Chapter 88

Megan narrowed her dewy eyes, locking onto the big screen.

And there it was-the dresses on her model and Amelia' were basically twins. Cut, fabric, even the sheen-it was a one-to-one match.

The crowd broke into whispers and murmurs instantly.

Just then, a staff member knocked on the door,asking Megan to head out and address the situation.

Mia,hot-tempered as ever, was about to storm up there first, but Megan stopped her with a calm hand.

"You wait down here," she said softly.

Megan stepped onto the runway at an unhurried pace, the hem of her starlight gown swaying gently with a pearly shimmer under the lights. Even the skeptics watching from below had to admit it-this woman was stunning, flawless like a polished jewel.

She came to a halt beside three featured models.

Just two meters away, Amelia stood next to her own model, expression unreadable.

The three judges-Jeffery Grant, Elena Glancy, and Sean Greene-shared uncertain glances. The whole hall had gone silent.

Suddenly, the mic let out a sharp screech that made some wince.

Sean Greene leaned in and tested it, "We'll hear from both participants for an explanation."

Host John moved to Amelia, who lifted her hand requesting to speak first.

She looked perfectly calm and innocent. "I have no idea what's going on. But those three dresses-yeah,they're from my original designs." John then handed the mic to Megan. "Ms. Shaw, your response?"

Megan looked straight at the judges. "Those dresses are from my sketches. I've got nothing to hide. Let's just show both our drafts and clear this up."

The judges huddled for a moment before signaling to the team to bring Megan and Amelia's drafts up on the screen.

Big screens lit up on both sides of the stage.

On the left: Megan's sketches. On the right: Amelia's.

"Wait a sec, Megan's drawings don't match the dresses at all."

"That kind of seals it-Megan copied Amelia."

"The designs, the material-way too similar to be a coincidence. No way that's not plagiarism."

"This is beyond embarrassing, the whole country's watching. Let's see how her little fan club defends her now." "She even wanted to collaborate with that superstar?What a joke. No doubt the Lewis family's done with her too."

"She wants it all, huh? Tsk."

·..

Megan let out a short, cold laugh and waved John over with a tiny motion.

He stepped forward quickly, and she snatched the mic from his hands.

She pointed to a well-dressed, flashy woman in the audience who'd just accused her.

"You said if I didn't plagiarize, you'd rip your own head off,right?"

The woman stood up dramatically, chin raised high."Your sketch doesn't match the clothes. Obviously,it's plagiarism! Disgraceful!"

Megan chuckled without warmth. "Well, I'll be waiting to see that pig head." Then she turned to Amelia, eyes sharp. "You're really sure those sketches are yours? I'mn giving you one last chance."

Amelia looked like she might cry. "Megan. I know those dresses are stunning and you admire them, but you should respect other people's hard work."

Megan cut her off coldly. "I already gave you a way out. You're the one who blew it."

Amelia's heart pounded like a drum. Could Megan actually have proof?

No way. The pencils, the paper-it's all pretty standard stuff. Easily faked.Not to mention, all the cameras in the hallway and the office mysteriously stopped working that day.

Plus, she wasn't the one who switched the sketches.

So as long as she stuck to her claim, no one would find a loophole.

She stood firm, "This is my design!" Megan turned tothe three judges. "What happens to someone who's confirmed to have plagiarized today?"

Jeffery replied, voice stern, "Anyone caught plagiarizing today won't be allowed to work as a designer in Verduria again."

Megan's eyes were sharp, her smile faint. "Whoever copied today has no place in this industry again."

Elena raised an eyebrow at Megan's words.Something felt off. She let out a curious chuckle,"Alright. If we prove someone copied, they're out of the design world."

Megan looked at the host, John. "Bring me the sketches."

John blinked. "You mean Amelia's?"

Megan nearly smacked him with the mic. Her voice went cold."Mine."

John gulped, then took the sketch papers from a staff member and handed them to Megan. She tossed him the mic. He caught it instinctively.

"These seem pretty ordinary, right? But. there's a trick to them," Megan said as she gently rubbed one corner. "They can actually split in two."

As she spoke, she peeled the paper into two separate sheets-every single sketch did the same.

Amelia clenched her fists, her lashes trembling. "I didn't think you'd figure that part out."

Megan let out a soft laugh. "That dress you're wearing today? Definitely suits you."

"What?" Amelia frowned, clearly confused.

Megan raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips."Such a lovely little angel. with poison under her halo."

"You-how could you humiliate me like this!" Amelia's pale cheeks flushed deep red, looking a picture of righteous indignation.

Sean shrugged. "Well, that doesn't really prove anything yet."

Megan handed the torn sketches to her go-to models-each got two sheets.

"Turn them around. Let the blank sides face the judges!"

The three models held up the paper so the supposedly blank sides faced forward.

Everyone was puzzled. It was just plain white paper-nothing special.

A woman decked out in pearls and diamonds sneered, "Trying too hard. Just admit you copied already."

Right after her words, gasps echoed through the crowd.

"Wait-look! There's writing!"

From the six sheets held by Zoe, Rebecca, and Jane,letters slowly revealed themselves- "IAMLIMO."

"I am Lila Moore!" "What the heck-isn't that the famous international designer?"

The audience buzzed with shock.

Amelia hadn't seen this coming.

Jeffery leaned forward, curious. "Care to explain what all this means?"

Megan just shrugged. "Just a little insurance against people stealing my work."

"This paper looks totally normal, but it's actually layered with a film. Once the paper's split, and the film's exposed to air,it vanishes fast."

"And I treated it with phenol, which oxidizes in air and turns into a brownish color-what you're seeing now."

Then she turned to Amelia. "Did you know about this?"

Amelia bit down hard, red nails pressing into her palm, not even feeling the pain.

If she said no, that'd make her a liar. She took a long breath. "Of course I knew."

Megan laughed, almost giddy. "Then tell me-where did you get your paper?"