Jasmine was outraged and stared daggers at Natalie. “Why are you stopping? I need to get to the
bottom of this. I can’t let them frame me for no reason!”
“Did they frame you?” Natalie stared at Jasmine coldly. “Isn’t it a fact they made a copy of the design for
you? Haven’t you conspired together with them?”
“That’s different. They…”
“There’s no difference!” Natalie interrupted with her lips pursed. “No matter whose instructions they were
following, I’m still the victim while you did accept their help and copied my design.”
Since they couldn’t get the two to reveal who the mastermind was, she might as well let Jasmine
shoulder all the blame.
After all, someone needs to be held accountable in the end.
With that thought in mind, Natalie walked toward Mr. Horner and whispered something to him.
Mr. Horner nodded and waved for Walford to take the lady and the reporter away. After that, he picked up
the mic to announce, “Alright, now that the truth has been revealed, I hereby declare the winner of the
competition to be Natalie Smith. As for Jasmine Smith, she has been disqualified!”
Everyone turned to look at Jasmine whose face had lost all color. Lowering her head as she tried to avert
her gaze.
All she wanted now was the ground to open up and swallow her or for someone to rescue her from the
scene.
However, no one came to her rescue and she had no choice but to stand there and be ridiculed. To rub
salt in her wounds, she still had to watch as Natalie accepted the honors of winning the competition. The
bitterness she felt was worse than death itself.
Finally, the competition ended with Natalie smiling on stage with her prize which was the entry form for
the international competition.
Right on the spot, she filled in the form and handed it in.
While she was doing so, everyone in the conference room stood up and applauded her. Even the live
stream was flooded with congratulatory messages.
Meanwhile, Jacqueline watched the live stream feeling envious and jealous at the same time. “Ms.
Natalie is really awesome!”
Before her accident, she would also receive the same amount of applause after her piano competitions.
In fact, the reception she received would be even raucous than that.
Unfortunately, applause aside, she couldn’t even play the piano anymore.
Shane didn’t utter a word. Instead, he furrowed his eyebrows as if he was deep in thought.
When Jacqueline noticed his response, she couldn’t help but ask, “Shane, what’s wrong?”
“I’m just thinking about the person who bribed those two,” Shane replied, massaging his temples.
Jacqueline’s eyes sparkled briefly but she quickly recovered her composure. “It was probably Ms.
Jasmine’s scheme in preventing Ms. Natalie from winning the competition.”
“Or perhaps, there is more than meets the eye.” Shane narrowed his eyes.
Jacqueline’s smile gradually faded. “Shane, what do you plan to do? Can it be that you’re planning to
help Ms. Natalie find out who it is?”
Shane didn’t comment but that was exactly what he had in mind.
Jacqueline lowered her gaze to hide the frustration in her eyes. “So what happens if you find out? What
will you do to that person?”
“Hmm?” Shane squinted his eyes. “Why do you want to know?”
“I’m just curious, that’s all.” Jacqueline waved her hands with a chuckle.
Shane remarked, “That person tried to hurt her. Hence, it’s up to her how she wants to deal with it.”
“Shane, you really do seem to have feelings for her.” Jacqueline’s smile melted away.
However, Shane didn’t respond to her comment.
She took a deep breath. “In that case, have you ever considered that your concern for her has made her
a target?”
Shane’s pupils contracted as he gave her a thoughtful look. “Why do you think that?”
Jacqueline stared back at him with an indifferent expression. “I’m just randomly guessing. Anyway, let’s
drop this and continue watching the competition. Ms. Natalie seems to have something to say.”
She pointed to the live stream and changed the topic.
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