?Chapter 74:


    Online discussions erupted. “Didn’t Luciano call Elliana’s Lonely Sunset and Hailee’s Sunward Bloomplete failures? How did these two paintings end up in the Starry Competition finals? Don’t tell me they rigged the results?”


    “My friend works in the art scene, and ording to him, the Starry Oil Painting Competition’s judging is brutal. It’s a panel packed with seasoned pros—no way anyone can sneak in a subpar painting. Only the best of the best stand a chance.”


    “Then that means Luciano knew those works had merit—and still tore them down in front of everyone during the live stream earlier!”


    “He couldn’t handle Elliana challenging him or Hailee standing up for Elliana, so he twisted the truth and pushed them down. That kind of petty behavior doesn’t belong to someone who calls himself a master—or a leader in the Calligraphers and Painters Association!”


    Though Luciano tried to soothe Paige with gentle words, he was falling apart inside. His nerves were stretched thin.


    The news that Elliana’s and Hailee’s paintings had reached the finals struck Luciano like a blow to the ego. Fearing for his public image, he immediately pulled out his phone to monitor the live stream. With the stream flooded by criticism and the nearby chatter turning venomous, he could feel the sweat soaking through his shirt.


    In that moment, he cursed his decision to join The Heiress Graduation Trip. He had epted Merritt’s money to film the show, using his pull to helpunch Paige’s career. While he did want to stay in Merritt’s good graces, what mattered more was building up his own name, not watching it take a hit. But now that he’d made such a fool of himself, how was he supposed to walk back into the art world? And what if this mess blew up into a scandal? What if he lost his spot as president of the Calligraphers and Painters Association? His entire legacy was hanging by a thread.


    Hailey kept darting nces at the live stream chat, her stomach tightening with every newment. As soon as the feed was overrun with doubts about Luciano, her nerves began to panic. Because of how tightly Paige’s name was now tied to Luciano, any damage to his image would reflect directly on her. If he went down, so would Paige’s credibility as a streaming mentor. Everything they’d built could turn into a running joke.


    Feeling overwhelmed, Hailey stopped pretending she could handle this alone. She quickly took a series of screenshots and messaged Paige. “Miss Jones, it’s getting bad out there. Should we shut down the live stream?”


    Paige didn’t answer right away. Her brows furrowed as she stared at the screen, unsure whether they were already past the point of saving it. Calling it quits now felt like giving up everything she had fought so hard for. The championship was right there, practically in her hands. Pulling the plug now would feel like throwing it all away. And even if she shut off the cameras, she couldn’t erase the murmurs rising from the crowd just a few feet away. She didn’t have the luxury of time. After a quick breath and a sharp decision, she responded, “Not yet. Hold off for now. Get some paidmenters to stir the chat and buy the negative stuff.”


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    “Got it,” Haley replied without hesitation.


    Without wasting a second, Haley deployed a wave of burner ounts to stir thement section and guide the conversation.


    For now, the audience was only questioning Luciano’s narrow-mindedness. Luckily, no one had dragged his name through the mud when it came to his reputation in the art world. His credibility and standing remained untouched.


    Off to the side, Hailee stood frozen. Wide-eyed, she grabbed Elliana’s sleeve and leaned in close. “Elliana, did I really make it? I mean, to the actual finals? This feels unreal!”


    A grin tugged at the corners of Elliana’s lips as she nodded. “You did it. You’re officially a finalist in the Starry Oil Painting Competition.”


    “But how could that even happen?” Hailee asked, a little unsure. “I’m nothing more than an artist who taught herself everything!”


    “You thought you didn’t belong. Turns out, you were wrong.” With a warm smile, Elliana gave her hand a reassuring pat. “I’ve always believed in your talent. Your work speaks for itself. Now, just wait a bit. The final rankings will be out soon, and you’re about to walk away with more than just praise.”


    Hailee’s eyes sparkled as she remembered the cash prize. The thought of walking away with at least a hundred thousand made her cheeks glow with excitement.


    Behind the scenes, the judges—seasoned artists who had spent their lives surrounded by oil and canvas—had wrapped up their deliberation. Their process was methodical, their standards high. After a careful evaluation, the top three were finalized.


    This round hadn’t sparked any disagreement. The distinction in skill was evident, and the remaining seven submissions couldn’t quite measure up to the chosen few.


    Haileended in sixth ce. Even though she didn’t im one of the podium spots, she could barely contain her joy. This oue had already gone beyond…


    What she had ever imagined. Turning eagerly to Elliana, she asked, “What’s the prize for sixth ce?”


    “Two hundred thousand,” Elliana replied.


    Two hundred thousand! Hailee felt like her heart might burst right through her ribs…


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