Coma Heir's Love Miracle

Synopsis

The dean's voice echoed across the quad as I stepped onto the stage, my graduation gown billowing slightly in the late spring breeze. "Olivia Harper, Bachelor of Arts in Art History, summa cum laude." I forced a smile, gripping my diploma holder tightly as I scanned the front rows where Ryan and Jake had promised they'd be sitting. The two empty seats between my father and Mrs. Sullivan glared back at me like twin accusations. My chest tightened. They'd sworn they wouldn't miss this for anything—a promise apparently worth as little as all their others. The familiar sting of disappointment washed over me as I walked across the stage, careful not to trip in the heels I'd spent too much money on for an audience that hadn't bothered to show. I'd been a fool to believe this day would be different. "Congratulations, Ms. Harper," the dean said warmly, oblivious to the hollow victory this moment had become. I nodded my thanks and moved on, my eyes still searching the crowd out of some pathetic reflex. They weren't there. Of course they weren't. As I returned to my seat, my phone vibrated against my hip. I should have ignored it—should have at least waited until after the ceremony—but some masochistic instinct made me slip it from my pocket while pretending to adjust my cap. The notification made my stomach drop: Madison Brooks had posted an Instagram story that was already going viral among our circle.