Love beyond the mask1-100

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Chapter_49

Tiana rubbed her hands together, excitement lighting up her eyes. “There’s gotta be a reason for it! Whitney, this sham marriage of yours is just too wild. I can’t even begin to guess who he’ll turn out to be when the mask comes off. But I gotta say, L’s move today was bold—I dig it. He fired his secretary without a second thought just to clear the air with you! I bet he’d spoil you rotten if there’s real affection between you two.”

Whitney felt her cheeks burn, her heartbeat quickening at the thought of real affection with him. “What are you on about, Tiana? That’s just crazy talk. Him and me? We’re worlds apart.” Besides, she wasn’t about to open her heart again just to get hurt.

Sensing her hesitation, Tiana switched topics. “Let’s talk about that jewelry competition. Have you asked L for help?”

“I haven’t, and he hasn’t offered.”

Tiana’s voice sharpened. “He knows you’ve been wronged, and yet he doesn’t offer to grease some palms for you? What a jerk!”

Whitney instinctively defended him. “I told him I wanted to keep things professional. Do you really think a guy like him would be so shameless as to offer help after I said something like that? I’m better off relying on myself.”

Despite her words, disappointment gnawed at her. In the days leading up to the awards ceremony, L was rarely home and never once mentioned the sabotage during the preliminary round. Nor did he offer any assistance. The silence stung more than she cared to admit.

The Day of the Awards Ceremony

As the ceremony drew near, the online vitriol against Whitney intensified. Monica’s carefully spun fabrications painted her as a plagiarist, making her infamous throughout Banyan City. By the time she arrived at the Imperial Gem Corporation exhibition hall, a mob of angry netizens had gathered, ready to jeer at her. The moment she stepped out of the car, she was nearly pelted with eggs.

Thankfully, her driver and Tiana shielded her, ushering her safely inside.

“The die is cast, and that witch Monica has won. What are you even doing here?” Tiana’s frustration was palpable.

Whitney pulled out a voice recorder from her bag and played it. Tiana’s eyes widened in astonishment. “You’re a genius, Whitney! Exposing Stella at the Royal One Club wasn’t enough; you even thought of recording it?”

Whitney frowned. “I just wish I’d started recording sooner—right after the competition, when Monica first confronted me.”

“This is Monica’s indirect confession! If we could just get it to the judges—”

Whitney sighed. “Aaron’s in their pocket. I doubt we can get it to them. And this evidence will only cause a small ripple.”

Tiana clenched her fists. “A small ripple is enough to nauseate Monica, and that’s why we’re here! Even if we can’t turn the tide, we’ve got to shake them up!”

Whitney nodded. “I plan to approach Aaron as soon as he arrives and beg for a chance to prove myself by sketching on the spot.”

Tiana’s eyes lit up. “That’s the perfect way to showcase your talent!”

“What perfect way? Sis, are you here for the awards ceremony too?” A familiar, mocking voice cut through the crowd.

Whitney turned to see Monica striding down the red carpet, flanked by a posse. To Whitney’s dismay, Phebe was in attendance, schmoozing with Aaron, who lavished Monica with praise.

Monica’s face showed none of the defeat from the Golden Hue Bar incident—she was the picture of triumph. She walked past Whitney, loudly lamenting, “Sis, are you still plotting with your BFF? Are you waiting to be kicked out of the competition to admit your plagiarism? Just stop embarrassing yourself!”

Her insinuations fueled the crowd’s hostility. “Whitney, get lost if you have any sense left! You’re definitely getting booted from the competition!”

“Breaking news! Is Simon going to propose to Monica after she wins?”

“Don’t you see Phebe here? Trending number one: ‘The Perlman family is preparing for the golden couple’s engagement.‘ Monica, congratulations! You’re really hitting it big today!”

The socialites fawned over Monica, their envy poorly concealed. She feigned modesty but was gloating inside—she had paid for those trending topics the night before. Today, she would claim her prize and immediately hold the engagement party afterward. With Whitney’s downfall, she could finally feel secure.

Whitney, undeterred, squeezed through the crowd to reach Aaron, her voice steady. “Aaron, I know I lack the evidence to prove Monica stole my work, but please give me a chance to sketch right here and now. I just need one chance to show my ability.”

Aaron didn’t even flinch before signaling the security to escort Whitney away.

Whitney’s face paled. Monica’s smirk deepened.

Determined, Whitney and Tiana made their way backstage, hoping to find another judge to hand over their voice recorder. But before they could act, two burly security guards approached, snatched the recorder from their grasp, and snapped it in half!

The guards immobilized them, and Monica appeared, a sinister smirk playing on her lips. “So, you had a recorder up your sleeve. That must’ve been your last desperate move, huh? Luckily, I had a contingency plan! Now you’ve got nothing. Enjoy watching me take first place while you get ready to be expelled!”

Monica strutted off, smugly satisfied.

Tiana pounded the wall in frustration. “Damn it! I couldn’t even take down a couple of guards!”

The spark in Whitney’s eyes slowly faded. She mocked herself. “We were so desperate for help, it was easy for her to spot the flaw in our plan. I’ve really hit rock bottom this time, haven’t I?”

Tears welled in Tiana’s eyes. “She has her minions and her cliques while we stand alone, powerless. The judges won’t even give us the time of day. It’s not your fault, Whitney. It’s Stella’s! Look, there will be other jewelry competitions. Don’t let this get to you.”

But Whitney knew how hard it would be to enter any contest after today. She closed her eyes, burdened by the agony of defeat.

The award ceremony began, and the hall erupted in applause. But suddenly, a hush fell over the crowd. An eerie silence followed.

Then, a collective gasp.

And high-pitched screams of excitement.

“Look! The CEO of Imperial Gem Corporation has just arrived!”

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