Chapter 6

Mira woke with a bandage wrapped around her forehead.

Her longtime friend, Ellen Walton, sat by her side. "Mira, you're finally awake. You scared me to death."

Mira's memory lingered on the moment Vincent knocked her out. She sat in a daze for a long while.

Ellen continued, "Has Vincent lost his mind? Choosing Ella over his own fiancée! You're getting engaged in two days, and he's still with that lunatic. Is insanity contagious?"

Mira gave a faint smile. "Vincent and I are done. We've completely broken up. The engagement's off. I meant to tell everyone yesterday, but... could you let them know for me today?"

Ellen froze, silent for a long moment, before saying slowly, "Good riddance. Seeing Vincent and Ella makes my blood boil. They're perfect for each other-a jerk and a cunt."

Then, as if remembering something, she asked, "Mira, are you still going to the outstanding alumni speech at Crestwood tomorrow?"

Mira nodded. "I promised the dean. I can't back out."

The next day, she handled her hospital discharge alone and took a taxi to Crestwood University.

Her supervisor greeted her with a warm smile. "Mira, did you see the bulletin board on your way in?"

Mira shook her head. Her focus had been on getting to the lecture hall.

Her supervisor showed her a phone screen displaying a prominent poster. "Look, you're the pride of the medical department! Your poster's in the lecture hall too."

The poster featured Mira's photo, her academic achievements, honors, and her qualification for advanced studies in Eldoria.

Mira smiled. "The university's exaggerating a bit."

Her supervisor scoffed. "If anything, they're underselling you. Look at Vincent's poster-they've practically put him on a pedestal."

Mira didn't respond.

She was the second-to-last speaker. During her speech, the lecture hall's main door swung open.

All eyes turned, gasps rippling through the crowd as Vincent, the keynote speaker, appeared.

Dressed in a black suit that accentuated his tall frame, his deep eyes carried a cold intensity as he strode to his seat.

Ella followed closely, taking the seat beside him.

Mira didn't linger on them, delivering her speech with calm composure.

Five minutes later, Vincent took the stage.

His voice, cool and steady, lacked dramatic flair but captivated the audience.

Watching him shine, Mira's thoughts drifted to that summer day.

As the top freshman speaker, he had caught her attention instantly.

She had never told him it was love at first sight.

But now, everything had changed.

Thunderous applause snapped her back to reality.

After the speeches, Mira and Vincent were swarmed by younger students.

The boys expressed endless admiration for them, while the girls eagerly asked about their romance. "From campus to the altar, a golden couple! It's like a romance novel come to life!"

Vincent's expression grew complex as he looked at Mira, emotions swirling in his eyes.

Mira didn't notice his gaze. She smiled at the students. "Your priority now is to study hard. You'll meet the right person someday."

Ella, pushed to the edge of the crowd, glared at Mira with resentment.

As the event ended, Mira prepared to leave but noticed Vincent staring at her poster in the lecture hall.

Oh no-