Chapter 82 Controversy
Hearing this voice, Yasmin's heart suddenly started racing.
Feeling guilty, she didn't dare stay near Amelia and Grant any longer. Instead, she quickly returned to Steven and Bobby's side.
But a strong sense of unease kept gnawing at her.
"Yasmin, what's wrong? You look terrible. Are you feeling unwell?"
Seeing Yasmin's pale face, Steven couldn't help but ask.
Bobby also looked at her with concern.
Yasmin forced a stiff smile and said, "I'm fine."
As soon as the words left her mouth, the unease in her heart grew even stronger.
After hesitating for a moment, Yasmin gritted her teeth and said to Bobby, "Mr. Sullivan, you're so busy. If you have other things to attend to, please go ahead. We'll let you know the results when they're announced."
Bobby frowned.
Steven also looked confused.
"Yasmin, what are you talking about? Aren't the results being announced right now? Since Dad is staying here, he's waiting to see the results himself."
Bobby nodded and said to Yasmin with a rare gentle expression, "You don't need to be so nervous. Even if you don't win first place, it's not a big deal."
Yasmin had already become Geraldo's student, so her future was bright.
Even if she didn't win, he had already changed his opinion of her.
He was no longer as resistant to Yasmin as before and was willing to give her a chance to prove herself.
Hearing this, Yasmin's smile looked worse than crying.
She had run out of options. She couldn't get Bobby to leave, and she certainly couldn't make Grant go away.
All she could do was silently pray to God that Grant wouldn't notice.
Or that Grant would suddenly have to leave for some reason.
That way, her secret wouldn't be exposed.
While Yasmin's mind was racing, only two minutes had passed in reality.
Two minutes later, the crowd stirred.
The champion's name appeared on the main exhibition hall screen.
"Quick! Go look!"
"The champion's name is showing!"
People rushed toward the screen.
Because there were so many people, the champion's name was blocked by their silhouettes.
Steven simply pulled Yasmin into the crowd.
Bobby, maintaining his dignity, didn't push through the crowd, but he closely watched Steven's expression.
From Steven's face, he could tell whether Yasmin had won.
At the same time, Amelia and Grant also squeezed into the crowd.
When Amelia appeared, the crowd automatically parted, making way for her.
The next second, the screen displayed:
"Champion, Yasmin."
Amelia's brow furrowed slightly.
What was going on?
Grant wasn't the champion?
Had she really misjudged?
Otherwise, if Yasmin really was the plagiarist, how could she have beaten Grant to become champion?
Grant also saw the results, his face apologetic.
"I'm sorry, Amelia. I disappointed you."
Amelia snapped out of her surprise, gently shook her head at Grant, and smiled reassuringly. "It's okay, Grant. It's just a championship. If you didn't win, you didn't win. It's no big deal."
Though she said this, Grant still felt terrible.
He sighed and said, "I guess our earlier suspicions were wrong after all."
Amelia nodded, doubting her instincts for the first time.
Meanwhile, Yasmin and Steven also saw the results.
Steven's face lit up as he tightly gripped Yasmin's hand.
"Yasmin, see? I told you not to be nervous! You're the champion now, congratulations!"
Seeing Steven's expression from afar, Bobby already had a good guess.
He stepped forward and indeed saw Yasmin's name displayed on the screen.
It seemed Steven's judgment wasn't too bad after all.
"Congratulations." Bobby also offered his congratulations.
Though Yasmin was happy, she was still worried.
She was afraid that once her work was displayed, Grant would report her.
Thinking of this, she said, "Thank you, Mr. Sullivan, Steven. I have something to take care of, excuse me for a moment."
Bobby nodded, and she locked her gaze on Amelia and Grant, took a deep breath, and walked toward them.
She deliberately put on a composed smile and used the gentlest voice to hurt them, hoping to anger them into leaving.
"Thank you so much, Amelia and Grant, for waiting here specifically to congratulate me on winning."
Grant glared at Yasmin and was about to speak when Amelia stopped him.
"Well, congratulations on getting what you wanted. Grant, let's go."
Grant nodded.
Just as they were about to leave, a tall figure appeared with a group of bodyguards.
It was none other than Samuel.
Everyone's attention immediately focused on him.
Behind Samuel were not only bodyguards but also Geraldo, Brandon, and the other judges.
"Everyone,"
Samuel spoke slowly, "Regarding the competition results, the judges had differing opinions about the final champion. So, after discussion, we unanimously decided that this time, besides Yasmin, there will be another champion."
As soon as he said this, the crowd erupted in discussion.
"What? Another champion?"
"Who is it? Was it really that controversial?"
Amelia instinctively glanced at Grant, then turned to look at Samuel.
Samuel happened to look in their direction.
His lips curved into a barely noticeable smile as he announced clearly, "The other champion is Grant."
At these words, Yasmin's eyes suddenly widened.
Grant?
Why?
He entered the competition too?
When did this happen?
How did she not know anything about it?
And hadn't Grant only treated painting as a hobby and never participated in any competitions? Why did he enter this time?
The unease in her heart surged again, making her feel like she might collapse.
Amelia, surprised, smiled and congratulated Grant.
"Grant, you're also a champion, congratulations!"
Grant hadn't processed it yet, but hearing this brought him back to his senses.
He grinned widely and said happily, "That's great, Amelia! I didn't disappoint you."
Amelia's lips twitched, realizing that Grant cared more about whether he disappointed her than whether he could win.
Samuel spoke again, "Now, we will display the works of both champion contestants."
Amelia raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at Yasmin.
Sure enough, she saw Yasmin's face turn instantly pale.
It seemed her instincts were pretty accurate after all.
At that moment, the large screen displayed both Grant's and Yasmin's works.
One painted winter Cherry Plum, the other painted summer lotus flowers.
Though they depicted different plants, the styles were extremely similar.
If not told otherwise, people might even mistake them for works by the same person.
The crowd erupted in noise again.
"No wonder they're both champions—both paintings are excellent. No wonder the judges had such a hard time choosing!"
"I thought oil painting was gradually declining, but young people paint so well too. Phoenicia's oil painting tradition will continue!"
But some sharp-eyed people raised questions at this moment.
"Doesn't anyone think these two paintings have almost identical styles?"