Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 148

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 corner—no 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 busy—she 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.