Chapter 9

The auditorium was glowing with golden lights. Curtains framed the wide stage, and fresh flowers lined the sides, their scent faint but sweet in the charged air. The room buzzed with laughter, chatter, and the crisp rustle of graduation gowns. My name had just been announced.

I, Elena Rivers, the best graduating student in Medicine.

And then another shocker.

I was also announced as the overall best graduating student in the entire university.

My heart stopped for a moment as if it couldn’t process the magnitude of the moment. Applause erupted like a wave, crashing against my skin, warming me. Ava's scream pierced the chaos, her voice rising...