The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen)

The organizer stepped forward, addressing Thalassa with a tone of compromise. "Ms. Everhart," he began, "let's make a deal. For Mr. Sinclair's sake, we'll let this whole situation slide. It won't go public, and you're still welcome in the design world. How about you gracefully bow out of this competition, as if you never participated? Deal?"

Thalassa's heart clenched, and she immediately refused. "I'm sorry, Cody, but we need to get to the bottom of this issue, and I cannot withdraw from the competition."

If she let this go without contesting, everyone would assume she used cheap plastic to craft jewelry and even accused her of endangering customers with tacky designs. Her reputation would be tarnished beyond repair.

Cody's promise of silence didn't mean the story wouldn't leak. Bad news always has a way of spreading far and wide, a truth known since time immemorial.

She couldn't naively take Cody at his word.

Besides, if she didn't clear the air now, she'd lose any future chance to explain herself.

Now was the best opportunity to prove her innocence. Missing it would mean no amount of damage control could cleanse her name afterward.

his words, frustration

influence, he

last night, encased in a delicate blue box. Every material I used is genuine. Pure platinum and sapphires—nothing of mine is

I'm the model showcasing your designs. When I received the piece, it was nothing but cheap plastic! Are you accusing the show's crew of stealing your real

towards Susan since Thalassa lacked physical proof. Empty

"Is it possible

and breathing uneven, "I was under constant

never held a decent job your life. Where would you get the money for real jewelry? You're poor and

lend credence to her claims,

was a nobody from the countryside, too poor to afford genuine materials for her designs. "Really, a country girl in a high-end jewelry design