Chapter 580
An hour passed.
The bell for the competition rang.
Everyone hurried back to their seats in front of the stage.
Patrick, still riding the high from earlier, put down his wine glass, his eyes showing a slight drunken glaze.
As soon as he sat down, he turned and saw Marianne, her face pale and looking disheveled despite her attempts to tidy up.
His expression immediately darkened. “What disgraceful thing have you done now p>
Marianne’s mouth twitched.
Even though she had rinsed her mouth with water, she could still feel the sticky sensation of wet paper in her mouth, clinging to her palate and the back of her throat.
It was incredibly uncomfortable.
Her eyes were bloodshot as she said in a hoarse, cold voice, “That little bitch Serena… When I get the chance, I’ll definitely, definitely p>
“Didn’t I tell you to avoid her from now on!” Patrick grabbed her shoulder, his voice filled with annoyance. “I don’t care what tricks she used to stay in Vaelion City, and I don’t care how she managed to get all those top-tier elites on her side. That’s her business p>
Seeing Marianne’s defiant expression, he tightened his grip. “Do you think that once Hailey finishes this competition and becomes Ms. Rainsford’s apprentice, she’ll really be able to soar and crush those old, powerful families in Vaelion City? Let me tell you, if Serena wants to destroy everything you’re so proud of right now, all she has to do is say the word. Those second-generation heirs… just one of them, like Mr. Foster, could single-handedly ruin all of Hailey’s hard work, all of our family’s efforts! Do you understand p>
Marianne’s eyes widened in shock. “She wouldn’t dare p>
Looking at Marianne’s twisted face, Patrick suddenly felt a wave of helplessness.
He once thought she was simple-minded and straightforward.
Now, the more he looked at her, the more he saw pure stupidity.
He had spelled it out so clearly, but it was like she couldn’t understand plain English.
Patrick released her shoulder, gritting his teeth as he warned in a low voice, “You better get yourself under control p>
Marianne’s mouth and throat were already in discomfort, and now her own husband was treating her without a shred of understanding.
She hadn’t really processed Patrick’s words and felt deeply wronged.
Benedict’s gaže darkened. He took a deep breath, and with forced patience, he leaned in and
whispered to Marianne “Mom, just for Halley’s sake, calm down if you do something that affects Hailey, all our efforts will be for nothing p>
Marianne’s mouth twitched.
Seeing Hailey return to the stage as the bell rang, she forced herself to swallow her
immense sense of grievance and unwillingness.
Nothing was more important than Hailey’s competition.
For Hailey to become Ms. Rainsford’s prized apprentice, for Hailey to become
famous through this competition p>
She would endure it.
On the stage, the host was already
announcing the theme for the
second round. “For the second round, we require the ten advancing designers to take the design sketch that got you through the first round to our specially prepared jewelry-making workshop and turn your design into a finished piece p>
When the theme for the second round was announced, the ten designers on stage were completely stunned.
The audience below was just as surprised.
“A finished piece? Isn’t this a competition for designers? Do designers usually make the final product themselves p>
“According to the rules of past competitions, shouldn’t the second round be another themed design challenge p>
“Creating a finished piece usually
involves a division of labor between the designer and a team of
craftsmen. Asking a designer to
create the entire piece alone seems a bit difficult, doesn’t it p>