Emma’s POV

The email sat in my inbox, gleaming like a beacon. Congratulations, Emma Cross, on your outstanding academic performance. We would like to formally invite you to interview for our summer internship program. It wasn’t just one; they were pouring in, a flood of recognition for the grueling hours, the late nights, the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Cross Industries. Sterling Global (Adrian’s direct competitor). Even a few smaller, but highly reputable, consulting firms. Each offer was a validation, a tangible testament to the raw merit I had fought so hard to prove.