Chapter 102

Caroline found it strange too, but she busied herself with calming Gwen down. She didn’t put much thought into it.

Soon, the host walked up to the stage, and everyone fell silent. After delivering a speech, he said, “Next, let us invite Venusta’s CEO to come on the stage and announce the contestant who won fifth place!”

A man about 40 years old with a balding crown walked up the stage and announced. “In fifth place, we have Lucy Quill.”

The audience applauded.

Gwen inched closer to Caroline and whispered into her ear. “They’re turning it into an award ceremony.”

Caroline smiled and kept her eyes focused on the stage. She’d be lying if she said that she wasn’t nervous. This contest was especially significant to her.

In no time, the person who’d won third place was making her way down the stage. Caroline’s heart palpitated wildly.

“We’re left with the second and first places now,” whispered Gwen as she gripped Caroline’s hands.

“Carol, I’m sure you’ll win this!”

She’d barely managed to finish her sentence when the CEO of Belya, one of the other brands, announced it in his sonorous voice.” Caroline Evans!”

Caroline beamed. This was the first time her design had been made public. Getting second place gave her the confidence and acknowledgment she’d never known she needed.

She walked up to the stage to receive the trophy. This journey, albeit short, felt like a thousand miles to her. Everything felt so surreal, even when she went up the stage and took the trophy from Belya’s CEO’s hands.

“Alright. It’s time to announce our champion!” The host’s voice was bright and clear. “Let us have Laureil’s CEO, Ms. Layn, on stage to give away the prize.”

The crowd applauded once again, this time even louder.

Caroline watched as Ms. Layn walked up the stage and got into position with a smile playing on her lips.

She unfolded the small card in her hands and said. “The first winner of the first Novitius Contest for packaging design is Layla Evans!”

“Let’s have Layla Evans up on stage!”

Confetti started spilling everywhere. As the crowd erupted in applause, Caroline saw the care worker pushing Layla in her wheelchair up the stage.

With her eyes narrowed, Caroline watched Layla take the prize. Layla was given the chance to give a speech since she’d won first place.

“I’d like to thank the organizers and all the brands for sponsoring this contest. I’m grateful that I was given this chance to participate in this Novilius Contest, and I’d like to thank my family for always supporting me. Special thanks to my cousin …”

Her voice trailed off, and her head snapped in Caroline’s direction to wave at her.

Caroline’s face had no expression. The crowd’s reaction was the total opposite of hers, though. They were thrilled.

All this time, the public knew that Layla and Caroline were rivals in love. They had fought over the same man, which was precisely the type of gossip everybody enjoyed.

Layla continued. “Caroline’s designs have always been unique. If it weren’t for her guidance, I wouldn’t have gotten first place this time. Thank you, Caroline.”

It sounded as if Layla was thanking Caroline. However, if anyone listened carefully to her words, they’d know that she was mocking the latter. Caroline, who’d insisted on giving Layla advice, had gotten second place instead of first place.

Despite that, Layla spoke as if it came from her heart. She sounded so sincere that no one could pick on her for it.

The host was someone who enjoyed gossiping. With a microphone in hand, she walked off the stage and approached Caroline. “What a surprise that the first and second places this time are won by these two sisters.”

She held the microphone near Caroline’s lips and said, “Your cousin just won first place. Is there anything you’d like to say?”