Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 73

The judges from Banyan City were a mixed bag, their expressions varying as the drama unfolded on stage.

Everyone knew that, aside from the hosting committee from the Imperial Gem Corporation, there were always important judges from international jewelry associations involved in this sort of provincial jewelry competition.

How on earth did Monica manage to rope in an endorsement from this prestigious international committee?

Some of the local judges, known for their ability to read the room, shifted allegiances, raising their objection alongside the foreign judge.

The rules were clear: expelling Monica required a unanimous vote. Any dissent meant she would remain in the running and advance to the next round,

Simon, too, witnessed the live broadcast, his handsome face stiffening with shock. Monica’s miraculous turnaround was the last thing he expected.

Her plagiarism seemed a foregone conclusion, her dismissal a certainty. Suddenly, an unexpected appearance from the normally absent international association threw their support behind Monica.

Even Whitney was blindsided. While she had anticipated some trickery from Yvonne, orchestrating influences with an international judge and presenting such an exquisite design surpassed Yvonne’s usual tactics.

What had happened behind the scenes?

Whitney’s gaze narrowed, her aura chilling.

Just then, the office door flew open, and in strutted Monica, triumph written all over her face. Catching sight of Whitney and Simon together, a sneer flickered across her features. “Bet you didn’t see that coming, Whitney,” she taunted. “I’ve turned the tables just like that!”

“Simon, I bet you’re even more surprised,” she continued, stepping up to Simon with a mocking smile, her voice dripping with smugness. “You wanted to kick me out, bring Whitney back with all this fanfare? Dream on. The Valentine family hasn’t crumbled; neither my mother nor I have. Instead, we’ve turned misfortune into a blessing. Do you have any idea…”

“Monica,” Yvonne interjected, briskly entering the room and cutting off her daughter’s careless rant.

She glanced at Whitney, a smirk barely concealed, then turned to Simon with a direct proposition. “Simon, Monica has effortlessly made a comeback. A wise man knows when to make the right decision. Return the General Manager position to Monica, send Whitney packing, and I’ll overlook your past indiscretions. Otherwise, Monica will always be out of your league.”

Whitney listened intently; her eyes narrowed.

h

Simon’s face turned ashen. Even if Monica had somehow turned the situation around, her reputation was tarnished, and it would not be easy to clear her name.

dismissed her coldly, “Monica, why don’t you head home and rest? You’ve turned Skye Gem Ltd. into a disaster.

to fool around with her. You’ll regret this!” Monica hadn’t expected Simon to resist her and stormed

called for security to

returned, Whitney was already

Tiana, appearing concerned, was scrolling through the trending topics on social

for possibly memorizing her sketch and buying a

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Chapter 73

beyond her means! How did she get her hands on such a high–end work? Not only has that little cheat risen from the ashes, but there’s something very odd about the whole thing. They acted so quickly–who’s got

know, Yvonne used to sleep with a few wealthy businessmen to get some investment funds. We need to dig into who’s backing her.” Whitney said, her memory drifting to Yvonne’s arrogant tone upstairs. “Check

happened to be in the

was, with the ability to influence an international judge, was not to

jewelry association’s records. A thought struck her. “Wasn’t Valerie studying abroad in Maelstrom

get her

didn’t attend today’s meeting; he’s probably unaware of the competition scandal. If you

easy to ask him to overstep the rules, especially since it’s just one event. A global company like

like a thorn in our side, resurrecting just when we

expose who’s behind her,” Whitney said,

Whitney had long anticipated – Tiana offered a heartfelt apology. “I’m sorry, love, but I won’t be able to join you tonight. Gunner’s grandmother, Claire,

would undoubtedly host a grand celebration for Claire’s milestone

won’t be easily taken down. By the way, I’ve got some data to

was, took

pondered who Yvonne had turned to for

on business, she found herself unexpectedly longing for his

decided to initiate

and Whitney came into view. She looked freshly bathed and radiant, with a natural glow on her cheeks. She was modestly dressed in a cotton nightgown that

a meeting, for crying out

snapped his phone shut with a

Whitney was puzzled.

a meeting, with a bunch of execs. Who

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Whitney replied: […]