CHAPTER 268
William looked at the two women standing before him and let out a deep sigh.
"Arianna, Harmony," he began, his tone measured and solemn.
"This has been my first time overseeing a competition of this scale. It feels like just yesterday that we began, but here we are at the final, most critical moment."
He glanced at both of them with a proud smile.
"Watching you both grow and excel over the past month has been a privilege. No matter what happens next, you are both incredibly talented and destined for great things in the world of broadcasting."
William then slowly opened the envelope in his hand, his fingers steady but deliberate. As his eyes scanned the card, a flicker of emotion crossed his face.
Looking at Arianna, he said,
"The winner of this competition is..."
He paused, then shifted his gaze to Harmony and declared,
"Harmony Jackson!"
Applause erupted from all corners of the room.
The results were being streamed live across the nation, and viewers witnessed the surprise outcome in real-time.
Many had expected Arianna to take the crown, especially with the momentum she had been building. Harmony’s victory came as a shock to the audience, the underdog rising to claim the top spot.
Harmony's eyes widened, and she placed her hands over her mouth, as if in disbelief at her win.
Arianna’s eyelashes fluttered, but she maintained her composure, clapping along with the crowd, her smile unwavering.
Deep down, she had believed her performance was equal to, if not stronger than, Harmony's. Still, the competition had been fair, and even though the outcome wasn’t in her favour, Arianna accepted it with grace.
Still, Arianna couldn’t deny that disappointment weighed heavily on her. She had promised Xander she’d bring home the trophy as a celebration gift, and now that promise felt like a distant dream.
Around her, reporters from Starlight TV swarmed Harmony, eager to capture the winner’s excitement. As the crowd pressed in, Arianna found herself being pushed out, no longer the centre of attention. It was clear—only the champion was remembered.
The second place faded into the background, forgotten by all.
Just as she was about to slip away quietly, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she was startled to see Jane standing there.
Jane had never been friendly with her, and Arianna braced herself for what was sure to be a snide remark. She wasn’t in the mood for any of Jane's taunts, but Jane blocked her path, a smug smile on her face.
"Did it shock you to lose, Arianna?" Jane mocked, her tone oozing with sarcasm.
"I warned you that this competition was all about skill, not who you know. Your title or your husband’s name doesn’t matter here."
With her arms crossed, Jane went on, "You thought being Mrs King would let you coast through the first round, and you didn’t even have to compete in the second round—just got a free ride. But look at you now. This competition doesn’t care about your identity; it cares about your abilities. How does it feel to lose both the contest and your pride in front of everyone? Who knows, maybe Mr. King will be so let down that he’ll decide to leave you after this embarrassment."
Arianna turned on her heel and walked away, not bothering to look back.
As someone who also made a living with words, Arianna was no stranger to sarcasm. She simply didn’t have the energy to hold a grudge against someone like Jane, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t stand up for herself.
If Jane insisted on stirring up trouble, Arianna wasn’t the one to blame.
Arianna had only taken a few steps when Jane finally reacted. In a swift motion, Jane charged forward and reached out to shove her. But Arianna, quick on her feet, sidestepped the attack with ease.
Jane missed, stumbling forward a few steps and nearly toppling over from her force. Gritting her teeth in frustration, she shot a venomous look at Arianna.
"Do you know why you lost, Arianna? It’s because of your awful attitude! I caught a glimpse of the results. You and Harper got the same score from the judges, but the audience’s vote? You lost by just one! One vote! Does that eat at you? Does it make you furious? Good. You didn’t win their approval because your personality sucks!"
"Harper kept her promise, unlike you. You claimed you wanted to help when the lunatic burst in the other day. Your words sounded great, but what happened in the end? Wasn’t it Harper who stepped in, dealt with the lunatic, and saved the kid? Where were you during the whole thing? And now you dare to stand here acting all righteous? It’s disgusting!
"I’m glad the truth came out in the last few minutes, or it would’ve been a travesty if someone like you had won the competition!
"As the saying goes, Arianna, man proposes, but God disposes. Do you think you can throw your weight around just because you’ve got the support of the Whitman Corporation? This is karma hitting you hard! Bwahaha!"
At first, Arianna didn’t take Jane’s words too seriously, knowing Jane was never one to speak kindly. Jane only ever felt satisfied if she got under Arianna’s skin.
But the second half of Jane’s tirade left Arianna stunned.
What did Jane mean by saying Harper was the one who dealt with the lunatic that day? And what was this about Arianna being absent?
Arianna had been the one to confront the madman, getting injured while saving the child. She had spent over a week recovering in bed, and her waist still throbbed from time to time. How had Harper suddenly become the hero?
Arianna’s mind latched onto Jane’s mention of the truth being revealed in the final moments.
