The comments calmed down when they saw I showed no reaction:
[There's no way a side character can see the comments. The person above must be crazy.]
[He's just a stepping stone for the main character. His whole family deserves to die!]
Rage churned in my chest.
I'd never hurt anyone in my life. So why should I have to pave the way for Bonnie James and Cliff Fox's love story?
Why should I be framed until my family's company goes bankrupt and my parents jump off a building?
The crowd helped Cliff to his feet, all clamoring to report me for stealing someone else's work.
Bonnie went straight for the kill, summoning the Organizing Committee: "I want to file a complaint! Someone swapped the artworks and stole another contestant's achievement!"
Cliff hung his head pitifully, the picture of wounded innocence.
The judges' expressions turned grave.
"The entire painting process was conducted under surveillance," one of them said. "It's impossible for anyone to have swapped the works."
Cliff's eyes reddened as he lifted his head, glaring at the long-haired female judge at the front. "Ms. Chavez, you're friends with Jack Gilbert's mother. Of course you'd side with him. But none of us even said who did this, and you're already rushing to cover for him. Don't you think that's a bit much?"
Bonnie piled on, her voice cold as ice: "Ms. Chavez, I donated five million dollars to this competition. Not so I could watch you play favorites and pull strings behind the scenes. My prize money needs to go to someone who actually deserves it."
The other contestants joined the chorus:
"So the judge is friends with Jack Gilbert's mother? No wonder he had a chance to swap the paintings!"
"What a dirty trick. And he calls himself old money? More like a parasite feeding off ordinary people!"
Cliff fixed Delilah Chavez with a stubborn stare. "I demand a review of all competition entries! And I demand that Ms. Chavez—who's clearly covering for him—step down immediately!"
Delilah didn't speak. I beat her to it.
"On what grounds are you demanding a review?" My voice cut through the noise. "On what grounds are you demanding Ms. Chavez step down?"
"Based on nothing but your baseless accusations? Do you have any idea how much extra work you'd be dumping on the staff?"
"You keep talking about being some poor kid who had it rough, but you sure don't hesitate to make life hell for people who actually work for a living."
"Yes, Ms. Chavez is my mother's friend. But she hasn't done a single thing to cover for me. If you want her gone, you'd better come up with some actual evidence."
I could tolerate Cliff slandering me—after all, it was nothing but speculation.
But dragging an innocent woman like Delilah into this? That was unforgivable.
Her husband, Marcus Chavez, had kidney failure. He survived on dialysis.
She'd refused my mother's offer to help pay for his treatment, insisting she'd handle the tens of thousands in monthly medical bills herself.
That was why she treasured every job, every side gig. She never complained. Never asked for pity.
I wasn't about to let Cliff destroy her.
The moment I defended her, Bonnie let out a mocking laugh. "Touched a nerve, did we?"
"What's wrong—afraid we'll find proof of your little artwork swap once we dig deeper?"
Cliff clenched his fists, his expression twisting as though he'd finally reached his breaking point.
"All I wanted was for you to give back the prize money so I could pay my tuition and stay in school. That's all. But you've pushed me too far. Now you have to pay."
He pulled out his phone and dialed the Art Integrity Review Unit.
"I'm filing a formal complaint. Jack Gilbert colluded with judge Delilah Chavez during the national competition to swap my artwork and steal first place in the preliminaries. I demand her immediate termination and the return of what's rightfully mine!"
The other students erupted in cheers, eager to watch my downfall.
The comments exploded:
[This is peak fiction! The MC is so badass!]
[Finally made the call! The higher-ups are sending investigators!]
[The side character's about to be ruined!]
