Chapter 763:
Just then, the host’s voice boomed from the stage. “Next, we bring you the Four Seasons collection by Melany of Sweetberry. Four designs — two for men and two for women — each inspired by Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.”
Paola, who had only just calmed down while waiting for her award, felt her stomach drop into ice as she heard what the host said.
A seasonal series? Her head jerked up slowly, her mind going blank.
“Why are you wearing the same thing as me?” Ainsley asked, genuinely baffled. Though the trench coats looked similar at first glance, a closer look at the distinctive material on Fiona’s coat revealed that it was far superior to her own.
She had believed she stripped Fiona of every chance, but now she realized that she had walked straight into a trap.
Backstage, Fiona’s cold stare cut into her. She brushed past, the hem of her coat grazing Ainsley’s arm, before striding with purpose toward the stage.
Kyla trailed after her, flashing Ainsley a sly grin. “Shocked? We always had a backup ready.”
The stage quickly filled with a bright, lively tune as Fiona walked to the center. Her face was bare of makeup, her wrist wrapped in fresh bandages. Paired with the trench coat’s vivid green, she gave off the air of renewal itself, leaving the audience stunned.
“How can this look be the same as Elegance’s?”
“And that fabric — it’s unique. I’ve never seen anything like it. It feels as if they’ve invented a new color!”
Gasps rolled through the hall, but they quieted again as Zander, Kyla, and another male model stepped out one after another, unveiling Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The sight stirred the crowd into an even louder wave of awe.
“This isn’t even close to what came before!” a seasoned critic said, excitement in his tone. “Sweetberry’s Four Seasons eclipses Elegance’s Spring in every way — the fabric’s depth, its shine, its drape, the precision of its tailoring, even the balance of its design!”
Another expert leaned forward, brows furrowed. “Elegance’s work looks like a half-finished imitation. Look at this fabric. The richness of that shade — astonishing. The only time I’ve seen something like this was in a museum, and it was the legacy of a master.”
Beside them, someone exclaimed, “What luxury!”
“And Fiona!” another voice added. “I never imagined she could embody such a striking image — fragile yet resilient. The bandage on her wrist ties perfectly with the theme of rebirth. It carries far more weight than Ainsley’s shallow charm.”
On the judges’ panel, Raymond exchanged glances with his peers. Their eyes spoke the truth — they already knew the result.
As the lights brightened, it was time for evaluation. Paola sat stiffly, every gaze cutting into her, her composure crumbling fast.
Raymond lifted the microphone. Instead of turning to Sweetberry, his focus fixed on Paola and Laurel. His words rang cold and clear across the hall. “Miss Garrett, you declared with confidence that your Spring collection came from your own vision and skill. Then explain to us, before everyone here, why Sweetberry’s Spring mirrors your design at its core, yet surpasses yours in fabric, detail, and execution.”
Celia was blindsided by Paola’s reckless stumble into another scandal. The excitement that had lit her features moments ago drained away, leaving her complexion pale and ashen. The partnership between the Buckleys and the Elegance brand had already been announced in the press. The last thing she needed was for Elegance to falter now — especially over something as ruinous as a plagiarism charge.
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