Chapter 383

Edmund Whitaker pulled out his phone with deliberate slowness, accessing his cloud storage with practiced ease.

His fingers danced across the screen until they landed on the timestamp for 2019. With a satisfied nod, he handed the device to Evelyn Carter.

"I served as head judge for that year's design competition. Every moment was documented - videos, photographs, the works."

"Watch the awards ceremony footage. Tell me, who do you see receiving the trophy?"

Evelyn accepted the phone with trembling hands. The video played clearly, showing Juliette Blackwood standing triumphantly on the highest podium as Edmund presented her with the championship award.

Her own image was conspicuously absent.

A cold dread settled in Evelyn's stomach.

This couldn't be right. It made no sense.

Frantically, she scrolled through the participant list. Her name wasn't there. Not even as a contestant.

Yet she remembered every detail - the three grueling elimination rounds, defeating six competitors, that final breathtaking presentation that secured her victory.

"Professor Whitaker, this has to be some mistake..."

Evelyn turned pleading eyes toward Katherine Whitaker, desperate for confirmation of her memories.

But faced with such irrefutable evidence, Katherine could only purse her lips. "Evelyn darling, perhaps you're confusing this with another competition? Maybe you participated in a different year?"

Evelyn shook her head vehemently.

"No. I remember this perfectly." Her voice held steel.

How could she forget? That award had been her first major recognition in the design world.

Edmund and Katherine exchanged worried glances.

Katherine moved closer, placing a comforting hand on Evelyn's arm. "Is everything alright at home, dear?"

Evelyn remained silent, her mind racing.

Edmund continued, "Juliette was one of the most brilliant students I've ever taught. Had tragedy not struck, she could have achieved remarkable things."

The regret in his voice was palpable.

Evelyn felt the walls closing in. Instead of finding validation, she now stood accused of being a fraud.

Then her phone vibrated in her pocket.

The caller ID made her blood run cold. She answered.

"I hear you've returned to Coronia University. How... nostalgic." Juliette's mocking voice dripped through the receiver.

Evelyn's grip tightened on the phone. "You orchestrated this, didn't you?"

Juliette's laughter was like shattered glass. Evelyn's free hand clenched into a fist.

"By now you've seen the evidence for yourself. It only confirms what everyone knows - you stole my work."

"A billion dollars is a small price to pay, really. Pocket change for someone like you. The money isn't what interests me."

"I want to see you humiliated. To watch you squirm."

"Be smart about this. Problems solved with money aren't problems at all. Don't be stubborn."

Evelyn's knuckles turned white. She had to admire Juliette's cunning - the woman had nearly made her doubt her own memories.

But this phone call revealed the truth.

"You can't bury the truth forever, Juliette. Do you really think your lies are that convincing?"