The graduation ceremony proceeded exactly as scripted. Speeches from faculty, congratulations from alumni. Everything orderly and ceremonial.

Until the host announced, "Next, please welcome this year's Outstanding Graduate Representative…"

I steadied myself, smoothed my gown, and prepared to stand.

"Tessa Hawthorne."

I froze.

Wasn't I the one chosen to speak as the Outstanding Graduate Representative?

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

Everyone knew exactly what kind of reputation Tessa had in the department.

Tessa acted as though she hadn't heard a thing. She lifted her gown delicately and walked onto the stage, accepting the microphone with practiced grace.

Annie exploded first. She shot to her feet, completely ignoring the formality of the occasion, and pointed straight at the stage.

"Tessa, are you serious? Since when did you qualify as Outstanding Graduate? Everyone knows your record. That position belongs to Lydia!"

Tessa's expression flickered, then smoothed over.

"Annie, I understand you're close to Lydia, but the selection process was fair and transparent. Publicly questioning it shows disrespect to the school and the faculty."

She paused, then smiled maliciously. "And Annie, you should think about Lydia too. I heard a very important guest is attending today. Someone tied to a major future partnership for the university. We represent the school's image. Lydia… might not be the best choice to greet such a guest. Don't you agree?"

The implication was obvious. I wasn't polished enough. I would embarrass the school.

Miles frowned slightly but said nothing.

A soft laugh escaped me.

"Tessa, why don't you explain exactly what's wrong with my image?"

I rose slowly and walked straight toward the stage.

Heads turned. Conversations stopped. Once they saw my face clearly, stunned silence followed.

"Wait… that's Lydia? Isn't she the one who was famous for being fat and ugly? How can she possibly look this good?"

"Who knows, maybe she had work done."

"Plastic surgery or not, she's way prettier than Tessa now. Look at Miles' face. I bet he's regretting it already."

Tessa's face drained of color. When she noticed the admiration in Miles's eyes, jealousy flared visibly.

I ignored the stunned, doubtful, and admiring looks around me and walked toward the stage, one deliberate step at a time.

"Ms. Hawthorne, perhaps you'd like to explain how a plagiarized thesis and failing grades qualified you as Outstanding Graduate."

Tessa went ashen instantly. She looked to Miles for help.

But his gaze hadn't left me since the moment he saw me.

Fury flared across her face. Forgetting where she was, she snapped, "Miles!"

Only then did Miles snap out of it. He stood and walked over to me, speaking as if it were only natural for him to decide. "Lydia, you're already exceptional. Let Tessa take the speech this time."

He reached for my hand.

"Lydia, I didn't realize you'd gone this far for me. You didn't need to change. I never would've looked down on you."

I laughed softly. He wouldn't have looked down on me?

Too bad I was the one who looked down on him. I stepped away from his hand.

"Mr. Calloway, on what authority are you deciding who gets my speaking slot? And everything I've done was for myself. Don't flatter yourself."

His hand froze midair. Embarrassment flickered across his face.

Yet when his gaze fell on my bright, striking face, he showed a rare tolerance.

"Alright, Lydia. I was wrong before. I've reinstated your cards. I even came personally to your graduation."

He pulled out a small gift box and lowered his voice.

"I brought you a graduation gift. You've been upset long enough. Come home with me today."

I glanced at the box. It was the same necklace Tessa had mocked as outdated on her social media just yesterday.

Even when he tried to win me back, he offered leftovers.

I was about to respond when a low, commanding voice sounded behind me.

"Mr. Calloway, where exactly are you taking my wife?"

Every head turned.

A tall, imposing figure stepped in against the backlight from the entrance.

His tailored black suit framed a perfectly proportioned build. Authority radiated from him without effort.

It was Dominic.

He walked straight to my side and slipped an arm around my waist as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

A clear declaration of possession.

Miles stood frozen, eyes reddening.

"You… what did you just call her? No. That's impossible."

He lunged forward as if to tear us apart, but Dominic's guards blocked him instantly.

Dominic did not release him from the moment. His arm tightened slightly, drawing me closer against him in an intimate gesture.

"Lydia Prescott is my wife."

He paused, his gaze settling on Miles's ashen face.

"So tell me—who exactly dared to take my wife's Outstanding Graduate Representative slot?"

I stared at Dominic, stunned.

He had actually come.

Was he here… for me? I shook my head hard.

I needed to stop getting ahead of myself.

He was only doing this because I was his wife. Because I carried his name.

The venue fell into stunned silence for several seconds. Then chaos erupted.

"Oh my God. When did Lydia become Mr Sinclair's wife?"

"That's Dominic Sinclair. The godfather of the most powerful mafia in the city. No wonder she dared to stand up to Miles. That's who's backing her."

The color drained completely from Tessa's face.

How was this possible?

The girl she had once mocked for being fat and ugly had not only transformed, but married Dominic?

Even Miles had to look up to him.

Miles looked like he'd been struck by lightning. He pointed at Annie, furious.

"Annie! Is this your doing? Did you convince Mr. Sinclair to play along with this just to help your best friend?"

Before he could finish, one of Dominic's guards stepped forward, eyes locked on him. Miles's bravado evaporated instantly.

This was the godfather of the Sinclair family.

Miles, a mere second-in-command in another syndicate, wouldn't last a second against him.

Sweat beaded on Miles's forehead.

"Mr. Sinclair, please don't misunderstand. I was just… surprised. This must be some kind of misunderstanding, right? Lydia… she couldn't possibly—"

Dominic didn't even glance at him. He spoke calmly to his assistant.

"It's too noisy. Remove anyone irrelevant. Do not disturb my wife's graduation."

"Yes, Godfather."

Tessa screamed and tried to pull Miles back, but she was escorted out as well.

In seconds, the two who had been so arrogant were gone.

Annie pressed a hand to her chest, finally processing what had happened.

She rushed over and grabbed my hands, shaking them wildly.

"Lydia! St-Stepmom? Oh my God. My dad… you two… I'm not dreaming, right?"

My cheeks burned. My heart pounded violently.

I had barely nodded when Dominic leaned closer, his lips brushing near my ear as he murmured, "Go on. The stage is yours."

He gave a soft laugh.

"Outstanding Graduate Representative, Lydia Prescott."

My heart skipped.

I took a deep breath, straightened my back, and walked toward the podium step by deliberate step.

I stopped at the podium and let my gaze sweep across the hall.

I saw Annie waving wildly with tears in her eyes. I saw my classmates' expressions shift from disdain to respect.

Finally, I looked back at the one person who steadied me most.

He watched me with calm certainty. I met his gaze.

I lifted the microphone and began my speech.

From that moment on, I was no longer the insecure fat girl hiding in Miles's shadow.

I was Lydia Prescott. Confident. Radiant.

When I finished, the applause thundered.

I stepped down from the stage. Everything felt almost unreal.

Five years of loving Miles in silence ended completely in that moment.

From now on, I was Dominic's wife. And I would shoulder the responsibilities of the Sinclair family's godmother.

"What are you thinking about?"

I snapped back to reality and realized Dominic was standing in front of me.

Before I could answer, he held out a bouquet.

I stared at the flowers, then up at him.

Dominic… bringing flowers?

The man rumored to be ruthless, cold-blooded, feared across the underworld?

He was doing something this romantic?

As if sensing my disbelief, the corner of Dominic's lips curved faintly. He nudged the bouquet closer.

"Happy graduation, Lydia."