Ruby, cool and detached, said scornfully, “I offered you advice, which you ignored. You really can’t measure up to Katelyn.”

“How can you say that?” Lise snapped, her temper flaring.

Just as she was about to respond, the host announced, “Please welcome the next entry, the creation of designer Iris.”

Instantly, all eyes shifted to the stage. Iris was a celebrated designer, and her entry was eagerly awaited. As her piece was unveiled, the crowd gasped in amazement. How could this be possible?

The contents of the box were utterly destroyed, nothing like a finished product. How could something like this even be considered for the competition?

Confused, everyone exchanged glances, their eyes immediately turning to Katelyn.

Katelyn stayed seated, her face hard and unyielding. When she stood up, her voice cut through the room as she glared at the organizer and said, “My work has been ruined. I expect a full investigation into this!” The room burst into a flurry of whispers and gasps. Ashlyn stood frozen, her eyes locked on the item on stage. She couldn’t understand how it had ended up this way…

A sharp breath escaped her, and a cold shiver ran down her spine, as if someone unseen was pulling the strings. What kind of organization was behind Sophia? Ashlyn clenched her fists, struggling to keep her composure. She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself.

Zandra stood on stage, frozen for a moment, her face showing clear shock. She hadn’t seen this coming.

How could a piece for the competition be so badly damaged, especially with such tight security in place?

Suddenly, a voice crackled through her earpiece.

Explore new chapters galηovels.c○m

“Launch a public investigation.”

That was the official directive. No matter who was to blame, the responsibility fell on them. Since it happened at their event, they couldn’t ignore it. If they didn’t act, their reputation would be severely damaged— a result no one wanted to face.

Zandra quickly grasped the situation and, without hesitation, took the microphone and announced, “On behalf of the organizers, I sincerely apologize for what happened today. A full investigation will be carried out to uncover the truth.” She paused, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.

“We owe everyone an explanation.”

The crowd murmured, their voices rising with speculation.

“Who do you think is behind this? The method was so deliberate. Even if the investigation clears things up, Katelyn will be out of the competition for sure.”

A woman shook her head, letting out a deep sigh.

“What a shame. I honestly thought Iris had this in the bag. Looks like there are more people pulling strings than we thought.”

Scheming behind closed doors was nothing new, but openly sabotaging a competition under the watchful eyes of officials was unheard of.

Lise had always thought Katelyn would take first place in the jewelry design competition. She hated to admit it, but Katelyn’s skills were unmatched.

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