Billionaire's Pregnant Ex-wife novel Chapter 71

A YEAR LATER

“Ladies and gentlemen, let us all welcome our dearest Summa Cum Laude, Lilibeth Phoenix, for her valedictory address!”

A round of applause reverberated inside the huge auditorium. Everyone rose from their seats to acknowledge my presence.

With the grace of a queer, I rose from my seat and faced the cheering crowd with a smile. With the same grace I showed earlier, I walked down the carpeted aisle, and a thousand

eyes followed my every move.

Cameras flashed in my direction, almost blinding me. I walked until I reached the stage and stood on the podium with my chin held high to deliver the speech I had memorized by

heart.

Just a year ago, I was nothing. As others put it, I was an insignificant speck of dust with no bright future waiting for me. However, I proved them wrong.

I smiled, proud of the gold medals hanging around my neck, proof of how hard I had worked during those months, juggling my duties at school and work while having a delicate pregnancy. All my sacrifices paid off. I finally had my dream diploma.

As I delivered my speech, I noticed Cain Laurence at the side of the auditorium, smiling at me proudly. The smile on his lips brightened his handsome features. Several admiring eyes lingered in his direction. If he noticed them, he didn’t let it show or simply didn’t care.

I had told him to stop pursuing me, but the man was stubborn as hell and wouldn’t give up. After a year, he was still bent on winning my heart despite my blatant rejections–twelve times, to be exact. Cain firmly stood by his motto even after unbearable rejections: “Quitters are losers,” he says.

Sophia and Philip were proud parents. They couldn’t wipe the smiles off their faces in their seats. After a year of living with them, I had finally gotten used to calling them Mom and

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Dad. They couldn’t be happier with it.

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Grandma Leilani also attended my graduation. I could tell how proud she was of me by the way her eyes sparkled each time she looked at me. Her eyes were saying, “That’s my granddaughter!”

My brothers–six of them—were present. They sat at the far end of the auditorium. Even from afar, I could see they were beaming at me while listening to my speech and babysitting my daughter at the same time.

Just four months ago, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. I named her Isabelle. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me. The first time I looked into her eyes and saw the unique color of her irises, I thanked God for giving her to me, even though I went through a difficult delivery.

The auditorium filled with applause after I finished my speech.

I briefly dabbed the tears at the edge of my eyes. Descending the stairs, I walked down the

carpeted aisle.

Cain Laurence met me halfway down the aisle, holding baby Isabelle in his arms. I looked at

him and smiled, then took my daughter and cradled her close to my chest.

Everyone thought Cain was the father of my daughter. He refused to deny the allegations.

He was happy with it and chose to keep the truth to protect my reputation.

Returning to my seat, Cain sat beside me until the graduation ceremony ended.

We drove to the hotel where the graduation ball was held. I got into Cain’s car, and he

drove. The rest of my family followed behind us in their cars, making it appear as though there was a long parade of luxury vehicles on the highway.

After the short trip, we reached our destination. The car pulled to a stop in the driveway,

and I’clambered out with Isabelle in my arms.

“CONGRATULATIONS, LILIBETH!” was written in huge letters on a sign placed beside the door of Fleur De Luna Hotel. It was surrounded by fresh white roses arranged in standing

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bouquets.

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I looked up at the luxury hotel, which I now owned, and smiled. It was just one of the hotels I owned; there were dozens of hotels and resorts my parents had transferred into my name.

I’m as rich as Croesus, or so they say, but for me, nothing has changed. I’m still Lily.

“Congratulations, Miss Lilibeth!” my employees greeted me in unison when I entered through the upscale door. They lined up on both sides, and as I walked forward, they threw fragrant rose petals in the air.

“Thank you!” I told them. “I’ll treat you all to a free lunch!”

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My employees’ cheers filled the spacious lobby. I chuckled while watching them have fun.

“Congratulations, Lily!!” I reached the far end of the aisle and saw Cassandra and Lia together. The two women looked so much alike for a reason–they were twins!

Lia, my co–worker, was a rich heiress who ran away after her parents arranged for her to marry a billionaire who was a stranger to her. Cassandra, on the other hand, lived an ordinary life. Although they did not know how they were related, the two were convinced

that they were twins.

“I’m happy to see both of you together,” I said.

Both women beamed at me. “We couldn’t miss your graduation party!” they said in unison, looking at each other and laughing.

Clearing my throat, I introduced Cain Laurence to Lia and Cassandra.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Matteo,” Cassandra said as she shook his hand. Afterward, Lia did

the same.

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“Have we met before?” Cain asked with a frown. His gaze shifted from Cassandra to Lia.

“I assure you, you haven’t met any of us before,” Lia quickly responded.

Cain just shrugged his shoulders.

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