Chapter 10

With a round of applause, Mr. Harrington stood up, a confident smile playing on his lips. He approached the stage and delivered his speech with poise. Meanwhile, Seraphina’s father, Mr. Sterling, quietly excused himself from the event. The media, ever eager for a story, swarmed around him.

“Mr. Sterling, you’ve won this award fifteen times, but not today. Is it true that your company’s quality has declined?” a journalist asked, their microphones thrust forward. Mr. Sterling, maintaining his composure, chose not to respond and continued walking.

Back at the hotel, Mr. Sterling entered his room, his face a mask of controlled anger. He clenched his fists, taking a deep breath to steady himself. The thoughts of Mr. Harrington’s unexpected victory swirled in his mind.

“Is this some kind of vendetta?” he muttered to himself. “If Harrington is behind the issues plaguing my company, he will regret it. I will ensure that.”

Determined not to wait until morning, he packed his belongings and h