An earthquake fifteen years ago took away my hearing and the lives of my biological parents.
My father's friends, that was, William's parents adopted me. I had a new family, so I rarely thought about that broken past.
Later, with my own efforts, I became the first hearing-impaired graduate since the founding of the University of Chevening of Political Science and Law and one of the few hearing-impaired people in Germany who passed the bar exam.
According to the original plan, I would give a speech on stage as an outstanding student representative tomorrow. In order to show the best speech state in front of the public, I had practiced speech for several months.
Just a sudden notice turned my efforts of these days into bubbles.
[Alice, the leader asked me to tell you that your speech at the graduation ceremony was cancelled and replaced by someone else.]
My right hand holding the phone trembled slightly and I typed frequently to try to reason, but after repeated entanglements, I still cleared it.
Then another line of words popped up in the dialog box.
[It was a person inserted by the school director, named Celine Murphy. There is nothing we can do when we encounter such a person with connections.]
On the day of the graduation ceremony, I met Celine for the first time.
She stood high above me in the position that should have belonged to me, covering up my existence with the identity of "outstanding alumnus".
Although I felt a little disappointed, I finally accepted it calmly. But my best friend couldn't stand it.
"Alice, you prepared for such a long time, but the speech was replaced by a relative who came out of nowhere. I'm worried for you!"
In fact, this speech had no other benefits for me except the opportunity to show my face. It was better to had less trouble than more. Besides, I could work in the Grey Family's law firm after graduation and I didn’t need the so-called "speech" to fill my resume.
The graduation ceremony ended with the principal's speech. At that time, my mobile phone received an unmarked text message.
[I am Celine Murphy, Felix's fiancée and I want to meet you.]
[Just go to the western restaurant at the back door of the school. I just returned to Germany and can't get used to the local food.]
I did not choose to change out of casual clothes, but just wore the simplest shirt and went to this "Fancy Banquet" alone. Opposite, Celine wore a high-end brand beaded suit, a brooch on her chest and exuded the scent of a thousand-dollar perfume.
Seeing me approach, she slowly put down the menu in her hand and smiled at me with a deep meaning.
She greeted me, "Hello, Miss Swift. Nice to meet you. I am Celine Murphy."
She started to explain, "We are quite predestined. Five years ago, I was also a student of the University of Chevening Political Science and Law. I just graduated from the London School of Economics this year. I am your predecessor."
I was unmoved. I had long understood the hidden meaning of this woman's words.
I looked at Celine's face calmly and then put on a polite smile. "Miss Murphy, you flew all the way from the UK, not to submit your resume to me, right?"
Celine's face changed and she was a little confused by my calmness.
I guess she might have thought that I would hysterically compete with her for the position of the main owner, but she never expected that I would be so unmoved by her appearance. Because I had seen through Felix a long time ago, I knew he didn't love me.
Celine frowned slightly, sneered and then said straight to the point, "I've heard that Miss Swift is very smart and is the first hearing-impaired graduate of the University of Chevening Political Science and Law. I think you should understand..."
"Felix is fickle-minded. He has many children outside. As his fiancée, I have always seen it. But I have lived abroad for a long time and I have not been able to eradicate him all these years. Of course, Felix will get tired of you one day. But we are about to get married. If you continue to stay with him, it will not be good for you or me."
