Chapter 208

“Get yourself dolled up in a nice dress; I’ll pick you up later.”

Lemifa’s heart skipped a beat. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see then.”

After hanging up, Lemira’s imagination ran wild, but she quickly regained her composure. This wasn't a joke; asking her to dress up meant something else entirely.

She washed her hair and changed into new clothes, feeling a bit anxious.

“Come down.”

In the parking lot, Orion stood by the car, dressed in a sleek black suit, his hair meticulously styled—exceptionally dapper.

Lernira felt a twinge of nervousness. “Where are we really going?”

“An important event.”

Orion opened the passenger door for her. As Lemira got in, she stole glances at him, her mind racing.

They pulled up outside a convention center. Stepping out, Lemira remembered: this was the city’s Outstanding Young Achievers Award! In her past life, Alaric had received this award after his team won a national competition. He’d brought Evelina to the event and the press interviews.

Lemira followed Orion into the hall. A staff member approached them. “You must be the top scorer, Lemira, right? Please come with me to prepare; you’ll be giving a speech shortly.”

Lemira turned to Orion in surprise.

His voice was gentle. “Your contribution to the successful game launch, coupled with your academic achievements, has earned you this recognition. This could be very beneficial for your future endeavors.”

Lemira understood the award's prestige. In her previous life, Alaric had used this recognition to secure an investment, propelling his gaming platform to success. This award could be incredibly useful for her own ventures. She went to the green room with the staff member.

“Lemira, why are you here?”

Lemira turned to see Asher and Alaric. She looked away indifferently, focusing on her speech.

Asher, seeing her coldness, bristled. “Think you’re too good for us now that you’re a top scorer and got into Orvin University?”

“Asher, cut it out. Maybe she’s just here for the event,” Alaric said.

“What right does she have to be here? What has she done besides getting good grades?” Asher felt challenged by Lemira’s defiance.

Lemira scoffed, standing up. “What does it matter to you whether I qualify to be here?”

She left the green room, speech in hand.

Asher was livid. “Look at her, and you two are defending her?”

“Asher, Lemira’s always been excellent. If she wins, it reflects well on the Langston family. Why can’t you just give her some credit?” Alaric couldn’t understand Asher’s need to belittle Lemira. He was starting to see things from Lucian’s perspective, realizing his own past behavior. No wonder Lemira held a grudge.

“You think Lemira can win? As if she’s anything special?”

Asher stormed to the venue and took his seat, eager to see Lemira fail. To his surprise, she was seated in the front row, a well-dressed man beside her. Catching a glimpse of the man’s profile, Asher felt a pang of familiarity. “Who’s that guy with Lemira?”