Sarah’s POV
The applause thundered through the auditorium as my name was announced. My heart raced, not just from the exhilaration of winning but from the sheer disbelief that I had actually done it.
“Sarah Haver,” the lead judge said, smiling warmly as he handed me the certificate. “Congratulations. You’ve earned the internship at Steele Designs.”
I glanced at Xavier in the audience. His eyes were locked on mine, a mixture of pride and something deeper, something that made my breath catch.
Haylee squeezed my arm, her grin wide. “You did it, Sarah. You proved them all wrong.”
The victory felt surreal. As I left the stage, a wave of emotion threatened to overwhelm me. This wasn’t just a win, it was validation, a step toward carving out my own identity, separate from the whispers and ac
