Lise stood frozen, just as stunned as the others. Not long ago, she had felt a rush of satisfaction when Katelyn’s work was eliminated from the competition, thinking it would reduce her competition by one. But everything had shifted in the blink of an eye when the Adams Group revealed Iris’ work.

Her ranking had never been high to begin with, and now with Katelyn’s piece thrown into the mix, her score of 9.4 suddenly felt insignificant.

A wave of frustration washed over her as her hand curled into a tight fist at her side. Why couldn’t Katelyn just disappear?

The moment the audience laid eyes on Katelyn’s piece, everyone stood speechless, unable to hide their amazement.

The piece featured White Sapphire carving, skillfully shaped to mimic the graceful flow of ocean waves. White diamonds edged each wave, adding a touch of elegance. The level of craftsmanship was remarkable, and the price was just as extraordinary.

Galen, who had been slouched and detached, sprang to his feet, his eyes fixed on the work in disbelief. He had encountered countless talented artisans and knew many with incredible carving abilities. However, this White Sapphire presentation was unlike anything he had ever seen. He could appreciate just how difficult it must have been to create something so flawless. A small mistake in technique would have made completing the piece impossible. The White Sapphire was so delicate that a gentle touch wouldn’t bring the designer’s vision to life, while pressing too hard would ruin it entirely, leaving the piece destroyed.

And yet, here it was—flawless in every way, far surpassing anything he could have imagined.

Turning to Zandra, Galen asked, “Do you know who designed this piece? Could you introduce me?”

His voice was gentle and respectful, unlike his usual commanding tone. This sudden shift in attitude caught everyone off guard, and without thinking, they all glanced at Katelyn.

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Everyone had believed she was the unluckiest person in the room, but by the end of the night, she had become its greatest victor.

Rising to her feet, Katelyn gave a polite nod to Galen and said, “Good evening, Mr. Haynes. I designed this piece.”

Galen studied Katelyn for a moment, his gaze assessing, before he smiled and replied, “For someone so young, your skill is remarkable. Truly remarkable.” Admiration shone in his eyes.

The other judges exchanged quiet words, their minds already focused on the scores they would give in the upcoming evaluation.

Ashlyn’s gaze lingered on Katelyn. In that instant, the weight pressing on her chest vanished entirely. Katelyn had another piece to show, and Ashlyn was relieved. If Katelyn hadn’t, Ashlyn knew she would have never been able to forgive herself.

Ashlyn leaned in towards Katelyn, her voice low as she whispered, “Your work is incredible. I have a feeling it’s meant to win tonight.” Being a designer herself, she could tell the moment a piece was truly exceptional. Anything that left everyone in awe could never be ordinary.

Katelyn stayed composed, her smile gentle and calm.

“Thank you.” She chose not to say anything further on the subject.

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