Chapter 428 The Jewelry Design Competition, Grace Dazzles the Crowd
The panel of judges couldn't hide their admiration.
"After all this time, we've finally got something worth a look."
A fellow judge glanced over and quipped, "Just worth a look?"
"More than that," another judge exclaimed. "Last year, when Fortune Jewelers released their 'Eternal Clasp' pendant, they boasted that it'd remain unmatched for a decade. I was rather taken aback by it, but compared to this necklace, it hardly registers."
"The 'Eternal Clasp' was indeed a rare find, and it did catch my eye at the time! But this necklace today is even more to my liking."
"I'll go on record saying, this design will remain unsurpassed for the next ten years."
"Do we even need to see the rest?"
The others chuckled knowingly.
"Heh, we might as well take a look. Who knows? There might be something even better. The world is vast, filled with talent."
"Then let's continue! But as far as I'm concerned, this piece has already taken the crown."
A senior executive from the Koch Group, overhearing the high praise for Grace, smiled and said, "You may not know, but she's Jeremy's sister, and her mother is Miss Elise."
Hearing the name Elise, the judges' eyes widened.
"She's Elise's daughter?"
The Koch Group executive nodded fervently.
"Yes, indeed! Miss Elise made a name for herself with a single ring design. As her daughter, Grace inherited Miss Elise's design genius."
After a moment of surprise, the judges' faces lit up with joy.
"When Miss Elise suddenly vanished, we all felt such a loss. Had she stayed in the jewelry industry, she might have surpassed us all by now."
A person nearby nodded in agreement. "Not just surpassed, she might have even been one of us on this panel. When she left, everyone said it was a shame. Old Jeremy was particularly heartbroken, weighed down with sorrow for a long time. Now that her daughter has come to carry on her legacy, it must be a source of comfort for Old Jeremy."
The Koch Group executive beamed with delight.
"Absolutely! Miss Koch is truly talented; Old Jeremy must be overjoyed."
More importantly, this ensured the Koch Group's continued dominance as the world leader in the jewelry industry.
The competition floor was not far from the judges' area.
Their discussion, casual and loud enough to be overheard, was not hushed.
Thus, Grace heard their praises loud and clear, a hint of smugness creeping into her eyes unnoticed.
Indeed.
It was all worth it!
Patricia was right behind her.
The design Grace revealed was an exact copy of Patricia's. Due to first impressions, everyone would surely accuse Patricia of plagiarism.
Thus, not only would Patricia be disqualified from the competition, but she would also be blacklisted in the industry, her reputation tarnished forever.
Meanwhile, Grace would shine as a bright new star in the jewelry design world, immortalized by this competition.
The Koch family would take great pride in her accomplishment.
Riley couldn't find a trace of joy within himself. Instead, his gaze grew steely.
He looked at Grace onstage and asked in a deep voice, "Could you tell me where the inspiration for this necklace came from?"
Grace, well-prepared, responded with brimming confidence.
"Our theme is the 'Centennial Diamond,' celebrating the Koch Group's 100th anniversary! So, I boldly chose the concept of 'A Union of a Hundred Years' to pledge a century-long bond with everyone here. I hope that in another hundred years, the Koch Group will prosper even more, and our brand will continue to be cherished by all."
"Well said, well said! That's just beautiful."
"The Union of a Hundred Years – such a meaningful sentiment!"
The Koch Group's executives were so thrilled they couldn't stop grinning, praising Grace to Riley.
"Ms. Koch, your necklace is not just unique in design but also carries a distinctive message—it's splendid."
"Seems like old Jeremy has a worthy successor."
It wasn't just the judges who were impressed. Cheers and applause rose from the audience as well.
"Oh my, I absolutely love this design. What kind of genius creates such an amazing piece?"
"This is a naturally gifted contestant, right? Indeed, hard work can't beat natural talent; I admit defeat."
"Compared to her work, mine looks like trash. I can't even bear to look at it."
"I'm dying of jealousy and envy! When will I be able to create something that wonderful?"
"This must be tonight's champion, right?"
"I think so. If not, there must be some shenanigans."
Shane, standing quietly, listened to the accolades showered on Grace, his expression growing darker, his eyes colder than the Arctic ice.
Ariel sat next to him and, noticing his troubled expression, whispered, "Grandpa, what's wrong? Grace's design is so impressive. How come you don't seem happy?"
Shane looked at her but said nothing. Instead, he just asked, "Do you really think she has the talent to create something like this?"
That question sent a shiver down Ariel's spine.
Indeed!
She had seen Grace's designs before.
With her skill level, it seemed impossible for her to produce something so outstanding.
Even in yesterday's final exam with Professor Benice, the bracelet Grace designed was, to put it mildly, a sight for sore eyes.
Professor Benice had privately mentioned to her and her grandfather that Grace had no talent and shouldn't waste her time on jewelry design.
Progress like this couldn't happen overnight!
Unless—
A thought struck her, sending a chill through her body as if she were submerged in icy water.
She dared not speak a word, sitting in silence instead.
Shane was staring at the display screen, his eyes slightly red, a sheen of tears forming as he gripped his cane tightly, his hands trembling slightly.
When it came to commenting on Grace's design concept, Riley said nothing. He signaled to the host with a glance, and the host discreetly asked Grace to step down.
The next contestant stepped up.
Whispering to Riley, a senior executive from Koch Group said, "Jeremy, the consensus is that Miss Koch is clearly the frontrunner for the championship."
Riley's expression was unreadable. Without addressing the comment, he simply said, "Let's wait and see. There are fifteen more contestants; it's too early to talk about a champion."
The executive of Koch Group didn't press further.
Though he remained silent, he quietly jotted down a 10 on Grace's overall score sheet.
A perfect score.
He glanced at the score sheets of the judges to his left—tens across the board.
The level of acclaim for Grace's work was undeniable.
Back in the room, Grace threw a smug look at Patricia.
Patricia was just puzzled.
After Grace's entry, the other designs seemed lackluster by comparison, and though there were one or two eye-catching pieces, none came close to the harmony of Grace's creation.
With each new design presented, the judges' panel grew more despondent, shaking their heads in disappointment.
"Nope, aside from Miss Koch's entry, the rest aren't even close to second or third place. Number 16 seems passable, though."
"If we were to rank the top three spots, Miss Koch and number 16 would make the cut."
"Looks like we can only pick out two."
"Unfortunately, the quality of contestants has been declining year after year. Thankfully, we have Miss Koch; otherwise, tonight's contest would be a total waste of time."
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