The Revenge at the Adoption Banquet

My daughter's name is Serena. Today is her eighteenth coming-of-age ceremony. The banquet hall was filled with balloons and streamers. Serena wore a white princess dress, her eyes shining with light. I stood in the corner, watching her laugh with her classmates, feeling so proud inside. Suddenly, a few hooligans with brightly colored hair barged in. They headed straight for Serena. Everyone around froze. My heart pounded, and I rushed over. But it was already too late. One hooligan grabbed the hem of Serena's skirt. Another pulled out a phone and started taking pictures. Serena screamed in terror, tears streaming down her face. I tried to push them away, but a tall hooligan shoved me to the ground. I got up, shouting at them to stop. But they didn't pay any attention to me. They surrounded Serena, whispering awful things. Serena's face went pale. She bit her lip tightly, her body shaking uncontrollably. It wasn't until the security guards arrived that those hooligans grumbled and left. I rushed over and pulled Serena into a hug. She cried her heart out in my arms. "Mom, they're so scary..." My heart felt like it was being cut with a knife. From that day on, Serena was different. She stopped talking, stopped smiling, locked herself in her room, refusing to see anyone. I took her to see a doctor. The doctor said she had severe depression and needed to be hospitalized. Holding the diagnosis in my hands, my limbs went cold—I just couldn't believe it. How did my perfectly fine daughter end up like this? I sent Serena to the mental hospital, watching her being led away by the nurse. I couldn't hold it in any longer, collapsed to the floor, and cried until I was completely drained; my vision blurred, and I lost consciousness. When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed with an IV drip attached. Simon Thompson sat by the bed, his eyes full of worry. "Sylvia, you're finally awake. You scared me to death." He reached out to touch my forehead. I instinctively dodged away, my mind flooded with images of Serena at the coming-of-age ceremony. "Where's Serena? I need to see her." I struggled, trying to get out of bed. Simon held me down. "You just woke up. Your body is still weak. Rest first." "I'm fine. I have to see my daughter!" I was determined. Simon Thompson sighed, "Alright, I'll go with you." But just as I was about to stand, a sharp pain suddenly shot through my right side. I couldn't help but frown. "What's wrong? Where does it hurt?" Simon asked. I shook my head. "I don't know—my side just hurts a bit." Simon's eyes flickered. "Maybe you hurt it when you fainted. The doctor said it's nothing serious." I didn't think much of it; I was just eager to see Serena as soon as possible.