I stared at the ceiling of my room, letting the morning light crawl across the floor and touch my bare arms. Somehow, the warmth of the sunlight couldn't reach the tight knot of tension in my chest. Graduation was around the corner, the final exams loomed like a relentless shadow, and my mind refused to quiet itself. The day had already begun in a flurry of thoughts about my fashion studio—my dream, my life, my empire waiting to be built.
Liam might have given me five million dollars, but even that wasn't enough. Sure, with my savings, I could purchase a decent studio—but that was just the first step. Machines, fabrics, furnishings… all the tools of my empire were still out of reach. But for now? This was progress. I could breathe. Finally, the most important part was done: I had the money to buy the studio. The rest, I would deal with later.
---
The soft click of the door startled me from
my thoughts. Maya Benson, my sister-in-all-but-blood, stepped in, her presence immediately filling the room with light. She was two years older, poised, confident, and she always carried this aura that made me feel safe, understood.
"Crystal, how far have you gone in securing a studio?" she asked, plopping down on the edge of my bed. Her voice was curious, but warm, a gentle push to make me spill the plans and fears I kept bottled.
I smirked and leaned back in my chair. "Fine, fine, Maya. I've got the cash ready, so after the graduation ceremony, I'll go make the payment."
She nodded thoughtfully. "Ok, all good. So, is there anything you'll need my help with?"
I shook my head. "For the moment? No." We laughed together, that easy, natural laughter that only comes when you don't have to guard yourself.
"All right. But if anything comes up, I'm just a phone call away," she said, her tone serious now, and I felt warmth in my chest.
"Alright, big sis. That's why I love you," I said, and she smiled, eyes crinkling at the corners.
"And I love you too," she replied. We shared a brief, comfortable silence, one filled with understanding, before she leaned back, stretching slightly.
"Maya, what are your plans after graduation?" I asked, curiosity creeping in.
She exhaled, a small, tired sound that carried years of responsibility. "Me? I have a lot to do. First, I'll be taking charge over one of my father's branch businesses in the next city. But Crystal, it's stressful—he insisted I take it. He's determined to make my life miserable. He said if I want to inherit the company instead of my younger brother, I'll have to work even harder."
I smiled faintly, shaking my head in disbelief. "I don't know whether to be jealous of you or pity you."
She laughed, incredulous. "What do you mean?"
"You," I said softly, "already have businesses waiting for you after graduation, but at the same time, they're trying to work you to death."
She laughed again, but there was a weight behind it. "Yes, Crystal. That's the life of the rich. You wouldn't want to experience it."
I reached out and squeezed her hand. "Oh, yeah, yeah. Just make sure you take care of yourself, okay?" I said, and pulled her into a warm, heartfelt hug.
Just then, a gentle knock echoed from the door. Olivia Whitman, my mother, her voice carrying through the wood, invited us to come downstairs to eat. I let go of Maya, smiling at her as I adjusted my hair and followed the familiar sound of her voice.
---
The day of the final exam arrived like a storm disguised in calm. The campus was quiet, almost sacred in its stillness. I walked through the hallways, the polished tiles reflecting the morning light, my bag heavy on my shoulder, but my heart lighter than it had been in weeks. Liam and Maya were in the business department, preparing for their exams, while I made my way to the designing hall. Ethan wasn't present—he had already graduated last year and had taken over his father's business. A pang of nostalgia hit me; the absence of his familiar energy was strangely comforting.
The exam hall was nearly silent, every student seated with a focus so sharp it could cut glass. Even the rustle of papers felt loud. The invigilators distributed question papers like priests bestowing sacred knowledge. I took my seat, fingers brushing over my own sheet, inhaling the faint scent of ink and polished wood. I could feel the collective tension in the air, a pressure that pressed against my chest but also fueled my mind, sharpening it.
The pen met the paper, and suddenly the hall was alive with the soft scratching of graphite. Every stroke, every calculated mark on my exam sheet felt like a step closer to freedom. The hours dragged, my mind oscillating between focus on the questions and thoughts of the studio. Machines, fabrics, decor… the empire I had envisioned played vividly in my mind, and with every answer I wrote, I imagined getting closer to it.
I allowed myself a brief smile as the invigilator announced the end of the exam. The papers were collected, the tension released, and we all exhaled collectively, as if one massive sigh had passed over the room.
The moment we stepped out into the sunlight, the world felt brighter. Students laughed, some crying tears of relief, others hugging friends, their joy spilling over in chaotic bursts of emotion. Some tore at their sleeves, some splashed water on themselves, celebrating the battle they had fought and won. Everybody and their different type of madness.
Liam found me immediately, eyes shining with pride and something else—possessive joy, if I dared to name it. He didn't say a word; he just grabbed my hands, spun me around, and held me close. My hair brushed against his chest, and I could feel the heartbeat in his embrace. For a fleeting moment, it felt like the world had shrunk to the two of us.
"Liam…" I started to say, but he shook his head, smiling like a child with a secret. "We did it," he said, breathless.
Before I could respond, Maya came running, her face radiant, eyes sparkling. She enveloped me in a hug so strong it made me laugh and cry all at once. "We all made it!" she said, voice trembling with happiness.
I let myself be caught in their joy, the world around me spinning with laughter, sunlight, and the faint, sweet scent of impending freedom. The exams were over. Graduation awaited. And soon, the first steps of my empire would begin.
For once, the chaos of ambition and the weight of expectation felt… sweet.