Chapter 7: The Acceptance Letter

The ballroom remained lively, but Ethan's attention never left me.

For the first time in years, I was the one walking away while he stood rooted to the floor.

A few minutes later, Mr. Luciano stepped onto the stage to congratulate Ethan on his graduation.

"My son has officially been accepted into Caltech," he announced proudly. "I hope everyone here will continue supporting him in the years ahead."

The guests erupted into applause.

Ethan forced a smile, but his eyes searched the crowd until they found me again.

He wasn't listening to a single word his father was saying.

After the speech ended, several of our classmates gathered around him.

"Ethan, where's Cynthia? Isn't she going to Caltech with you anymore?"

"Yeah, you two have been inseparable since elementary school."

No one had expected us to attend different universities.

Ethan opened his mouth but couldn't answer.

Sylvia quickly smiled and spoke for him.

"People change. Cynthia probably realized Caltech wasn't the right fit."

Her words sounded casual, but I noticed the way she tightened her grip around Ethan's arm.

She had sensed something was wrong.

A waiter suddenly approached me.

"Miss Saville, someone asked me to deliver this to you."

He handed me a sealed envelope.

I opened it and found my official MIT acceptance package along with a welcome letter that had been forwarded from my home.

The crimson university crest stood out beautifully against the white paper.

A nearby guest happened to glance at it.

"Wait... that's MIT's admission packet!"

His voice immediately attracted everyone's attention.

"MIT?"

"Didn't Cynthia apply to Caltech?"

"No way... MIT's engineering program is one of the best in the world."

Within seconds, whispers spread throughout the ballroom.

Ethan walked over almost instinctively.

"Let me see."

Before he could reach for the letter, I calmly folded it and placed it back inside the envelope.

"There's nothing for you to see."

"Cynthia... when did you apply?"

"Months ago."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I finally realized my future shouldn't depend on yours."

His breathing became uneven.

"So... you've really decided to leave?"

"I've already accepted the offer."

"Orientation starts next week."

"After tonight, I'll be leaving this city."

Silence fell between us.

Ethan looked as though someone had pulled the ground out from under him.

Meanwhile, Sylvia forced a laugh.

"It's just MIT. Ethan will become the future Don of the Luciano family. A degree doesn't mean everything."

Nobody echoed her words.

Everyone knew getting into MIT required exceptional talent.

For years, people had assumed Cynthia followed Ethan because she needed him.

Tonight, they suddenly realized the truth.

She had simply chosen love over her own future.

And now that love was gone, nothing could stop her from reaching the heights she truly belonged to.