“Thank you for the compliment. She’s all right,” Mercede replied calmly and did not seem to think much
about it.
However, one could not help but notice her flipping her hair delightedly.
“Since the judges accepted bribes, how is it wrong for me to criticize them?” Annette laughed in
exasperation.
Natalie clenched her fists. “Do you have evidence that they accepted bribes?”
“What you said just now is the evidence.” Annette pushed the ball back to Natalie’s court.
The reporter from before asked, “Ms. Smith, can you explain what you said just now? How did you
know that you would advance to the finals even before the host announced the result?”
“That’s not a problem.” Natalie glanced at Annette indifferently. “I said that we would make it to the
finals because when our model presented our work, I noticed the judges’ expressions. When they saw
Lina and my design, they all nodded with approval. So I predicted that we would get to the final round.”
“That’s right. If you don’t believe her, you can check the security footage and ask the judges,” Lina said.
A reported went to ask the judges.
One of the judges stood up and said, “Ms. Smith is right. When we saw their model coming onto the
runway, we expressed approval and appreciation. We will not deny that. Now, Ms. Jenning, do you
have anything else to say?”
The top designers all looked at Annette disdainfully.
Annette was embarrassed and furious. “You are all conspiring with each other. Don’t you know that
Natalie has a powerful husband? Even if she can’t afford to bribe these top designers, her husband can
bribe them for her.”
Natalie was livid. Not only did Annette make baseless accusations against the top designers, but she
had even dragged Shane into this.
She chuckled and said, “You are welcome to investigate my husband’s financial record.”
“You can investigate us too,” the top designers said in unison.
Natalie gave them a grateful smile before saying to Annette with a stern expression, “Did you hear
that? We welcome you to investigate us if you dare. I shall stop being a designer if you find something
shady against me. Likewise, you will quit this industry if you find nothing. What do you think? Do you
dare to investigate?”
Lina stepped out and announced, “Count me in.”
Annette did not expect Natalie to up the stakes so high. She opened her mouth but was too flustered to
say anything.
Everyone sneered, knowing that she did not dare to investigate based on her expression.
The audience finally understood what was going on. They knew that Annette was unhappy that she lost
and had deliberately stirred up trouble to drag Natalie and the others down. In actuality, there was
nothing shady concerning the judges.
People began scolding Annette on the internet. They criticized her for being a sore loser who resorted
to defaming others and damaging their reputation out of spite. They also said that she was a talentless
and vicious woman.
In short, her name became hated everywhere.
Even though Annette could not see the comments on the internet, she could see the hatred from the
live audience’s expressions.
At the moment, she desperately wished for the ground to swallow her whole.
“Looks like Ms. Jenning does not dare to investigate,” Natalie said calmly.
Annette bit her lower lip and glared at Natalie hatefully. “Fine, I admit that you win. Can I leave now?”
She could not stand being on the stage anymore as the numerous pairs of eyes glaring at her made
her feel uncomfortable.
Natalie gave a smile that did not reach her eyes. “Who said you can leave?”
Annette paused in her tracks and glared at Natalie viciously. “What do you want?”
“You slandered the top designers and me. Although we have proved ourselves to be innocent, you
have not.” Natalie crossed her arms.
Annette sneered, “How am I not innocent? All I did was suspect that something was shady based on
what you said. Since I’ve made a wrong guess, that doesn’t mean I’m guilty. One could only say that I
was too rash.”
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