busy. He’ll visit soon."

Sophie nodded, obedient, and asked no more.

But Virginia grew restless. After turning it over, she knew she had to speak with Roger again.

That night, after putting Sophie to bed, she found a note.

Clear and blunt, it read: *If you want to return to the city, do as I say. Come here tonight at ten.*

Should she trust it?

At the appointed hour, she arrived.

An empty house stood before her, and behind it—a pond, a spot where locals escaped the summer heat.

"You came."

Donna stood by the water’s edge in a white dress, her smile gentle. Virginia didn’t dare underestimate her.

"Why drag me out here? What do you want?"

"Don’t be in such a hurry." Donna stepped closer and took Virginia’s hand. "I just wanted somewhere quiet to talk. I know you need to get Sophie to a city hospital. What if I gave you my spot on the return list? Would you take it?"

A flicker of hope stirred—though reason warned her Donna wasn’t this kind.

But with no other choice, she had to try.

"What do you want me to do?"

"It’s simple." Donna beckoned her closer. "All you have to do is—"

In the next instant, Donna shoved Virginia hard, then screamed as she herself fell backward into the pond.

Virginia reacted too slowly. She could only watch, helpless, as Donna thrashed in the water.

"H-help… gurgle… I can’t swim…"

Just as Donna was about to sink, and Virginia braced to jump in—

A lithe figure plunged into the pond with a splash and hauled Donna out.

"You—"

Virginia hurried forward, then froze. The man who’d rescued Donna was Roger.

"How… why are you here?"

"Is she alright? Roger, how is she?"

A couple of men on patrol rushed over.

Roger had no time to answer. Donna lifted her gaze, eyes wide with tears and fear. "Virginia… why did you push me in?"

The air went still.

"Wha—who pushed you?!" Virginia blurted.

"Just because you hate it here and want to run home doesn’t mean you can drown me! We could have talked…"

Donna choked back sobs, the picture of injustice.

If she hadn’t been the one accused, Virginia might have believed her.

"I didn’t! You asked me to come here!"

"Enough." Roger’s brow furrowed, his voice low and hard. "You think she did this to herself?"

His gaze was ice—none of the old tenderness remained.

"Yeah, who would hurt themselves?"

"Both from the city, but what a difference. One’s only out for herself, the other’s here to serve."

The whispers around them weren’t quiet. Virginia finally understood Donna’s plan.

She’d been set up.

Her lips trembled. "It wasn’t me… I didn’t…"

"Please, Virginia, let me go!" Donna suddenly grew agitated, struggling as if to kneel. "I won’t go back to the city. I’ll give you my spot, okay? I never wanted to compete—I just wanted to do my part here!"