Three years of loving him, three days to erase myself from his world novel Chapter 276

Clara gave her a fleeting glance, flashed a cold smile, and remained silent, returning her focus to her design.

Seraphina bristled. It wasn't shock she felt, just pure exasperation. How could someone with absolutely zero talent act so arrogant? It was pathetic! Let's see how hard she crashes and burns!

With a mocking scoff, Seraphina lowered her head and began her sketch. Tonight, she was going to secure a flawless victory.

For the next hour, all the contestants worked furiously on their drafts. Journalists snapped photos and flooded the internet with updates:

[Impromptu Showdown at The National Design Championship!]

Sharp-eyed netizens quickly spotted Clara in the background and unleashed their venom:

[The organizers have really lowered their standards. Anyone can join these days!]

[Seriously. I can't wait to see what kind of garbage Clara Vance comes up with!]

[I'm clearing my schedule for the next hour just to watch her get humiliated and see our girl Sera take the top spot!]

[Plus one!]

[...]

...

The minutes ticked by. When the hour was up, the staff collected the sketches and placed them under a high-resolution projector. Each designer would step up to present their concept before the judges awarded their scores.

Clara had drawn the final slot. Usually, going last placed immense psychological pressure on a contestant, but Clara was completely unbothered. She sat quietly, waiting for her turn.

Seraphina had drawn the slot right before Clara's. When she returned to her seat and saw Clara looking so ridiculously calm, she couldn't suppress a sneer.

Let's see if you can keep that poker face in a few minutes!

The presentations began.

Every participant was a top-tier graduate with a resume full of accolades, so the quality of the sketches was undeniably high.

One standout was an eighteen-year-old prodigy who had just been accepted into a prestigious overseas art institute.

Dressed in a custom Versace gown, she walked onto the stage with radiant confidence and introduced her work.

"I chose the theme 'Farewell'."

"This bracelet relies on a minimalist, elegant aesthetic. I stripped away the clutter to capture the rawest emotion of parting—the gentle reluctance, the open honesty of letting go, and the quiet hope that every goodbye holds the promise of a future reunion. Every detail carries the weight of separation, allowing all those unspoken words to linger as a soft glow on the wrist."

Seraphina flashed a dazzling smile, bowed gracefully to the crowd, and glided onto the stage.

"When I saw the prompt, I struggled to choose. Both themes are so evocative that leaving one behind felt like a tragic waste. So, in the end, I chose both. I fused them into a single narrative."

Both themes!

A wave of astonishment swept through the room. "Most people struggle to execute one theme perfectly. Ms. Shaw tackled both? That's insane!"

"Incredible. She really is a design genius!"

The judges nodded in glowing approval.

Clara listened quietly, her expression unreadable.

Seraphina offered a modest smile. She cast a triumphant glance toward the VIP seating where Julian sat. The man was holding a flute of champagne, a flicker of genuine surprise and admiration lifting his brow. After tonight, Seraphina thought, he would finally look at her with the respect she deserved.

"I've named this bracelet 'Shattered Thoughts.' It embodies the jagged edges of a broken romance and the melancholic reality of moving on."

She gestured toward the screen behind her. "As you can see, this piece features a spliced, fragmented design. It appears incomplete, yet it still forms a continuous loop—much like a love that can never be whole, yet remains forever etched in the heart."