Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Graduation Day

4 years later

Emilia stood tall, clad in a dark blue graduation gown, amidst her fellow students at Blackwood University. The sun shone brightly, casting a sense of accomplishment over the crowd. The air was filled with the hum of excitement and pride as families and friends gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion. Emilia's gaze swept across the sea of faces, her eyes lingering on the beaming parents, siblings, and loved ones who had come to support their graduates. She felt a pang of loneliness, a stark reminder of her own isolation.

As she scanned the crowd, Emilia's thoughts drifted to her own journey. She was one of the top graduating students, with honors and accolades that would make anyone proud. Yet, she stood alone. No family members beamed with pride, no loved ones cheered her name. The reason was simple: Marcus Blackwood.

Memories of her family's downfall flooded her mind. If only Marcus hadn't betrayed her father, their name and reputation would still be intact. Her father's business would thrive, their home would still be theirs, her mother might still be alive, and she wouldn't have been exiled to the fringes of society. The pain and anger she thought she'd long buried resurfaced, but Emilia steeled herself. She refused to be weak, not now, not when she'd achieved the first step in her plan for revenge.

The ceremony began, and Emilia's attention turned to the stage. The chancellor took the microphone, welcoming everyone to the graduation ceremony. The audience applauded as the faculty members took their seats. The chancellor continued, praising the graduates for their hard work and dedication.

The award-giving ceremony commenced, with students receiving recognition for their academic achievements, community service, and leadership. Emilia's name was called, and she walked up to the stage to receive the prestigious Blackwood University Award for Excellence in Business Administration. She shook hands with the chancellor, her heart swelling with pride.

As she returned to her seat, Emilia's thoughts turned to Mr. Henry, the man who had believed in her and entrusted her with his legacy. She remembered his words: "Emilia, you have the potential to achieve greatness. Don't let anyone bring you down." She felt a surge of determination, knowing that she had made him proud.

The ceremony concluded, and Emilia made her way to the Winston house, a sense of purpose burning within her. She was ready to claim her rightful inheritance – the company old Mr. Henry had left in her care. He had treated her like a granddaughter, loved her unconditionally, and entrusted her with his legacy. Unlike his biological grandchildren, spoiled by their mother Catherine, Emilia was the chosen one, the heir to his hard work and dedication.

With each step, Emilia's resolve grew stronger. She would honor Mr. Henry's memory, rebuild her family's name, and destroy Marcus Blackwood's empire. The journey ahead would be challenging, but Emilia was ready. She had struck the first blow, and now it was time to claim her birthright.

As Emilia stepped out of the graduation ceremony, she felt a sense of triumph and anticipation. She slipped into her sleek Lamborghini, the engine purring to life as she hit the ignition. Her mind raced with thoughts of claiming her rightful place at the helm of Grandpa Henry's company, ousting Catherine and her spoiled children from the Winston estate.

As she navigated through the streets, Emilia's excitement grew. She was so close to achieving her goal. But, as she approached the intersection, the traffic light turned red, forcing her to halt. She drummed her fingers impatiently on the steering wheel, waiting for the light to change.

In an instant, a truck barreled from the side, its tires screeching as it swept Emilia's car off the road. The Lamborghini tumbled, metal crunching, glass shattering. Emilia's world became a blur of chaos and pain.

She lay trapped, her body battered, blood dripping from her wounds. Her vision began to fade, and she felt herself slipping away. Suddenly, she saw her late parents, their faces etched with love and concern, caressing her face.

"It's not time to come to us, Emilia," they whispered in unison. "You have unfinished business to attend to."

With a jolt, Emilia's eyes fluttered open. She was met with a sea of concerned faces, strangers gathered around the wreckage.

"Oh my god, is she dead?" a woman asked, her voice trembling.

"No, she's breathing," a man replied, kneeling beside Emilia. "We need to call an ambulance, now!"

"Who is she?" someone else asked. "Does anyone know her name?"

"I think I've seen her around," another stranger chimed in. "She's a student at Blackwood University, I'm sure of it."

As Emilia struggled to focus, she saw a figure amidst the crowd, a face that seemed familiar. Her gaze locked onto theirs, and for a moment, she felt a spark of recognition. But, it was shrouded in a haze, and she couldn't quite place it.

"Hey, miss, can you hear me?" the kneeling man asked, his voice gentle. "We're going to get you help. Just hang in there."

Emilia's eyes fluttered closed, her consciousness waver.

***

Winston Estate

As Catherine paced anxiously in the opulent living room of the Winston family estate, her mind racing with dread, her children, Emma and Ryan, sat nearby, sensing their mother's unease. The sound of her high heels clicking on the marble floor echoed through the room, a stark contrast to the silence that had fallen over the family.

"Mother, what's wrong?" Emma asked, her voice laced with concern, as she set aside the book she had been reading. She had always been sensitive to her mother's moods, and she knew that something was bothering her.

Catherine's eyes narrowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's Emilia. She's coming back today. She's finished her studies and will be taking over the company." The thought of Emilia, that upstart, taking control of the family business was unbearable to Catherine.

Ryan snorted, his expression bitter, as he slumped deeper into the couch. "That little brat thinks she can just waltz in here and take everything?" He had always resented Emilia, who had been favored by their grandfather, the founder of the company.

Catherine shot him a warning glance, her eyes flashing with anger. "Ryan, don't underestimate Emilia. She's clever and determined. And you, of all people, should know better than to mess with her." She knew that Ryan's past mistakes had left him vulnerable, and she didn't want him to make things worse.

Ryan's expression darkened, his eyes clouding over with memories of his own past mistakes. He had been expelled from college, and his troubles had only worsened from there. He had been arrested and imprisoned in a foreign country for six months, a experience that had left him hardened and embittered. And then, to add insult to injury, he had been deported back to his home country, his tail between his legs.

Emma's eyes widened, fear creeping into her voice. "Mother, what will we do? She'll throw us out of the house and the business. We'll be left with nothing." She had always been afraid of Emilia, who seemed so confident and self-assured.

Catherine's expression turned cold, her voice detached. "Pack your things, Emma. We don't know what Emilia is capable of." She knew that they had to be prepared for the worst.

"But Mother, where will we go?" Emma asked, her voice trembling, as she stood up, her hands shaking.

Catherine's gaze locked onto hers, her eyes icy. "I don't know, Emma. But I do know one thing - I will not be humiliated by that girl. I will not be thrown out of my own home." She would fight to the end to protect her family's interests.

Ryan stood up, his eyes gleaming with malice. "I'll take care of Emilia, Mother. Don't worry." He had a plan, and he was confident that it would work.

Catherine's gaze locked onto his, a hint of approval in her eyes. "See that you do, Ryan. See that you do." She knew that she could count on him to take care of Emilia.

Just then, the sound of sirens echoed in the distance, growing louder, piercing the tense atmosphere in the room. Catherine's heart sank, a sense of foreboding settling over her.

"What's that?" Emma asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as she took a step back, her eyes wide with fear.

Catherine's expression turned grim. "I don't know, Emma. But I have a feeling it's not good." She knew that something was wrong, and she was afraid of what might happen next.

Just then, the sound of sirens grew louder, and the police arrived at the front door. Catherine's heart sank, fearing that her son had committed another offense. She couldn't bear the thought of Ryan being arrested again, especially not at the Winston estate. The family still had a reputation to uphold in society, and she couldn't let that be tarnished.

"Ryan, what have you done now?" she whispered urgently, her eyes wide with fear.

Ryan shook his head, his expression innocent. "I didn't do anything, Mother. We'll find out what this is about soon enough."

The police inspector entered the house, his eyes scanning the room. "I need to speak with Mrs. Catherine Winston."

Catherine stepped forward, her hands trembling. "I'm she. Is there a problem?"

The inspector's expression was somber. "A young lady was involved in an accident on the express road nearby. We've identified her as Miss Emilia Winston."

Catherine's eyes widened, relief washing over her that Ryan's name wasn't mentioned. "How does this concern me?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

The inspector continued, "We need to know if Miss Emilia Winston resides at this address."

The room fell silent, the family shocked by the news. But Catherine's response shocked them even more.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, her voice cold. "Emilia Winston is nothing to us. She's just an orphan my late father took pity on. We have no relationship with her. She's been a torment to me and my children ever since..."

Emma's eyes widened in horror. "Mother, how can you say that? What if she's hurt"

Ryan's face turned red with anger. "Yeah, Mother, think about it"

Catherine's expression didn't change. " I don't care,I'm simply stating the truth. Emilia has never been a part of this family. She's just a charity case my father foolishly took in."

The police inspector's eyes narrowed, sensing that something was off. He would have to investigate this further. "I see," he said. "Well, in any case, we need to inform Miss Emilia's next of kin about her accident. Can you provide me with some information about her?"

Catherine shrugged. "I don't know anything about her. You'll have to look elsewhere for that information."

The inspector's gaze lingered on Catherine, his expression skeptical. He knew that she was hiding something, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He would have to come back later then.