CHAPTER 276
Harmony instinctively clenched her fists and quickly lowered her arms, trying to shield her exposed waist. Cold sweat continued to trickle down William’s forehead, but he pressed on, insisting,
“It’s been more than two weeks, and the bruises have likely healed by now. You shouldn’t treat the woman who saved your child’s life like this.”
Harmony kept her smile intact and blinked innocently, choosing to stay silent. Her silence played into the sympathy she sought to garner from the crowd.
Brian’s mother, torn between confusion and indignation, was not ready to accept that her son was being accused of imagining things or being mentally unstable. She paused, unsure of what to do or say.
At that moment, without warning, Brian broke free and bolted off the stage.
Gasps echoed through the room as every eye followed the boy. Even the camera operator, intrigued by Brian's sudden movement, swung the lens toward him.
The boy, moving with determination, ran through the crowd, climbing up the bleachers toward the fifth row. He stopped in front of a particular seat and held up the flower he’d been carrying all along.
“This flower is for you, Miss. Thank you for saving me,” Brian said, his voice full of sincerity.
All eyes shifted toward the woman in that seat, and the camera zoomed in on her face.
It was Arianna.
A collective murmur rose among the audience.
Arianna smiled warmly at Brian, gracefully accepting the flower. She leaned down, pulling Brian into a tender hug. Brian, instead of shying away, wrapped his little arms around her neck with trust and affection.
The crowd buzzed with confusion and disbelief.
“Wait, what just happened? So it wasn’t Harmony who saved the boy after all? It was Arianna?”
“Is that even possible? How could it have been Arianna? Is it some kind of staged act, given her status as Mrs. King?”
"Arianna’s just being a sore loser, isn’t she? Did she stoop so low as to humiliate someone like Harmony just because she didn’t win the competition?”
As the whispers and speculations grew louder, a sudden image flashed on the big screen onstage, silencing the crowd.
Two documents appeared on the screen: a non-disclosure agreement and an employment contract from Starlight TV. The clauses of both were laid out clearly for everyone to see.
The venue remained in stunned silence for a full minute before hushed murmurs filled the room.
It became clear that Arianna was, in fact, the anchor who had faced down the madman and saved the child. Harmony had silently taken credit for Arianna’s heroics and used it to win the competition.
In exchange for keeping quiet, Starlight TV had offered Arianna a position. The scandal now laid bare shocked everyone, revealing how far the network had gone to prop up Harmony.
William’s face turned pale when the contracts were displayed on the screen, and even Harmony lost her composure, stumbling back slightly.
The murmurs in the audience grew louder still.
“Harmony always seemed so sweet and genuine. I can’t believe she stole credit like that! She stood there lying to everyone without a shred of guilt. That’s some nerve…”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Did I fail to see that Harmony is a two-faced woman? Looks can be so deceiving. I even sided with her when Brian said she wasn’t the one who saved him, but now I feel like I’ve been slapped in the face.”
“I’m heartbroken. I thought she was an angel, but she turned out to be an angel in devil’s clothing.”
“Arianna has to be the one who’s had it the worst in this whole mess, don’t you think? I figured she wouldn’t be pushed around because of her connection to Xander King and the power of the King family. But to be forced into signing a non-disclosure agreement and having her rightful moment stolen? If this hadn’t been exposed, she’d have been forced to bottle up her frustration.”
“This made me see Arianna in a different light. If she were using her influence to bully others, why would she end up being bullied herself? It shows that she’s here today because of her ability and perseverance. I think I’m officially her fan now.”
“Does Harmony feel any guilt for winning the competition? Isn’t it absurd for her to still hold onto that trophy? Stealing someone else’s glory instead of earning it on her merit… How long can she keep doing that? Eventually, her true colours will come to light!”
Harmony stood on stage, struggling to comprehend the murmurs and whispers from the audience, but she couldn’t miss the disdainful glances directed her way. The trophy she held felt unexpectedly heavy, making her grip falter.
Having always excelled in everything since childhood, she was unaccustomed to such public humiliation. Despite her typically strong mental fortitude, she felt the sting of tears threatening to form in her eyes.
The atmosphere in the venue was descending into chaos, and the general manager below wore a deeply troubled expression.
Elizabeth looked at Harmony with disappointment. Initially, she had high hopes for Harmony after watching the rescue video multiple times. While professional skills could be developed over time, character and integrity held far greater importance.
Harmony’s ability to remain calm and composed during a crisis impressed Elizabeth, leading her to believe that such qualities were invaluable and worth nurturing.
It became obvious that Harmony didn't possess those qualities after all.
Without a moment's pause, Elizabeth stood up and confronted the general manager, declaring,
“I’m done. I’m out of here.”
With that, she turned and walked away, not glancing back.
The general manager sighed in frustration, rubbing his temples before standing up and gripping the microphone tightly.
“Everyone, please calm down.”
Out of respect for the respected general manager, the crowd quieted, and a silence enveloped the room.
In a calm voice, he went on,
“I truly apologize that many of you are leaving feeling let down after coming in with such high expectations. We will look into what happened and reassess who should have won. You can count on us to give you a complete explanation. This wraps up the awards dinner for tonight. Thank you for your patience.”
With that, he passed the microphone to a nearby staff member and shot a sharp look at William and Harmony, his face showing clear disapproval. With a scoff, he turned away, leaving a heavy tension in the air.
