[FLASHBACK – 3 YEARS AGO]That night, the Rivera home seemed to be as lively as she could remember. Golden lights illuminated the walls, laughing boomed down the marble halls, and the aroma of vanilla cake and champagne lingered in the air. Alessia barely had time to drop her suitcase before a dozen voices shouted—“Surprise!”Her eyes widened. Streamers fell from the staircase, and confetti glittered in her hair as her friends and family cheered. At the centre of it all stood her father and her mother, beaming and holding a glass of wine with pride in their eyes.“Welcome home, our brilliant daughter,” her father said, pulling her into a warm embrace. “Our graduate, our star.”Alessia laughed, blinking back tears; she had missed her family so much. “Dad, you didn’t have to—”“Oh, I did.” He leaned back, grinning. “You’ve made us proud, Alessia. This—” he gestured around the glittering room “—is only the beginning.”She smiled. She was exhausted from all the long study nights in s
Last Updated : 2025-11-01 Read more