?Chapter 405:


    “Miss Watson, I fail to grasp your meaning,” Kolton remarked, maintaining a polite smile that never reached his cold eyes.


    Maia offered no response. Instead, she glided toward the server, collected her three design sketches, and aligned them with precision. Beneath the hall’s brightest spotlight, she hoisted the stacked sketches triumphantly overhead.


    Her lips curved into a knowing smile as she proimed, “Behold! This is my final design!”


    Every eye widened in astonishment at the revtion in Maia’s hands. A collective gasp rippled through the hall, followed by an explosion of stunned exmations.


    “Impossible! I cannot trust what I’m seeing! Whenyered together, the three gown designs transform into an entirely new creation!”


    “The elements from all three sketches intece with breathtaking harmony! This transcends mere design — it’s visual alchemy!”


    “Surely to call her the world’s preeminent designer would be nothing but stating the obvious!”


    “Beside this masterpiece, Miss Cooper’s offering withers into insignificance…”


    “Insignificance? Let’s be candid — Maia’s final revtion has rendered Mariana’s work practically invisible.”


    The winner was clear!


    Not a soul with functioning vision could dispute the brilliant truth unfolding before them. They stood transfixed, suspended in a collective trance of wonder.


    Even the seasoned design experts among the crowd were thoroughly impressed by Maia’s work. They did not hold back their praise, marveling at her audacious creativity.


    Silently, they reflected on Mariana’s hubris — how had she dared challenge such an unparalleled master?


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    Against the tapestry of Maia’s multyered masterpiece, Mariana’s once-impressive sketches now appeared childishly rudimentary byparison.


    Mariana, who moments earlier had bristled at the notion of sharing victory, now stood frozen in stunned silence, herplexion ashen as the blood drained from her face.


    How could reality shift so dramatically? How had Maia done it?


    Mariana just could not believe her eyes. She had never seen any design like this before.


    Maia gracefully lowered the sketches and pivoted toward Kolton, her expression radiating serene confidence. “Mr. Cooper, surely the verdict of thispetition stands beyond question now, doesn’t it?”


    Indeed, within a mere quarter hour, Maia had not only exhibited extraordinary technical mastery but had established an entirely superior design philosophypared to her opponent. Most importantly, within the same time frame, she had conjured an additional design beyond Mariana’s output — a final creation that utterly eclipsed all of Mariana’s efforts with breathtaking superiority.


    “Miss Cooper possesses undeniable talent, yet in this arena, Maia wins.”


    “Forgive me, but as a design professional, I cannot betray the truth my eyes perceive.”


    “Maia has transcended global benchmarks. Miss Cooper, though gifted, remains on her journey toward such mastery…”


    Throughout the hall, the relentless chorus of voices hammered a painful reality into Kolton’s consciousness.


    Maia had won.


    Not merely won — she had conquered with devastating brilliance.


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