novelxo Chapter Billionaire Shadow 77
Chapter 77
"Good evening, Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and dear friends," she began with a firm tone, but her voice quivered due to the tension in the air. "It is an honor and privilege to stand before you tonight to see so many familiar and beautiful faces gathered here, for those of you who know me, I am deeply grateful for your support and encouragement. And for those of you who may not know me, let me formally introduce myself?
The room held its breath as she paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "My name is Emma Black, and I am proud to be the CEO of W2 HOLDINGS.
Gasps rippled through the crowd, but Emma pressed on, her voice growing stronger. "This position is not just a title to me; it epitomizes four years of commitment, persistence, and an unrelenting passion for building an organization that esteems. integrity, innovation, and excellence. It has not been easy getting to this stage. Tonight, as I stand before you, I am grateful for every challenge, every lesson, and every opportunity that has brought me to this point."
She looked at Alexander, whose surprise was receding now, replaced by wariness. Of all things, she could feel a spark of gratitude toward him. Without his betrayal, without the divorce, she might have never started on this track. She might have never found her birth mother.
"But tonight's revelation goes well beyond business, Emma proudly rang on, clear-voiced. "It's also one of rediscovery-of finding the pieces that have been missing all these years. Most of you know Mrs. Elizabeth Walker, a woman with unparalleled strength and character. There's just one thing, though: what you might not know is how exactly this binds us as a familial
She paused again; her throat was beginning to tighten, emotion welling up and threatening to spill over. She swallowed hard and finally declared, "I am Mrs. Elizabeth Walker's long-lost twin daughter.
The silence that followed was absolute, as if the air had been sucked out of the room. She let the moment stretch, her eyes meeting the stunned gazes around her. Her voice fell, but did not lose its conviction as she proceeded. This will be quite surprising to many; it certainly was a surprise to me. What separated us- that is a story in itself, of pain, grit, and hope, fate - seems to weave threads at times through ways very unpredictable, and brought us back again, when I least expected.
Standing here today. Inot only embrace this truth but celebrate it, for it has filled a void I didn't even realize was so deeply ingrained in me
Her gaze flickered to Annie, whose pale, shocked face gave Emma a ripple of satisfaction. Her voice turned sharp as she said, "Being related to a person as remarkable as Mrs. Walker is not just a gift but an added responsibility. We carry our family's legacy together, and we would want to leave a positive mark in this world through W2 HOLDINGS"
The audience was petrified, it would seem, as she now turned to address them all. "To those of you who have supported me in silence or openly, I offer my deepest gratitude. To those who have doubted, insulted, or dismissed me, I thank you too, for it is through challenges and skepticism that I have found my strength. Tonight is not only a turning point that happened in my life but the celebration of unity, resilience, and the hosts of possibilities that the future holds."
She concluded with an assured smile: "Thank you for this opportunity. I look forward to many more chances to y together, grow together, and succeed together."
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Thunderous applause erupted, shaking the hall. Even those who had sneered at her minutes ago were now on their feet. clapping and cheering as if their earlier disdain had been erased. Emma took a deep breath, allowing herself a moment of relief before stepping off the podium.
As she walked back to her table, Brandon stood, enveloping her in a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you, Emma," he said, his voice filled with sincerity
"Thank you" she murmured. her smile warm yet wary
The handshaking and congratulatory hugs had only just died away when the peace at Alexander's table was ruptured by sudden activity. Emina turned to witness Antar splayed onto the floor in tune, an ashen shade on her face. Instantly, Alexander went on bended knees, crailling her unconscious figure, hoarse with undered demands for letting him pass through
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The hall's attention shified, whispers spreading like a wildfire av Alexander carried Annie out of the room. Emma's heart tightened for reasons she couldn't quite name, but she pushed the thought aside..
The screen of her phone shone bright on Emma's face as she scrolled down her social media, the beat of her heart rattling with a mix of trepidation and hope. It had been a night of monumental proportions, and the thought of what the world was thinking about her wasn't something she could keep to herself. Fears melted away with every swipe.
Some of the same people who just hours before had ridiculed her were now singing her praise. Words like powerful, graceful, and humble blew up her feed. Social media influencer journalists, and even some of the staunch business critics lauded her reveal as a masterstroke of strength and vulnerability that clearly resonated through to everyone in the room.
For a moment or two, Emma let her face crack into a smile. It was a small thing, but it was desperately needed. She could almost still hear the applause, a bittersweet inemory of how short-lived public approval might be. Her heart lightened, even as her head knew the road ahead would be fraught with new challenges.
As the night wound down, Emma bid farewell to Brandon, who gave her an encouraging smile and a warm hug before leaving. She climbed into Jaden's car, het heels clicking against the pavement. The car ride, however, was heavy with unspoken tension. Jaden had been eerily quiet, the usual warmth in his demeanor now a coldness that was distant. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched so tight that Emma could almost hear the grind of his teeth.
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