Chapter 31 Did She Bribe The Judges
Christina stood frozen for a moment, the weight of the accusations hanging in the air, her heart pounding. The loud voice from the crowd echoed in her ears, making her body tense. It wasn’t the first time someone had tried to undermine her, but this felt different—louder, more public. The glare of the lights seemed to magnify everything around her, and for a moment, she felt the sting of their judgment.
The murmurs in the audience grew louder as the live-stream continued. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She could feel the eyes of everyone on her, scrutinizing, waiting. It was as if the very air had thickened, and her breath felt shallow.
The man’s voice rang out again, more aggressive this time. “I know corruption when I see it! This competition was rigged! She must have paid off the judges—there’s no way she could’ve won with that hideous dress!”
Christina felt a rush of emotion surge within her, but she refused to show weakness. She stood tall, her posture unwavering despite the barrage of accusations. Her thoughts raced, but she quickly realized that the only thing she could do now was to confront the situation head-on. She turned her gaze to the judges, who were now looking at her with expressions ranging from disbelief to confusion.
Before anyone could react, Nathaniel’s commanding voice broke through the chaos.
“Enough,” he said, striding onto the stage with a sense of authority that immediately silenced the room. His eyes locked onto the man causing the disturbance. “If you have any evidence, present it. If not, I suggest you leave before I have security escort you out.”
The man hesitated, the sudden attention from Nathaniel making him shrink back. But the damage had already been done—the seeds of doubt had been planted.
Christina took a deep breath, the weight of Nathaniel’s presence beside her giving her a sense of grounding. She turned to face the audience once more, her voice steady but strong.
“I don’t need to prove myself to anyone,” she said, her words cutting through the tension. “But I will, because this competition was about my design. Not about where I come from or who I know. I’m here because I earned it. And the gown I designed was not a fluke—it’s a reflection of my passion, my hard work, and my vision.”
The crowd was still, waiting for more, and Christina could feel the eyes of the judges on her.
She continued, her voice growing with confidence. “If you think my design was ‘garbage,’ take a look at the work I’ve put in, the time I’ve spent, and the dedication I’ve given. I didn’t win because of any shortcuts. I won because I deserved to.”
Nathaniel, standing beside her, nodded in approval. He didn’t speak, but his presence was enough to silence the critics.
The host, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, quickly moved to regain control of the situation. “I think it’s clear that Christina’s design speaks for itself. Let’s not allow one misguided individual to tarnish what was an honest and fair competition.”
The man, now feeling the pressure of Nathaniel’s authority and the crowd’s disapproval, began to back off, his voice growing quieter. Eventually, security escorted him out of the venue, the room now filled with murmurs and whispers.
Christina stood there, her heart still racing, but she had regained control of the situation. She knew the battle wasn’t over—there would be whispers, doubts, and criticisms, but she had already proven herself. The victory was hers, and no one could take that away from her.
Nathaniel gave her a look, one that was both reassuring and proud. “You handled that well.”
Christina met his gaze, the tension finally easing from her shoulders. “Thank you,” she said softly, but with a small smile.
The crowd, now quieter, returned to their seats, the moment of drama having passed. The judges were still whispering among themselves, but Christina knew that her place was secured. The competition was over, and she had won.