Chapter 497
Yet the person on stage right now seemed completely reborn.
Every academic interpretation, every logical breakdown of the surgery, was flawless.
Her displayed expertise even eclipsed the majority of the seasoned professionals in the room.
This night-and-day transformation was as absurd as it was laughable.
Watching this play out, Sienna found it incredibly ironic.
In order to completely erase Celeste’s disgraceful past record p>
The Sterlings had spared no expense to rebuild her a glamorous, respectable new identity that could stand tall in the highest circles.
The Sterlings had paid a massive price to grease the wheels across the summit’s entire network.
They had even heavily invested in orchestrating a highly complex, minimally invasive surgical showcase tailor-made for her.
This case presentation was exquisite and complete, perfectly aligning with cutting-edge research fields.
It was an academic topic that countless senior surgeons would struggle to handle.
The Sterlings’ motive was blunt and entirely transactional.
By leveraging an event packed with the world’s top medical titans, they wanted Celeste to dazzle the entire room in one fell swoop.
By relying on this perfect academic presentation, she would earn the industry’s ultimate authoritative certification and establish a rock-solid foothold.
From this day forward, she would join the elite medical circles, thoroughly shedding every stain from her past.
Sienna turned around, glancing at the man who had followed her at some point.
Jarred was staring up at the dazzling Celeste on the big screen, his expression neutral.
“You Sterlings really went out of your way this time p>
Sienna looked sideways at him, her voice light, making no effort to hide the disdain in her eyes.
“Paving the way for Celeste, customizing a medical case, greasing the palms of the entire social ladder.
You invited a room full of industry titans to play along, building up her persona as a medical prodigy p>
She paused slightly, her gaze filled with straightforward mockery. “This summit must have cost the Sterlings quite a fortune, hasn’t it?
After all, having so many top-tier pioneers share the stage to prop her up isn’t something money alone can buy p>
Hearing this, Jarred’s thin lips pressed together, his gaze darkening a fraction.
He heard the sarcasm in her words, the complete dismissal of Celeste’s current glamorous display.
His voice was low, a smirk playing on his lips that could have been indifference or a forced front.
“She was always excellent, so her reaching this level of refinement today is hardly a surprise. Just because you look down on CeleÅŸte _doesn’t mean you can look at Cora with that same prejudice p>
As he said the final name, he specifically lowered his eyes to look at her.
It seemed he was reminding her that the person displaying her excellence right now was the refined Cora.
Not the murderer, Celeste.
Sienna merely let out a low scoff, her smile chilling.
She didn’t bother arguing back; extra explanations were meaningless.
The case presentation concluded quickly.
Wearing an haute couture gown, Celeste wheeled herself in from the entrance, accompanied by Helena.
Professor Klein was on stage, presenting Celeste with The Special Achievement Award.
She smiled with gentle triumph, completely immersed in the praise and validation of the entire room.
She was already so elated she had forgotten herself.
Being the center of the universe was the peak she had always dreamed of but had never been able to touch.
Celeste’s gaze slowly swept through the crowd.
When her eyes landed on Sienna, the smile vanished from her lips, replaced by a split second of shock.
But it was quickly overtaken by contempt.
Helena stood just behind and to the side of the wheelchair, wearing a perfectly polite smile.
The emerald beads on her wrist clinked softly as she clapped.
At that exact moment, Helena also spotted Sienna.
Especially when she saw the man standing right beside Sienna, the elegant facade crumbled completely.
The second the ceremony ended p>
Helena immediately gathered her skirts and stormed furiously toward Sienna at the back of the room.