Lise’s frustration grew, her teeth grinding together, while Ruby shot Katelyn a look full of resentment and defiance.

Someone who hated Ruby for her earlier behavior mocked, “Didn’t someone claim Katelyn sabotaged her own work to avoid the competition? With that kind of talent, why would she need to avoid anything?”

A few other women quickly defended Katelyn. One of them spoke up, saying, “That’s right. And they still haven’t figured out who messed up her work. If it turns out to be a certain individual, they’ll have a lot to be embarrassed about.”

“No surprise, though. Some people have no shame.”

The words hit Ruby like a slap, exposing her utter lack of respect. Ruby’s fingers curled into tight fists, and she muttered through gritted teeth, “Damn her!”

It was all Katelyn’s fault! Her work was ruined, yet she still had another piece to present, and it was showcased under the Adams Group’s name.

Lise felt a wave of relief wash over her for not supporting Ruby. If she had, she would have been facing the same backlash. She shot Ruby a cold, scornful look, thinking to herself that Ruby must have lost her mind.

Aimee’s gaze shifted to the piece on stage, her excitement evident. Katelyn had told her earlier about the other piece, and now it had made an entrance that was nothing short of breathtaking.

While others might be unaware, Aimee knew the truth—Katelyn had crafted this in just one day and two nights, far outshining creations that took months to complete. There was simply no comparison.

Aimee gave Katelyn a subtle thumbs-up, her voice low as she whispered, “You’re amazing, my dear.” She had always known Katelyn had a gift for design, but she never expected it to be this extraordinary.

Katelyn smiled gently, her voice barely a whisper as she said, “Thank you.”

Even Vincent, normally so composed, seemed to have a spark of a smile in his eyes.

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Then, Zandra’s voice cut through the moment.

“The score of Iris’ work…”

“Ten points!” Zandra exclaimed.

The room erupted into applause immediately. Katelyn became the center of everyone’s attention, their eyes filled with admiration. That score was the highest anyone had received so far, regardless of what the netizens had voted. That score alone put her far ahead of everyone else in the room.

Ashlyn looked at Katelyn and said earnestly, “Miss Bailey, congratulations. You’re the first to score a perfect ten.”

Katelyn let out a gentle laugh and said, “Thank you!”

She hadn’t expected such a high score. She thought she’d get a 9.7 or maybe a 9.8, but a perfect ten? That was beyond her expectations. Her original goal had been to help Vincent through the challenge, yet here she was, achieving something incredible for herself instead. The reward took her by complete surprise.

Vincent’s eyes sparkled with joy as he looked at Katelyn, clapping along with everyone else. At that moment, he felt a deeper understanding than anyone else—Katelyn had truly earned every bit of this. The hard work she put in wasn’t something just anyone could do, but she had pulled it off.

Meanwhile, the livestream comments were exploding with excitement.

“Oh my gosh, this is like the ultimate underdog story, from start to finish!”

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