Everyone's eyes were glued to the girl lounging on stage, their hearts pounding with amazement.
Brianna tilted her head slightly, her gaze fixed on Flora, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her.
In this competition, the University of Maple Grove clinched the championship effortlessly.
The Imperial College of Technology, however, only landed third place after Flora's stunning performance in the third round.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtNot even second.
During the award ceremony, the faces from Imperial College were a gloomy sight. After collecting their awards, they slinked off the stage, clearly downcast.
And with that, the intercollegiate championship drew to a close, and the colleges dispersed in an orderly fashion. Raul, Henrik, and Cecelia made their way down from the stands.
"Ms. Flora! You were incredible!" Cecelia was practically ready to kneel in admiration after witnessing Flora's triumph.
"Our Flora is always the greatest," Henrik beamed, handing Flora a bouquet of flowers.
"Thanks, big bro!" Flora's face softened, her tough exterior melting away into a tender, sweet smile among her loved ones.
"Flora!" Kaylee and Louie rushed over, having just wrapped up their fashion design competition on the third floor. They couldn't wait to congratulate Flora. "Champion?" Flora's eyes landed on Kaylee, her tone questioning yet certain. Kaylee nodded excitedly, "Yes! Champion!" Everyone gathered around Flora, showering her with congratulations. A pang of envy hit Brianna. No one was there to celebrate her...
As she wallowed in her thoughts, she caught sight of Ray entering the venue out of the corner of her eye. Excitement sparkled in her eyes as she hurried over, thinking, "My brother still cares! He's here to celebrate with me!" But where were the flowers? Flora's brother had brought her flowers, so why hadn't Ray? Just as Brianna was about to grumble about the missing blooms, she noticed someone else behind Ray.
Recognizing him, her eyes widened, and she stammered, "C-Con...Connor?!" What was he doing here? "Wearing a mask in broad daylight? Really?" Ray shot her a fleeting glance before striding past. Connor didn't even acknowledge her.
And so, Brianna watched as they walked over to Flora. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw Flora leap into Connor's arms.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmConnor, who was always so distant and aloof, wrapped his arms around her waist.
Brianna felt like she was about to faint. Her legs went weak, and she almost collapsed.
"For my dearest princess," Connor whispered, planting a gentle kiss on Flora's cheek before presenting her with a large bouquet of daisies.
The words "my dearest princess" were laden with affection, sending tingles through Elora's ears. It was the first tConnor had called her that, and her cheeks turned a rosy hue. *Cough* Henrik cleared his throat awkwardly, while Raul looked away, silently lamenting, "The little cabbage has been nibbled by the pig."
Watching the couple's playful banter, Brianna felt dizzy. She took a few steps forward, leaningen. Broagon Ray-for support Bro, holdup a bit," she mumbled. She felt like she was dreaming... "Hi, I'm Jules, Flora's friend." Jules approached, extending a hand towards Connor. Only after hearing "Flora's friend" did Connor shake his hand politely.
Jules put on his glasses, giving Connor a thorough once-over.
"So, Flora's fiancé, huh?" He removed his glasses and tucked them back into his pocket. "How about we grab E a drink?" "Countin," Louie chimed in. X