Chapter 3 Chapitre 3

Emma stood in front of her mirror, her heart pounding. She had never attended such a prestigious party and the idea of having to appear among the elites of St. James Academy made her nervous. The dress she wore was not her own, but a graceful one lent to her by her roommate, Olivia.

"Thank you again, Olivia," Emma said, adjusting the blue satin dress that hugged her curves perfectly. "I don't know what I would have done without you. »

"Don't worry, Emma. You're going to look amazing tonight," Olivia replied with an encouraging smile. "And remember, keep your head high. You deserve to be there as much as anyone else. »

Emma nodded, trying to convince herself. She took one last look at her reflection, taking a deep breath before leaving the room. The walk to the ballroom seemed endless, each step amplifying his anxiety. She remembered Olivia's advice, trying to commit it to her memory.

Arriving at the large carved wooden doors of the ballroom, she was greeted by an explosion of light and music. The chandeliers sparkled on the ceiling and the guests, dressed in their finest, chatted in small groups. Emma immediately felt overwhelmed by the luxury and opulence around her.

She saw Sophie in the distance, surrounded by a few friends. With a shy smile, Emma walked over, trying not to trip over the bottom of her dress. Sophie saw her arriving and welcomed her with a warm smile.

"Emma, you look lovely tonight! » exclaimed Sophie, taking her by the arm. "I'm so glad you came." »

"Thank you, Sophie," Emma replied, a little more at ease. "I admit that I am quite nervous. »

" Don't worry. We're going to have fun," Sophie said, leading him towards the group. "Let me introduce you to some friends. »

As the introductions were underway, Emma felt a piercing gaze on her. She looked up and met the gaze of Alex, who was standing across the room. His expression was unreadable, but Emma couldn't ignore the coldness in his eyes. She looked away quickly, hoping he hadn't noticed.

The evening was going better than she had hoped. People were curious about him, some sincerely interested in his journey, others more skeptical. But Emma remained true to herself, responding with sincerity and honesty.

As she walked towards the buffet to get a drink, she felt a presence behind her. Turning around, she found herself facing Alex. His heart skipped a beat.

"I see you've decided to join us," Alex said, his tone slightly mocking. "You must be pretty proud of yourself." »

Emma felt anger rising within her. " Why do you say that ? »

Alex shrugged. "It's not common to see someone from... your social background here. It is surprising. »

"Surprising? » Emma replied, her voice trembling with anger. "You mean I shouldn't be here because I'm not rich like you?" »

"I'm not saying that," Alex replied with a smirk. "But admit that this is an unusual situation. Difficult to fit in, right? »

Emma felt the eyes of a few students turn towards them, discreetly listening to the conversation. She took a deep breath, determined not to be intimidated.

"Listen, Alex," she said, trying to stay calm. "I'm here because I worked hard to get here. Maybe I don't come from a rich family, but that doesn't mean I don't deserve my place. »

Alex looked at her, his expression hardening. " That's what you think. But here, it's all about power and influence. You will soon see that things are not that simple. »

"Maybe," Emma replied determinedly. "But I'm not going to let comments like yours make me doubt myself. I'm here to learn and succeed, no matter what anyone else thinks. »

A tense silence fell between them, broken only by the noise of the party around them. Alex looked like he was about to respond, but Sophie interjected, her eyes sparkling with a newfound admiration for Emma.

"Emma, do you want to dance? » Sophie asked, breaking the tension.

"Yes, gladly," Emma replied with a grateful smile.

Sophie led him onto the dance floor, leaving Alex behind. As they danced, Sophie leaned towards her. "I'm impressed, Emma. You really have guts. »

"Thank you, Sophie," Emma replied, still a little shaken from the confrontation. "I wasn't going to let him bring me down. »

"And you did well," Sophie said, smiling. "I think a lot of people saw what happened. You earned some respect tonight. »

Emma nodded, trying to savor this moment of victory. However, she couldn't ignore Alex's gaze as it continued to follow her across the room. She knew their confrontation was just the start of something bigger.

The evening continued, and Emma found herself enjoying the music and the company of her new friends. She felt that, despite the challenges, she was beginning to find her place. Yet the shadow of Alex and the intrigues of the academy still hung over her.

As she chatted with Sophie and a few other students, she couldn't help but notice the attention she was receiving. The admiring looks and words of support gave him new confidence. Maybe, despite everything, she could prove her worth here.

The party was in full swing when Sophie pulled him aside again. "Emma, you know what? There is a tradition here that you should know about. »

"What tradition? » Emma asked, curious.

"Every year, at this party, new students have to give a speech. Nothing formal, just a few words to introduce themselves and say what they hope to accomplish here. »

Emma felt her heart racing. " A speech ? This evening ? »

"Yes," Sophie replied, smiling. "And I think you should." After what happened with Alex, a lot of people would like to hear from you. »

Emma took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She knew that this speech would be an opportunity for her to make herself heard and show everyone that she was much more than just a scholarship student.

As she climbed onto the makeshift platform, silence fell in the room. All eyes were on her, including Alex's. Emma took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Good evening everyone," she began, her voice shaking slightly. "My name is Emma, and as many of you know, I am here on a scholarship. I come from a humble background, and I know this may seem unusual to some of you. »

She paused, searching for the right words. "But I'm here because I worked hard for this opportunity. And I'm determined to prove that I deserve my place. It doesn't matter where we come from, what matters is what we do with our opportunities. »

She glanced at Alex, then continued. "I am proud of my origins, and I am here to learn, grow and succeed. I want to thank those who have supported me so far, and I hope we can all learn from each other. »

Applause broke out in the room, and Emma felt a wave of relief and pride wash over her. She came down from the stage, her hands slightly trembling but her heart full of determination.

Sophie joined her immediately, a big smile on her face. "You were amazing, Emma!" »

"Thank you," Emma replied, still moved by the welcome she had received.

"Come on, let's dance," Sophie said, leading him back onto the floor.

As they danced and laughed, Emma felt that, despite the obstacles, she had taken a big step tonight. She had shown everyone that she was strong and determined. But she also knew that this was only the beginning, and that many challenges still awaited her at St. James Academy.

As she left the party later that evening, Emma took one last look back. Alex was still looking at her, his expression unreadable. She knew their confrontation was not over.