At the graduation ceremony, parents began filing in, filling the hall with cheerful conversation as the principal stood on stage and addressed the crowd. All around, students beamed with joy, nestled beside their families.
Alicia sat alone, her chair cold and empty on either side. She glanced around, a familiar ache settling in her chest. Not once, from childhood until now, had anyone ever shown up for her at a parent-teacher event.
She envied the others, envied the sense of security that came from always having someone in your cornerâno matter what happened, there was family behind you, ready to catch you if you fell.
But for her, there was nothing behind her but emptiness.
"Alicia, where's your family?" Chloe's voice rang out, purposefully loud, drawing unwanted attention. Alicia felt her cheeks flush. Chloe was doing it on purpose, trying to humiliate her.
Alicia didn't respond. She just sat there, clutching her phone so tightly her knuckles went white, unwilling to let go. She wanted to call Tyrone, just to hear his voice, but she was afraid he'd be busyâshe had no right to be upset with him, not when she was nothing more than a kept woman, a sugar baby. What right did she have to expect anything from him?
A bitter, self-mocking smile flickered across her lips. She'd been foolish lately, hadn't she? Thinking she was actually important to Tyrone. Who was she kidding?
"No one came to your graduation, huh? How sad," Chloe sneered, joined by a gaggle of girls snickering at Alicia's expense.
Alicia stayed quiet, keeping her eyes on the stage, waiting for the principal to begin calling names.
He was about to announce the awards for outstanding graduates.
Alicia had always been top of her class. How she longed for the day she could walk up there and see someone in the audience, proud of her. But she was an orphan, abandoned by her parents. There was never anyone there.
"And now, will our outstanding graduates please come up one by one," the principal announced.
The first name called was Chloe's. She strutted up to the stage, chin lifted high. Everyone knew Chloe was always late, always skipping class, her grades barely scraping by. She had no business being recognized as an outstanding graduate, but her family's influence made her untouchable. So she was first up, and no one dared say otherwise.
It was an open secret, but no one had the courage to speak up.
Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent)
ï¤Chapter 147 Transmigration: I Have Storage Space in the Apocalypse ï¤Chapter 760 - 756: Encountering a Man with Evil Intentions "Let's welcome the director of the Holloway Corporation's project division to present the awards." Mina ascended the stage in a shimmering evening gown, radiating elegance and drawing the room's attention. She was a fixture in high society, and the crowd responded with enthusiastic applause.
"Chloe, I hope you achieve even greater things in the future," Mina said, smiling warmly.
"Thank you, sis!" Chloe chirped, basking in the attention.
"Is anyone really allowed to be called an outstanding graduate these days?" a deep, sardonic voice cut through the chatter from the audience.
Alicia's heart leapt. She looked up, eyes wide, searching the crowd until she found Tyrone seated in the front row. She had no idea when he'd arrived, dressed in a sleek black suit, exuding a nonchalant authority that made even the principal hesitate.
Alicia stared at him in disbelief. When had he gotten here?
"Mr. Lynch... we..." The principal stammered, unable to read Tyrone's mood.
On stage, Mina's expression soured. She had no idea what Tyrone was up toâor why he'd shown up so suddenly. Wasn't Jade supposed to pick up Serena at the airport? Why wasn't Tyrone there?
Mina's brow furrowed as she forced herself to speak. "Mr. Lynch, this is a graduation ceremony. All the award selections were made by unanimous vote of teachers and students. There's no need to make a fuss, is there? Besides, with your status, surely you wouldn't want to make things difficult for a new college graduate?"
Tyrone let out a cold, mocking laugh. "A new college graduate? Chloe's hardly as innocent as you'd have us believe. Every one of her so-called design projects was bought from someone else. Her record of absences is thicker than your makeup, Miss Holloway. So how exactly did she become an âoutstanding graduate'? Did your Holloway family just buy the award for her?"