Chapter 103

Faced with Selina's deliberate humiliation, Manuel's lips quivered, as if sliced by a sharp knife. Finally, he managed to squeeze out, "How did you do it, Selina?"

"Because I'm better than you, loser," she replied curtly, leaving him speechless. In the past, Manuel would have retorted without hesitation. But now, confronted with this reality, all he could do was endure it. Losers, he knew, had no right to speak. At that moment, the organizer appeared, trophy in hand, presenting the champion's trophy to Selina, along with a $500,000 prize.

Manuel barely registered receiving his own trophy and flowers, or posing for photographs. Had anyone else won, he would have felt only respect, eager to learn. But now, all he felt was numbness. He stumbled from the venue.

Having achieved her goal, Selina held the trophy with pride, gracefully stepping out in her high heels. In the corridor, she spotted a familiar figure. Her lips curved into a smile as she approached. "Honey, this is for you."

Trevon raised an eyebrow playfully. "Babe, you're giving this away?"

"These trophies are nothing new to me," Selina said. "I've won so many, they barely excite me anymore. But snagging a major award for your Brilliance Corporation—and all this publicity—honey, you're going to owe me for a long, long time."

Selina was never one to give something for nothing; she was, in fact, quite greedy. Though her initial reason for entering the competition was to torment Manuel, she was determined to profit from Trevon. The greater the reward, the more motivated she became.

"Honey, I'll always remember how you braved the brambles and shattered all doubts to win this trophy. You looked stunning, a beauty so overwhelming that I want to hide you away, to have you all to myself..."

Trevon had always believed in Selina's abilities. Her effortless dismissal of naysayers and her ability to turn the tide had consistently dazzled him. Her dominating performance seemed only the tip of the iceberg.

How could such a woman not make Trevon's heart flutter and his gaze linger, making him want to spend his life admiring and cherishing her?

"Keep talking," Selina purred. "I love hearing compliments, especially from you; they seem so much more credible."

Genuine praise from Trevon was rare for Selina. She cared little for anyone else's opinion, and she certainly wasn't interested in masochism. Who didn't love being praised?

Trevon, ever the gentleman, linked arms with Selina, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "There's nothing I'd tire of saying to you, but right now, I'm more interested in showing you the surprise waiting outside. Ready?"

"Of course," Selina replied. "After helping you out so much, I'll take any gift you've got. It's what I call a fair exchange."

Outside the venue, Selina gasped. A sea of flowers stretched to the horizon, composed of Stargazer lilies and purple columbines, pink and purple hues intertwining. From the stairs, she saw her initials, S.J., spelled out in the blooms.

The sheer beauty wasn't the only thing that amazed Selina. She also recognized the symbolism: Stargazer lilies and purple columbines represented victory. No one who hadn't wholeheartedly believed in Selina's ability to surpass Clark Jewelry and their star designer, Derrick, would have conceived of this gift. Embedded within it was Trevon's profound trust in her.

In the vast sea of people, the intertwining of strangers' hearts through trust is the hardest thing to achieve. And Trevon had done it.

Trevon's deep voice echoed in Selina's ears, "999 Stargazer lilies and 999 purple columbines, arranged three days ago and flown in fresh from Frehar this morning. Honey, do you like it?" Selina playfully pinched his cheek. "You've outdone yourself, honey."

"It's a shame," Trevon said, "this beautiful scene will have to be packed up soon."

"I've rented this place for a month," he continued. "Every day, fresh flowers will be flown in. 999 Stargazer lilies and 999 purple columbines, arranged just like this. Come and see them whenever you wish."

Accustomed to Trevon's extravagance and the influence of Insight Group, Selina raised an eyebrow. "Don't you think this is a bit too showy?"

"Just wait," Trevon chuckled. "I've got something even more spectacular to give you. Being Trevon's wife is not for the faint-hearted."

"Marrying a billionaire does straighten the spine, doesn't it?" she joked, and the couple left, their cheerful departure invoking envy from onlookers.

Manuel, weighed down by worry for Ashley and Sara, steadied his emotions and put on a brave face despite his defeat.

Timothy, meanwhile, dealt with the media frenzy and significant losses resulting from the failed partnership with Angel. He had already slipped out the back, heading back to Clark Jewelry ahead of the others.

"Don't be discouraged, Manuel," Ashley said. "Your score was excellent, and I believe you'll win next time! I'll always be your biggest fan!"

Manuel managed a bittersweet smile. "Thank you, Ashley. Next time, I will try to win."

For Manuel, winning no longer mattered; he had been soundly defeated. Acknowledging his defeat to Selina was a bitter pill to swallow.

Sara remained silent, knowing no words could alleviate Manuel's pain. The Harvey family had never held much hope for Selina, believing her lack of formal education and rural upbringing precluded success. Yet, she had designed "Shackled Hearts"... What had they missed?

"Selina is so talented," Ashley murmured. "Why didn't we know about her talents before? It's like she's become a completely different person since leaving the Harvey family... Could it be...?"

Hearing Ashley's remark, Sara slowed her pace. "Did Trevon hire a famous designer to help Selina?"