Chapter 101

In the final two minutes, Selina completed her work. Clutching her manuscript, she calmly walked forward and submitted it, under the watchful gaze of everyone present.

Ashley, brimming with joy, exclaimed, "Good thing Selina finished on time! I was worried she wouldn't make it!"

A voice scoffed, "Finishing with so little time left… she probably just threw something together. How could she possibly outshine Manuel with that?"

Timothy, already envisioning his triumph over Trevon and securing the Angel collaboration to propel Clark Jewelry to new heights, saw this as his moment to solidify his position within the Clark Group while witnessing Selina's downfall.

The four judges appeared less than optimistic. Selina had been seemingly lackadaisical while others crafted their designs, only just finishing at the last minute. What quality could they expect?

Bound by professionalism, they examined Selina's design and prepared to give their scores, bringing a seemingly predictable close to the event. Yet, upon seeing her submission, their initial skepticism morphed into shock… and then amazement! One judge exclaimed excitedly, "How did you come up with this piece!"

Selina shrugged, "Didn't the brief ask for something special for Valentine's Day? I just let my thoughts wander."

"It's incredible… I've never seen such an original Valentine's Day limited-edition jewelry design before! The aesthetic is perfect; if this hits the market, it could definitely set a trend."

Ashley and the others blinked in disbelief. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Wasn't Selina's design meant to be universally panned, earning the lowest score and leading to her disgrace thanks to Timothy's smear campaign? Why were the judges so captivated by her design?

Derrick watched with a knowing smirk, while Manuel panicked, "No way… What did Selina design? She should have given up!"

How could she, a simple country girl without the Harvey family's aristocratic upbringing and having left school early, possess such talent in high-end design, besides inheriting her parents' striking features?

Manuel stared at Selina, her composure unwavering, as if everything was unfolding according to plan. A wave of anxiety washed over him. The judges conferred and finally settled on a score.

The big screen revealed it: 20 points! A perfect score! The crowd erupted in murmurs of disbelief. No one, least of all Selina herself, had anticipated such a dramatic turnaround. Such a score was unprecedented in the city-level Jewelry Design Contest; the highest ever achieved was 19 points. Even an 18, with judges of international renown, would have been remarkable. A perfect score was simply unimaginable.

"Selina is just too awesome!" Charley, stupefied, had only hoped Selina would avoid embarrassing Trevon. Yet here she was, effortlessly securing first place. It seemed she hadn't even reached her full potential. He commented, "No surprise she's Trevon's favorite; he understands these things far better than any of us."

Edwin stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Just by looks and figure, Selina is top-notch, the kind with natural gifts that could mesmerize anyone. I've seen many women, but none can compare. It's an innate charm." He added, considering Selina's confidence and talent, "Trevon, tell me where you found such a perfect wife? I want to find one for myself!"

Trevon, unfazed by Edwin's admiration, replied, "Dating app."

"Are you kidding me?"

"No joke, bro."

Edwin was speechless.

Meanwhile, Timothy panicked. Selina's victory had completely thwarted his plans. He muttered, "How is this possible… There must have been a mistake, or did the judges get bribed by Trevon?"

Even Ashley and Sara were too astonished to speak.

Only after the championship, runner-up, and third-place designs were revealed did everyone see Selina's work.

"Is this… handcuffs?"

Selina's design was titled "Shackled Hearts." The handcuffs bound each participant's wrist to another, representing a possessive love, a reliance on one's partner. The male version was silver, the female pink, both featuring a starlight design with crushed diamond powder. The men's model was understatedly elegant, the women's bursting with charm. Selina’s skill wasn't just in bringing the characters to life; she made the diversely colored bracelets pop, instantly drawing the eye. The jewels were the true stars, underscored by the sketches. Her creativity surpassed all other contenders; no one expected handcuffs as a Valentine's Day theme. The magic lay in its simplicity, transforming handcuffs into an eye-catching couple's accessory.

"I lost… I lost…"

Manuel knew he was beaten the moment he saw Selina's creation. His necklace, beautiful and Angel-inspired, was conventional. It was a necklace when the brief requested something special for Valentine's Day. Without "Shackled Hearts," his design would have shone; with it, his was relegated to background noise.

Derrick applauded Selina's design. Leaving aside their history, the design alone had awed the audience. He envisioned the global frenzy that would follow "Shackled Hearts'" release. Selim, the designer of Brilliance, would become a household name.