Abandoned by All I Took It All Back novel Chapter 186

Julius's face had turned as dark as a thundercloud.

He made a quick phone call, then stood up, his expression terrifyingly grim. Yet Janina didn't spare him a single glance.

The situation was spiraling out of control. If the media blew this up, The DL Design Competition would not only face public scrutiny but also potential boycotts.

Yvonne shot a panicked look at Julius. At that moment, she wanted to kill Janina. She could feel the scornful, contemptuous stares from every direction.

Why did Janina have to humiliate her in public?

Why couldn't she just die?

The host was on the verge of tears. This was the biggest disaster of his career. How did he get stuck with this mess?

Julius, unable to tolerate it any longer, strode toward the stage.

As his tall, suited figure stepped into the spotlight, every camera turned to him.

Janina finally shifted her gaze to him, her eyes filled with scorn.

"Mr. Aurelius, are you here as an investor to personally shut me up?"

She had taken the initiative, cutting off any chance to retreat. His only choice now was to be fair.

Julius's eyes darkened, but before he could speak, Janina let out a cold laugh.

"I'm just speaking the truth and asking for what's fair."

The scene descended into chaos as the murmurs in the audience grew louder. Reporters hoisted their cameras, and some had already started live-streaming the drama.

A storm was brewing in Julius's eyes, but he quickly reined it in. He knew that if this continued, not only would Yvonne's reputation be ruined, but the credibility of The DL Competition would be shattered.

He struggled to maintain his composure. They were on stage, with all eyes on them.

What angered him most was Janina's attitude.

Julius continued, "Ms. Holt's work is exceptionally innovative, and Miss Moore's design has its own unique flair. So we've decided to name them both champions, and each will get support to launch their own independent brand."

His words sounded fair, but they were really just a way to save Yvonne's reputation. It preserved her dignity while temporarily quelling the public outcry.

Since things had come to this, Janina saw no point in pushing further. Her goal had been to secure her own brand.

With some clever maneuvering from the host, the storm was quickly calmed.

After the ceremony, Janina had a meeting with the DL organizers to discuss the details of her independent brand.

She was heading to the conference room when she ran into Julius and Yvonne backstage.

Yvonne's smile froze. That bitch had nearly made her a laughingstock.

As they got closer, her eyes fell on Janina's swollen belly.

Her fingers tightened into fists.