Unmasking Mrs. Newton's Secret Identities novel Chapter 1358

"Then let's switch," Helen said without a second thought. After swapping their numbered balls, she confidently walked away.

Sadie stood frozen, clutching her new number 25 ball. While the other contestants cheered with joy, she couldn't muster a smile.

Helen certainly danced to her own beat, disregarding everyone else's opinions.

But what did it matter if Helen went before her? The judges all knew that Sadie was the star of this competition. Until her work was unveiled, they would undoubtedly reserve their scores.

"Helen, your moment of glory won't last for long," Sadie thought to herself.

Feeling uneasy under Sadie's intense gaze, Helen decided to retreat to the restroom to avoid losing her temper. After washing her face, she suddenly heard quiet sobs coming from one of the stalls.

Moments later, the crying ceased. As the door swung open, a short-haired woman in a school uniform emerged, her eyes red from tears.

She resembled a fellow contestant; placing her lottery ball on the sink, she turned on the faucet and splashed water on her face.

Helen glanced at the number—it was 26, right after Sadie in the lineup.

The woman appeared to be holding herself together; after a few deep breaths in front of the mirror, she regained her composure. Just then, her phone began to ring insistently. She quickly pressed the answer button and held the phone to her ear. "Hello, Mom.

"Please don't send me to the orphanage! I promise I can make it to the top three in this calligraphy competition. I'm begging you, I don't want to leave!

"Okay, thank you, Mom! I'll definitely bring back the trophy!"

In stark contrast to her desperate pleas, her mother sounded impatient, cutting her off and hanging up before she could finish.

Stepmother? And an evil one, too.

"Well, that's even less of a reason to hold back. She's literally threatening to send you to an orphanage. Why are you still trying to please her? The world doesn't stop spinning, after all," Helen said, her voice full of indignation.

The woman shook her head sadly. "I can't leave. If I go, everything my dad left behind will be destroyed by her."

"Is your father…" Helen hesitated to push further.

"He's gone," the woman said casually, though her eyes betrayed her sorrow. "My mom died when I was very young. Two years ago, my dad remarried, but he passed away in an accident three months ago. Now it's just me and my stepmom at home. If I leave, I won't be able to safeguard my family's assets."

"But you're alone in this. Even if you stay, what can you really do to stop her?" Helen asked. Though she felt sympathy, she knew it was important to face the harsh reality of the situation.