?Chapter 401:


    After a short pause, Kolton gave a low, amused chuckle and fixed Maia with a look full of fresh curiosity. “Miss Watson, I must say, you’ve got guts. Fine, I give you my word.”


    He turned toward the gathered crowd and dered, “Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you all to be witnesses today. If Mariana loses this contest, Cooper Group will stick to the deal and hand over Aurora Apparel Company to MCN. Also, Cooper Group will not lift a finger against MCN or any of its people. Should we go back on our word, may we lose the trust of everyone and fall out of fortune’s favor!”


    Kolton sounded as though he were making a solemn vow, but deep down, he didn’t take it seriously at all.


    Truth be told, he thought there was no chance Maia could pull off a win.


    The higher she climbed now, the harder she would fallter, and he was waiting to see it.


    “Mr. Cooper, what a noble spirit you have!” someone in the crowd cried, and soon the whole room burst into pping and cheers, praising Kolton to the skies.


    Watching this unfold, Maia’s lips lifted into a cool, satisfied smile. She turned smartly toward the table and said in a calm voice, “Alright then, let’s get started.”


    Maia and Mariana stood shoulder to shoulder, each apanied by three attendants. Whenever onepleted a sketch, they passed it to an attendant to present before the audience.


    The clock began ticking.


    Mariana sprang into action immediately, seizing a pen and attacking the paper with swift, intense strokes.


    Maia, by contrast, stood motionless, her lids shut as if lost in contemtion.


    “Why isn’t she moving yet? Can she even finish?”


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    “Looks like she was bluffing the whole time. I expected much more from her!”


    “MCN’s doomed, thanks to Maia!”


    The whispers swirling through the gathering didn’t rattle Maia in the slightest.


    Mariana’s first piece nearedpletion, drawing admiring nces from the spectators. In contrast, Maia’s sheet remained pristine, prompting disappointed shakes of the head.


    Even udius exhaled, realizing that his earlier concerns might have been unfounded.


    Chriszily surveyed the crowd, swirling his wine, his gaze sharpening as he observed.


    Five minutester, Mariana wrapped up her first creation, handed it off, and darted a nce at Maia.


    Seeing Maia’s paper still untouched, Mariana snorted with derision. “That’s what happens when you aim too high — you fall even harder,” she sneered inwardly.


    She was counting down the moments to Maia’s copse, eagerly anticipating MCN’s takeover and Aurora Apparel’s climb to fashion dominance.


    As Mariana’s blueprint unfurled before the attendees, gasps of praise filled the air.


    “I’ve neverid eyes on something so original. Miss Cooper is incredible!”


    “This contest is already decided. Miss Cooper wins!”


    “With that level of ipetence, Maia dared to brag about overtaking Aurora Apparel? She’s embarrassing herself and wasting our time! Wonder how bitter she’ll beter.”


    “I said it before — she’s no Eileen! Misleading the public like that — both she and Pattie deserve what’sing to them!”


    Amidst the jeering, Maia finally opened her eyes.


    Only eight minutes remained.


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