Crystal's POV
Two months.
That was how long it took after our final exams for the graduation ceremony to finally arrive… and somehow, even though I had rehearsed this day a thousand times in my head, nothing could've prepared me for what it felt like to stand in the center of it all.
The school hall didn't even look like a hall anymore—it looked like a palace.
White drapes fell from the ceiling like soft clouds. Golden ribbons curled around giant pillars. Rows of flowers—white roses, orchids, hydrangeas—lined the walkway like a scene straight out of a royal ball. The scent of fresh petals mixed with the soft perfume of hundreds of wealthy guests.
Parents trooped in like it was a presidential inauguration.
Luxury cars lined the street outside. VVIP security teams checked names, escorted CEOs, governors, top business tycoons—people whose faces you only saw in magazines.
And in all that chaos…
Olivia Whitman stood proudly as my mother.
Maya's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Benson, arrived in style, followed by her younger brother Nathan—handsome, smug, 20, and always teasing.
And then… there was Mr. Harrington.
Liam's father.
Tall, intimidating, expensive… everything about him screamed old-money authority.
I should have expected that the day wouldn't pass quietly.
I should have known that today, the world would watch me.
---
"CRYSTAL."
I turned at the sound of my name—just in time to see Liam dragging his father toward me.
"Dad, this is Crystal Whitman."
The moment Mr. Harrington's eyes landed on me, something shifted.
Not lust.
Not disgust.
Curiosity.
Rich man curiosity.
Calculating curiosity.
The type that could weigh a person's worth in a single glance.
I smiled politely.
"Good afternoon, sir."
He gave a slight nod. "So… you're Crystal."
Something in his voice told me he already suspected his son was interested in me.
And he didn't like it.
I could practically see it in the way his jaw tightened, his eyes assessing me from head to toe… not as a person, but as a potential daughter-in-law.
Or a threat.
It didn't help that Liam kept stealing glances at me like I was the only one in the entire hall.
Not subtle at all.
Mr. Harrington stepped away, made a discreet gesture to one of his men, and I instantly knew what was happening.
A background check.
Of course.
He wouldn't let his "precious son" get entangled with a girl whose family wasn't "good enough."
Too bad for him—yes, I lacked family support. Yes, my father's name was a disgrace.
But I was far from a nobody.
Students took their seats, all in our graduation gowns—navy blue silk, gold-lined sleeves, caps shining under chandelier lights. The air hummed with nerves, joy, and the unspoken fear of the future.
The Chancellor gave his speech.
The guest speaker gave another.
Parents clapped like their hands were on fire.
Then the awards began.
One by one, names were called.
Maya won two—
Most Social Student
Best Dressed Student of the Year
She practically sparkled when she walked up the stage.
Liam also won two—
Most Improved Student of the Year
Best Behaved & Disciplined Student
His father clapped like he was presenting his company on the stock exchange.
Then they called my name.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Four.
Five.
I stood up so many times my legs trembled—and each time, the cheers grew louder.
Most Outstanding Student of the Year
Best Student — Designing Department
Most Influential Student
Most Well-Behaved Student
Most Decent & Respectful Student
Five awards.
Five.
I could hear the whispers from the crowd:
"Who is she?"
"Such a beautiful girl…"
"She must come from a powerful family."
"Her composure is admirable."
"She's so elegant."
The irony almost made me laugh.
If only they knew.
If only they knew how hard I fought to survive… how many monsters I had to face… how many scars were buried under my smile.
But today, none of that mattered.
Today, I shone.
And for the first time in years… I felt worthy.
Even Mr. Harrington looked impressed. His expression softened with something like respect.
Music filled the hall.
Champagne glasses clicked.
Parents took pictures with their children.
Students jumped, screamed, danced—years of stress melting into the night.
Maya and I were cutting cake together when someone tapped my back.
A gentle, familiar touch.
I turned—and froze.
"Ethan?"
There he was.
Tall.
Sharp-jawed.
Dressed in a black suit that was definitely more expensive than the entire school building.
Ethan Trutcher.
The billionaire heir.
The boy who graduated before us.
The man who was now running his father's empire.
The one whose schedule should've been too busy for events like this.
But here he was.
Standing behind me.
He smiled.
"Congratulations, Crystal."
Before I could speak, he handed me a gift.
A bouquet.
But not flowers.
Money.
A bouquet made entirely of money—beautifully folded, arranged, wrapped like a luxury floral arrangement worth a million dollars.
I gasped.
"Ethan… this is—"
"A small gift," he said with a shrug. "You deserve more."
My throat tightened.
I hugged him.
A soft, grateful hug.
"Thank you, Ethan. Truly."
He gave a small laugh. "Don't thank me. I'm just investing in a star."
We spoke for a few minutes. He apologized for not attending the final exams.
"It's fine," I said. "I know how busy you are."
But we both knew Ethan didn't show up for just anyone.
Maya watched us with wide eyes.
Mr. Harrington?
Oh, he saw everything.
And he didn't hide his surprise.
He muttered something to one of his men… probably adjusting his impression of me.
Because now?
I wasn't just "his son's crush."
I was someone who stood confidently among heirs and elite families.
Someone who attracted men like Liam…
and Ethan.
Liam was busy entertaining his father's friends… shaking hands with old men and pretending to care. He didn't even see Ethan's appearance or the gift.
He left early with his father, without saying goodbye.
I didn't mind.
We all had our roles to play today.
As the sun went down, the hall grew quieter. People left, talking excitedly about the future.
Ethan left too—
but not before pressing a gentle peck on my forehead.
"I need to rush off. Something came up," he whispered.
I nodded.
"Take care."
And then he was gone.
Eventually, it was just me and Maya left—helping clean up because the workers looked exhausted. We gathered cups, arranged chairs, packed leftover gifts.
Then Maya received a call.
She hugged me tightly.
"We made it, Crystal!"
I hugged her back.
"We really did."
She left shortly after.
And then…
It was just me.
The hall was silent.
Only the faint hum of the air conditioner remained.
I sat for a moment, breathing slowly, exhausted but proud. Then I reached for my bag to start packing up.
That was when I saw it.
A long, elegant envelope resting on top of my bag.
I froze.
I hadn't seen it there earlier.
My heart beat once—hard.
I looked around.
No footsteps.
No shadows.
No one lingering.
Slowly… I picked it up.
My fingers trembled as I opened it.
And then—
I stopped breathing.
Inside was…
A property acquisition document.
In my name.
Legally signed and stamped.
Worth twenty-five million dollars.
A Fashion studio.
Fully furnished.
With machines, fabrics, interior design, mannequins, cutting tables—everything.
My dream.
My impossible dream.
Someone bought it.
For me.
My knees shook.
"Who… who did this?"
I frantically searched the envelope… and found a small note.
Just one sentence.
> "Congratulations, Crystal. A small graduation gift."
And beneath it…
a single initial.
A
My breath caught.
A.
The same initial that had appeared on my matriculation gift.
The same unseen figure who had been lurking in the background of my life.
Watching.
Interfering.
Pulling strings.
Not Liam.
Not Ethan.
Someone else.
Someone powerful.
Someone dangerous.
And someone who—
for a reason I still didn't understand—
had his eyes on me.
My heart pounded as I whispered into the empty hall:
"A… Who are you?"