Chapter 303
Willa’s face froze in alarm. Those additions weren’t in Noelle’s original sketch. Willa had taken it upon herself to insert them, believing they matched the event’s “stars” motif. She never imagined they’d sabotage the entire concept…
A heavy sigh escaped the judge. “This piece is extraordinary, yet marred by a single misstep. Those details turn brilliance into a blemish. What should have been a perfect score settles at 9.7.”
The announcement stunned Maxton. His body went rigid. Willa hadn’t outscored Eric. She fell short—he had received a 9.9. What was supposed to be a chance to restore the Moss family’s reputation had turned into a complete failure. Unbelievable. How did it unravel like this?
The crowd, once buzzing with hope, now simmered with letdown.
“This is devastating! I believed she would dominate. Why add those ridiculous decorations? Such a misfire!”
“That’s it. Even Willa couldn’t surpass Eric. We’ve officially lost to the international competitors. There’s no hope left.”
“Look at Eric, grinning like he owns the world!”
Leaning back with satisfaction, Eric’s smirk oozed disdain. “Your whole squad is pathetic. I wiped the floor with every one of you. Nothing more to say.”
Monroe’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Don’t celebrate just yet. One contestant’s entry hasn’t been unveiled.”
Eric, already guessing the identity, lazily glanced at Noelle with a smirk. “Oh please. She abandoned her sketch in under half an hour. Doubt she finished anything—probably left the page half-empty.”
Hearing this, the other designers on the foreign team burst into laughter. The crowd turned crimson with humiliation. Hope drained from their eyes.
ѕ𝗍о𝗿𝗶𝖾𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝗐о𝘯’𝘁 𝗉𝘂𝗍 𝗱𝗈w𝗻 oո 𝗴𝖺𝘭𝘯𝗼𝘷𝗲l𝘀.c𝗼𝘮
“Noelle? She stopped midway. What could she possibly have put together? Compete with Eric? Don’t make me laugh.”
“Don’t even show her draft. It’ll only further disgrace our side.”
“Exactly. We’re already a joke to Eric. Giving him more fuel is the last thing we need.”
“This is pathetic. What possessed that airhead to walk on stage? She’s just asking to be humiliated.”
“I can’t take this. How did our nation’s best end up like this? If only Rhoda had participated.”
Just then, Ansell advanced with glacial calm, sapphire gaze slicing through the crowd as if staring down a herd of fools. “This is a contest. Every submission deserves the spotlight. That’s what impartial judgment looks like, wouldn’t you agree?”
As one of the founders of Girood and deputy leader of the Fashion Innovators Alliance, his authority silenced the room. This fashion event, after all, fell under their jurisdiction. Following his declaration, no one dared challenge him.
Still, disdain lingered in the air. Eyes rolled and lips curled as everyone shifted their attention to Noelle on the stage.
After hearing those cruel remarks aimed at Noelle, Farrell’s fists clenched as he braced himself to step in, but Ansell beat him to it, cutting the conversation short. Finding the conflict suddenly resolved, Farrell had no outlet for his frustration. In the next moment, he pulled out his phone, switched on the camera, and started filming Noelle’s design draft, determined to let Ethan see it for himself later.
.
.