Driven to bankruptcy, their parents jumping off a building?
The crowd helped Juliana to her feet, voices rising in agreement—they were going to report me for switching artworks.
Clint wasted no time. He'd already summoned someone from the Organizing Committee.
"I'm filing a formal complaint. Someone switched paintings and stole another contestant's work!"
Juliana hung her head, the picture of wounded innocence—as if she'd suffered some unimaginable injustice.
The judges' expressions turned grave.
"The entire painting process was conducted under surveillance," one of them said. "It would be impossible for anyone to switch works."
Juliana's head snapped up, eyes reddening as she fixed her gaze on the long-haired woman at the front of the panel. Her voice trembled with righteous fury.
"Professor Chavez, you're best friends with Wallis's mother. Of course you'd take her side. But none of us even said who did this, and you're already rushing to cover for her. Don't you think that's a bit much?"
Clint's tone went cold, pressure radiating off every word. "Professor Chavez, I donated five million dollars to this competition. Not so I could watch you people play favorites and pull strings behind the scenes. My prize money goes to someone who actually deserves it."
The other contestants began to murmur.
"So one of the judges is best friends with Wallis's mom? No wonder she had the chance to switch paintings!"
"Disgusting tactics. And she calls herself a socialite? More like a parasite feeding off ordinary people!"
Juliana lifted her chin, defiant. "I demand a review of all competition entries. And I demand that Professor Chavez—who's clearly involved in a cover-up—step down immediately!"
Professor Chavez hadn't spoken. But I did.
"On what grounds are you demanding a review?" My voice cut through the noise. "And on what grounds are you demanding Professor Chavez step down?"
"Based on nothing but your baseless speculation, do you have any idea how much extra work you're dumping on the staff?"
"You keep going on about being some poor kid from a struggling family, but you don't seem to have any problem making life hell for people who actually work for a living."
"Yes, Professor Chavez is my mother's friend. But she hasn't covered for me in any way. If you want her removed, you'd better come with evidence."
Juliana could slander me all she wanted—it was nothing but empty accusations.
But dragging an innocent woman into this? That was unforgivable.
Professor Chavez's husband had kidney failure. He survived on dialysis.
She'd refused my mother's offer to help pay for it, insisting she'd cover the thousands in monthly treatment costs herself.
That was why she treasured every job, every side gig. Never complained. Never asked for pity.
I wasn't about to let Juliana's little performance destroy her.
The moment I defended Professor Chavez, Clint let out a laugh. "Touched a nerve, did we?"
"What's wrong—afraid we'll dig up proof of your dirty little swap once we start looking?"
Juliana's hands balled into fists, her expression shifting to one of barely contained anguish.
"All I wanted was for you to return my prize money so I could pay tuition and stay in school. But you've pushed me too far. Now you have to face the consequences!"
She pulled out her phone and dialed the Art Integrity Review Team.
"I'm filing a formal complaint under my real name. During the national competition, Wallis Gilbert colluded with Judge Julie Chavez to switch my artwork and steal first place in the preliminaries. I demand Professor Chavez's immediate termination and the return of what's rightfully mine!"
The other students erupted in cheers, all of them waiting to watch me crash and burn.
The comments section exploded:
【This is amazing! The heroine is so badass!】
【Finally made the call! They're sending investigators!】
【The villainess is about to be destroyed!】
Clint regarded me with ice in his eyes.
"Before the higher-ups send someone down, I'll give you one last chance to come clean."
Juliana adopted a tone of false concern. "Once this blows up, you'll lose a lot more than some little preliminary title."
The comments showered her with praise:
【The heroine is such an angel—still giving the villainess a chance even now.】
