?Chapter 87:


    “Paige, get off the stage!” someone shouted from the crowd.


    The shout pierced the air, and in seconds, the whole crowd had taken up the chant, their voices rising in a unified roar, demanding Paige leave.


    If Luciano’s disgrace hadn’t erupted first, Paige’s forgery might’ve drawn nothing more than smirks and side-eyes. But with tempers already ring, the audience turned vicious.


    Paige’s connection to Merritt—the city’s notorious underworld leader—usually kept people quiet. No one dared stir up trouble with someone under his protection. But Luciano’s disaster stirred the crowd into such a frenzy that they didn’t care Paige was tied to Merritt—they just wanted her out, right along with Luciano.


    This was precisely why Elliana had taken down Luciano first—waiting for him to crash and burn before unleashing the damning video. Every move had been deliberate.


    Paige had tried to sabotage Elliana with The Heiress’ Graduation Trip, but Elliana flipped the whole thing on her, leaving her no exit, no cover.


    The fury in the crowd caught Paigepletely off guard, her back to the on-stage screen and thus oblivious to the video. She’d just finished milking Luciano’s scandal to paint herself as the innocent party—how had the crowd turned on her so suddenly?


    From the sea of faces, Haley frantically waved both arms, jabbing her finger toward the massive screen lighting up behind Paige.


    Paige froze, slow to register what was happening. But the moment she turned and caught sight of the video, her legs gave out and she copsed onto the stage in a heap. This wasn’t supposed toe out—how had it leaked? The deal happened inside Merritt’s exclusive club—who in their right mind would risk leaking that footage? Whoever it was clearly didn’t care about the fallout.


    Her mind reeled, too rattled to make sense of anything. The roar of the crowd gave her no space to breathe. Trash and debris were already flying at the stage.


    “What are you waiting for, Paige? Get off that stage!”


    “Get off the damn stage!”


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    The crowd’s fury surged like a stampede. A few people even lunged for the steps, ready to drag Paige down themselves, but security blocked them just in time—one…


    A secondter and she’d have been tackled. Still, the damage was done. Even without a single blow, Paige’s dignity had been torn to shreds.


    Fueled by fury, some people ripped off their reeking socks, jammed them with whatever they could find, andunched them at Paige. Then things got ridiculous: someone’s underwear sailed onto the stage, and more followed.


    Within moments, Paige was drowning in chaos. Her designer gown was soaked in sticky soda, and a rogue stiletto had left a bruise blossoming across her wless makeup. Curled into herself, she trembled violently, hands locked over her head, shrieking in panic.


    Elliana stood back, expression unreadable, as memories surged—every taunt, every cruel prank Paige had ever thrown her way. Now, it was alling back with interest.


    The judges and Clement just sat there, stone-faced. Art purists to the end, they couldn’t bring themselves to intervene while their beloved arena was defiled by the likes of Paige.


    Paige’s very public downfall served as a thunderous message: no one could w their way to the top with lies and walk away unscathed. When the chaos broke out, Haley immediately dispatched bodyguards to protect Paige, but the crowd was too packed and wild. The bodyguards couldn’t push through and had no choice but to watch her take the full brunt of the fury.


    By the time the bodyguards finally reached her, Paige was a mess—hair matted, makeup streaked, eyes ssy with shock.


    Ever since Merritt had be her godfather, Paige’s confidence had inted beyond reason. She kept up a polished front, but deep down, she believed she was invincible. Backed by Merritt’s influence, she assumed she ruled Ublento. Even the city’s heavyweights would start treating her like royalty, and she would drink it in like it had her name on it. She never imagined her fall would be this brutal—or this public.


    Paralyzed with fear, Paige didn’t resist as the bodyguards grabbed her and rushed her off the stage, shielding her as best they could. Even during the escape, angry crowds kept hurling disgusting trash at her and the bodyguards protecting her.


    The chaos didn’t ease up until Paige and her crew werepletely out of sight. What was supposed to be a refined art venue now looked like a war zone straight out of a busted street fair. Sticky soda streaks clung to walls and floors alike.


    The venue was strewn with a chaotic mess of odds and ends, like a storm had swept through a junk drawer.


    The crowd looked just as foolish in the wake of the chaos.


    One man had gotten so worked up that he lost all sense. Out of things to hurl at Paige, he yanked off his own shirt and lobbed it like a man possessed. But that didn’t cut it—so off came his pants, leaving him strutting around in just his boxers. Good thing Paige had already been dragged out, or he might’ve flung those boxers too in his madness.


    Now, standing in the wreckage and half-naked, the adrenaline drained fast. A chill swept over him as reality hit, and he broke into a panicked sweat.


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