Chapter 39
Keith’s POV
The lights dimmed slightly as Emily stepped up to the podium, her presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room. I watched. her closely, captivated by the confidence in her posture and the quiet strength in her eyes. As she began to speak, the room fell silent, all ears tuned to her every word.
“When I became a teacher,” Emily started, her voice steady yet filled with emotion, “I quickly learned that the classroom was more than just a place for education. It was a refuge, a sanctuary for many children who were. facing hardships I could hardly imagine. I witnessed the pain in their eyes, the way they flinched at loud noises or shrank away from physical contact. These were children who, at such a young age, were already burdened with the weight of the world. Children who, in many cases, were suffering from abuse at the hands of the very people who were supposed to protect them–their parents.”
The room was utterly silent, her words hanging in the air like a palpable. force. I could feel the raw emotion in her voice, the sincerity in her words. as she continued.
“I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing,” she said, her voice growing stronger. “So I decided to take action. I established a fund to expand Hope House here in our city, a place where these children could find not just shelter, but hope–a chance at a better future. Through this foundation, we’ve been able to provide them with education, counseling, and support.
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We’ve helped them dream again, and some of them are now attending college, something they never thought possible.”
Emily paused, her eyes sweeping across the room, connecting with the audience. “But this isn’t just about what I’ve done,” she continued. “It’s about what we can all do–together. These children need us. They need our support, our love, and our belief that they can rise above their circumstances. Tonight. I ask you not just to donate, but to believe in these children, to give them the chance they deserve.
As she finished, the room erupted in applause, the sound of clapping filling the air. I found myself clapping along, completely captivated by her speech, by the passion and dedication she had poured into her cause.
There was something incredibly powerful about the way she spoke, a quiet determination that drew everyone in.
As the applause died down, I noticed Lily beside me, her expression hardening as she watched Emily exchange a few words with Carb, an executive at Kingstone Technology Company. “Look at her,” Lily muttered, her voice low but filled with contempt. “She’s using these orphans to get rich.”
I turned to her, frowning. “What are you talking about, Lily?”
She gestured subtly toward Carb. “You see that man? That’s Carb, a big shot at Kingstone. Emily helped him start his business by recognizing his technical talent when he was just an orphan. Now, he’s made her the second–largest shareholder in his company. It’s all about the money for
her.”
Chapter 39
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Lily, that’s not true,” I interrupted. my voice firm. “Emily’s done nothing but help these kids. She’s not using anyone–she’s genuinely making a difference.”
Before Lily could respond, a voice from behind us sliced through the growing tension like a blade. It was Purple, the host of the event, and she had clearly overheard our conversation.
She approached with a measured stride, her expression one of cool amusement, though there was a sharpness in her eyes that warned of what was coming.
“Emily doesn’t need to use anyone,” Purple began, her voice carrying a note of condescension as she glanced at Lily. “You clearly don’t know her as well as you think you do. Emily was already a millionaire long before she founded this foundation. She didn’t have to climb over anyone to get where she is. She built this from her own hard work and heart. The fact that you her own family–never noticed is frankly appalling. You’ve overlooked her all this time because she doesn’t flaunt her wealth. No flashy cars, no designer clothes, no need for validation from people like you. That’s why you never saw her for who she truly is.”
Purple’s words hit like a series of well–aimed arrows, each one finding its mark. Her tone was laced with disdain as she continued, her gaze sweeping over Lily, Seth, Tyler, and finally me. “It’s really quite something,” she added with a bitter chuckle, “that her own family could be so blind. You’re supposed to know her best, yet you seem to know nothing about her at all. It’s honestly pathetic.”
The weight of her words settled heavily over us, leaving a silence thick.
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with shame and realization. I felt my stomach twist with guilt. How had we all been so blind to Emily’s true nature? How could we have been so quick to assume the worst about her?
Lily, Seth, and Tyler stood there, their heads bowed, unable to meet Purple’s gaze or each other’s. The truth of Emily’s character, laid bare by someone outside our family, was undeniable, and it left us all feeling small and foolish.
With a final glance at us, Purple sighed, shaking her head slightly. “I honestly can’t believe how little you know about her. It’s no wonder she’s had to fight so hard on her own.”
Then, without another word, she turned on her heel and excused herself, leaving us standing there in the aftermath of her scathing critique.
The silence that followed was deafening, filled only with the weight of our collective shame. I felt like a complete fool, my earlier judgments about Emily now exposed as the baseless assumptions they were.
Purple’s words lingered in the air, a
had been about Emily–and hou. harsh reminder of just how wrong we
much we had taken her for granted.
Before I could fully process this revelation, a commotion at the other end. of the room caught my attention. Emily was confronting someone- Rebecca, a well–known socialite who prided herself on being a leader among women.
The tension between them was palpable, and it was clear that whatever was happening, it was about to escalate.
