Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 192

Chapter 192

“I’m listening,” I said, stopping a careful distance away.

The woman smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “We’re here

supporting Isabella Torres, who worked for six years at one of the

most prestigious art schools in the world, only to lose her spot to

someone who… well, who had certain advantages.”

“I didn’t have any advantages.” My voice came out steadier than I felt.

“I had my art supplies sabotaged the day of the preliminary round. I

had to complete my piece with backup materials I’d never used

before.”

“But you did have Julian Vane give you the nomination slot, didn’t

you?‘ Another woman stepped forward, her phone camera pointed directly at my face. “The slot that should have gone to someone who

actually applied on time?”

My mouth went dry.

“I–the nomination was offered to me as part of the competition’s

outreach program-”

“Outreach program?” The first woman laughed. ‘Is that what they’re

1,4

Chapter 192

calling it? Because from where we’re standing, it looks like Julian

Vane used his position as a sponsor to get his… what are you,

exactly? His girlfriend? His-”

“I’m not his girlfriend.” The words came out sharp and defensive,

exactly the wrong tone. I could see people in the crowd exchanging

glances, see the comments flooding in on the livestreams.

“Then what are you?” someone called out. “Because there are photos

of you getting into his car, going to his office building. If you’re not

dating him, then what’s the relationship?”

I felt trapped, surrounded by hostile faces and recording devices,

every word I said being broadcast and dissected in real–time. My

heart hammered against my ribs, my palms slick with sweat.

“The relationship,” I said slowly, forcing myself to meet the camera

lens, “is that I’m an artist who earned my place in this competition

based on the merit of my work. The judges saw my piece. They scored

1. it. They explained their reasoning in the official statement. If you

have a problem with their professional judgment, take it up with

them, not with me.”

“But you can’t deny that Julian Vane gave you special treatment-”

“He gave me a nomination slot that was available to any qualified

211

Chapter 192

artist who’d faced barriers to traditional application.” My voice was

getting louder now, months of frustration bleeding through. “I didn’t

ask for it. I didn’t sleep my way into it. I didn’t use family connections

or daddy’s money or any of the things you’re implying. I painted.

That’s it. I painted something honest and real, and the judges

responded to it.”

“Honest?” The woman in the Parsons sweatshirt stepped closer. “You

want to talk about honest? Isabella trained for six years. She put in

the work, paid her dues, developed her craft through legitimate

channels. And you think a few months of—”

“I’ve been painting since I was a kid.” The words burst out of me

before I could stop them. “I used whatever materials I could find or

afford. I painted through homelessness, through grief, through every

kind of hardship you can imagine. So don’t you dare tell me I haven’t

earned this.”

The crowd had gone quiet, but I couldn’t tell if it was because I’d

moved them or because they were simply recording every word for

later dissection,

“If Isabella is so talented,” I continued, my voice shaking now but

refusing to stop, “then she should be confident enough to let her

work speak for itself. Instead, she posted a carefully worded tweet that she knew would send you all here to harass me. She gets to look

gracious while you do her dirty work.”

3/4

Chapter 192

“She didn’t send us-”

“She didn’t have to. She knew exactly what would happen when she posted that photo, emphasized her six years of training, used that

specific hashtag. She’s not stupid, and neither am I.”

I turned to leave, but one more voice called out: “If you’re so

confident in your abilities, why are you running away?”

I stopped, looking back over my shoulder. “I’m not running. I’m going

home to paint. Because unlike some people, I actually have to prepare

for the semifinals instead of staging social media campaigns.”

Comments

凸。

Write Comments

SHARE

414