BIRTHDAY GALA 3

Frank was taken aback by his daughter's mulish attitude. Never has Harlow been this arrogant in her life. Harlow pushed the cane aside and slapped her father also. The sound echoed around the room.

Frank's hand trembled on his cane, his face pale with shock and outrage. Never in his life had anyone dared to challenge him this way, least of all his own daughter. The slap echoed in his ears, and for a moment, he seemed frozen in time, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

The room was imbued in a tense, suffocating silence, broken only by the hushed whispers of the stunned crowd. All eyes were on Harlow, who stood tall and fearless, the flames of her fury lighting up her crimson hair like a crown of fire.

Harlow's voice, sharp and dangerous, sliced through the silence. "Insolent? Do you really want to see what insolence looks like, Father?" She took a step towards Frank and didn't stop till she was standing before him. She was his daughter anyway.