At the backstage, Betty stood in front of the screen, her hands clasped together in excitement as she watched Sierra dominate the stage. A bright smile spread across her face as she swayed to the music, feeling so proud of her best friend."That's my girl!" she cheered softly, her eyes shimmering with admiration. "She’s killing it!"Beside her, Isla crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly as she watched Sierra’s performance unfold on the TV screen. A hint of a smirk tugged at her lips, impressed by how effortlessly Sierra controlled the stage.Betty turned to Isla with a grin. "Of course! Sierra was made for this. Just look at how the crowd is vibing with her!"On the screen, Sierra moved across the stage with confidence, her voice powerful, her expression radiant. The way she connected with the audience was undeniable, and the energy in the room was off the charts.Betty felt an overwhelming sense of pride. She knew how much Sierra had worked for this moment, and seeing her shine

A stunned silence filled the venue for a moment before the room erupted into whispers and gasps."Wow!" someone murmured."Two hundred grand? That’s huge!""The Valencias don’t play small," another person commented in admiration.The claps and nods of approval spread across the VIP section, and even Isla seemed momentarily taken aback before quickly regaining composure and smiling. "Thank you, Ms. Valencia, for your generous donation.”Isla smiled and gestured toward Celestine before speaking into the microphone. "And let’s not forget, Ms. Valencia has already contributed generously to sponsor this very program. She has done a lot for this event, which is why she’ll be giving a short speech tonight."A round of applause filled the room once more, with murmurs of approval rippling through the audience."Wow, she really went all out for this," someone whispered."No wonder she’s one of the top young business figures," another person commented.Celestine remained composed, offering a sli

Sophia scoffed, rolling her eyes dramatically. “Damages I caused?” She let out a sarcastic chuckle. “Oh please, Elijah. That whole situation was Sierra’s fault, not mine. But of course, you’d defend her.”She folded her arms, looking him up and down before smirking. “Isn’t she your girlfriend? You’re looking good now, all dressed up. I’m sure it’s because of her, right? She just made a hundred thousand dollars tonight, so of course, she’ll give you some.” Her voice turned mocking. “Her good-for-nothing boyfriend. So, this isn’t even a big deal for you. Quickly refund me, Elijah.”Elijah’s jaw clenched at her words, his patience on the verge of snapping.Elijah’s expression darkened, his patience completely gone. He took a threatening step closer to Sophia, his voice low but firm. “Listen to me carefully, Sophia. I don’t owe you a damn thing. And if you ever try to pull this nonsense again, you’ll regret it.” His eyes burned with warning. “Stay out of my way.”Sophia scoffed, about to

Celestine's eyes widened in shock, her brow furrowing as if she hadn't heard correctly. "What did you say?"Elijah slipped the money into his pocket, stepping a little closer. "I said, what if I want you?"Celestine's expression hardened. "Do you realize who you're speaking to? Or are you taking advantage of my kindness?"Elijah's gaze held hers steadily. "I know exactly who I'm speaking to—a powerful, captivating woman. And perhaps it's your kindness that's taking advantage of me." "What are you talking about?" Celestine asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.Just then, Elijah grabbed her with one hand, pulling her close. Their bodies pressed together, and he could feel the softness of her form against him."You… you—what are you trying to do?" Celestine stammered, her breath hitching. "I'll call security if you misbehave," she warned, though there was an unsteadiness in her voice.”Elijah smiled lightly, lowering his head slightly as he inhaled her scent. "You smell good," he murm

As Sierra and Betty strolled through the venue, reconnecting after mingling separately, Sierra clutched her bag when Chris approached them."Hi, Sierra," Chris greeted warmly, surprising her with a light hug.Feeling a bit uneasy, Sierra managed a smile. "Hello, Chris.""I have to say, you look stunning tonight," Chris complimented, his eyes reflecting genuine admiration. "And your performance was incredible.""Thank you," Sierra replied, appreciating his kind words."Also, thanks for the invitation," Chris continued. "I'll make sure to reimburse you for the ticket."Sierra shook her head gently. "There's no need for that, Chris. I'm just glad you could make it."Turning his attention to Betty, Chris inquired, "And this is?"Sierra introduced them, "Chris, this is my best friend and sister, Betty."Chris extended his hand toward Betty. "Hello, Betty. I'm Chris."Betty accepted his handshake with a warm smile. "Nice to meet you, Chris.""So, did you bring a car or anything?" Chris aske