Chapter 118: Who is the Winner?
The runway lights dimmed, leaving only a spotlight on the host center stage. All the designs had been shown, and the air was thick with tension. On the judges’ panel, the influential figures huddled, their pens scratching quickly across the scorecards. Every pause tightened the nerves of the competing designers.
Evelyn sat in the audience, hands clasped on her knees, her palms slick with sweat. Even though she rushed some final details, she was confident in her “Rebirth” collection; barring any unforeseen circumstances, she should place in the top three. But Sienna’s venomous earlier comment about “absolute power and money” made her anxious.
A few minutes later, the results were handed to the host. Lennon Carter cleared his throat, his voice echoing through the speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, after intense discussion and rigorous scoring by our esteemed judges, the winners of this year's Fashion Design Competition have been decided.”
The room held its breath.
“Taking the Third Place prize in this competition is…” Lennon Carter paused, sweeping his gaze across the audience. “From Omni Group, Ms. Sienna Marlowe!”
Clap— The applause was scattered, mostly polite and perfunctory. Although Sienna’s design was flashy, it lacked soul and looked obviously pieced together.
But Sienna didn't care. In that moment, she leaped from her seat, her face glowing with the euphoria of victory. She hiked up her skirt and strutted toward the podium. As she passed Evelyn, she stopped deliberately, using her fingers, painted with bright red nail polish, to smooth her temple, her eyes brimming with undisguised provocation and mockery.
Evelyn's breath hitched, her heart squeezed tight. Lost? Even with Ryan intervening, even after giving her absolute best, had she still lost to dirty tactics?
“Unfortunately,” the host’s voice continued, “Fourth Place goes to… Evelyn Green. Your scores were incredibly close, but competition can be cruel.”
Fourth place. This meant she didn't even qualify for the podium. Evelyn felt a roaring in her ears; all the surrounding noise became muffled. She sat frozen, feeling the blood in her veins turn to ice. All her hard work, all her determination, felt like a complete joke.
Sienna stood on the podium, accepting the crystal trophy. As she stepped off, she didn't return to her seat but walked straight toward Evelyn. She looked down at Evelyn's crestfallen expression, shaking the heavy trophy in her hand.
“Didn’t I tell you?” Sienna leaned down, close to Evelyn’s ear. “The winner would be me. You couldn't even make the top three. This is reality, Evelyn. Accept it. Looks like your so-called talent is only good enough to go home, do Damian’s chores, and be a useless housewife.”
Evelyn shot her head up, her eyes red, glaring at the woman’s smug, triumphant face. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, the pain helping her maintain the last shred of composure, keeping her from tearing Sienna’s face off right there.
Just as Sienna was about to turn away to relish her victory, and Evelyn prepared to leave…
Screeech— A sharp microphone feedback noise suddenly cut through all the commotion.
“Apologies, please hold for a moment.” A staff member rushed onto the stage, whispered something to the host, and handed him a new document. The host’s expression became instantly dramatic, a look of shock flashing as he glanced at the judges’ panel before nodding.
“Everyone, I deeply apologize,” the host’s voice returned. “There has been a serious error in the ranking calculation. After the judging panel re-verified the scores, and upon the removal of a number of ‘irregular’ points, the committee has decided to change the Third Place winner.”
The entire room erupted in chatter.
“The finalized Third Place winner is… Evelyn Green!”
What?! Sienna, who had taken only a few steps, froze instantly, the triumphant smile on her face shattering. She spun around, staring at the host in disbelief. A change? How could that bitch steal her spot?!
Before the audience could react, Ayla Vance, who had been sitting stone-faced on the judges’ panel, suddenly stood up. Dressed in a sharp black business suit, her aura was overwhelmingly powerful. She bypassed the podium mic, took the handheld mic from the host, and strode to the edge of the stage.
“A competition must be governed by absolute fairness.” Ayla was imperious. “As a judge, I must address something. Certain individuals, in their desperation to win, did not hesitate to resort to underhanded tactics backstage, even bribing a temporary judge in an attempt to manipulate the scores.”
At this announcement, the venue exploded. Reporters’ cameras frantically darted between Ayla and Sienna. Sienna’s composure instantly dissolved, her body trembling uncontrollably. That temporary judge was someone Damian had paid a huge price for—how could they have been discovered? And how dare Ayla Vance say this publicly?!
“Such despicable methods are an insult to design itself. Does that person deserve to stand on this stage?” Ayla sneered. “Fortunately, our main sponsor, Mr. Lawrence, insisted on auditing every score. The corrupt judge has already been escorted out. Otherwise, this competition would have been a disgrace to the fashion world. Some people need to reconsider their actions.”
Although she didn't use any names, all eyes were on Sienna. Who else could that “certain individual” be but Sienna, who had been gloating about her connections moments ago but was now ashen-faced?
“This… this can’t be…” Sienna stammered incoherently. She felt the eyes of the crowd, which moments ago were filled with envy, now shift to contempt and ridicule. The whispers seemed to call her “shameless” and “a cheat.”
“Ah—!” Sienna could no longer endure the pressure of this public execution. She screamed and, pursued by countless camera flashes, ran hysterically toward the exit in utter defeat.
Evelyn sat in her seat, watching Sienna’s retreat, and the heavy weight pressing on her chest finally lifted. She turned to look at Ayla on stage. Ayla put down the microphone, ignored the commotion, and walked straight down the steps to Evelyn.
“Don’t let trash like that ruin your moment.”