Fake Mating To My Ex's Powerful Enemy

Chapter 188: Chapter 188 Framed

Christina’s POV

Dr. DuBois raised her hand. "Let’s discuss this outside. Ms. Vance should get back to her design work."

Before she could finish, a man rushed into the room. He leaned close to her, whispering something in her ear.

Dr. DuBois went rigid. Her eyes moved—from me to Octavia, then back to me.

"Miss Grey, the surveillance footage for this room cut out the moment you entered. It only came back when you left to find us."

Octavia’s eyes narrowed. "You want to think about what you’re suggesting?"

"We couldn’t see what happened inside. This gives us reason to suspect you two worked together."

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. "You think we hacked your system so I could cheat?"

"Exactly," Dr. DuBois nodded. "We installed cameras to ensure fairness. We have staff watching in real-time. But the feed suddenly went black. We don’t know what happened during that time."

Octavia slammed her hands on the table. "What kind of amateur setup is this? Broken tablets, missed lunch deliveries, and now you’re blaming technical problems on me? Do I look like a part-time hacker to you?"

"Please calm down," Dr. DuBois said coldly. "Given your frequent online interactions with Ms. Vance, we’ve noticed your close relationship. We suspect you may have given her outside information—sketches, design ideas—that would compromise the competition."

Octavia let out an angry laugh. "I was in here for less than a minute. If I wanted to cheat, I’d need way more time than that. This is completely made up. Don’t blame your organizational screwups on me."

I held up the tablet. "These sketches were done before she came in, timestamped stroke by stroke. She wasn’t here long enough to give me anything, let alone for me to use it."

"Exactly!" Octavia snapped. "Oh, I get it now. There’s a reason they brought me in here. They’ve already decided to pin everything on me."

Everyone turned to look at the tablet in my hand.

The screen showed four complete designs—colored gemstones, detailed settings, precise notes.

Someone by the door whistled softly.

Another person leaned in for a closer look.

Dr. DuBois’s mouth twitched, tightened, then relaxed again.

That flash of surprise, gone in a second.

"Even so, it doesn’t clear you of suspicion. Ms. Vance, you have two choices. First, throw out your existing designs. You’ll redraw everything under strict supervision. No extra time will be given."

The tablet felt heavier in my hands.

Probably three hours left.

"And the second option?" I asked slowly. freewebnovёl.ƈom

"Immediate disqualification."

"On what grounds?"

Dr. DuBois shrugged. "My hands are tied. We have to protect the competition’s integrity. Letting you continue when you might have cheated wouldn’t be fair to the other contestants."

"What’s not fair is accusing me without proof."

She shook her head with a condescending tone. "This isn’t an accusation, just a suspicion at this point, but it affects the other participants. If you truly care about this craft, you should approach competitions with integrity, not shortcuts."

"Back off. I didn’t take shortcuts or cheat. This competition means everything to me. I wouldn’t screw it up. You know that. You know I haven’t done anything wrong."

Octavia nodded. "Damn right!"

I squared my shoulders and looked directly at Dr. DuBois. "I don’t need to cheat. I could design circles around every other contestant with my eyes closed. What would I possibly gain from it?"

"The footage cuts out the exact moment Ms. Grey enters this room. Just here, nowhere else. Explain that."

"That’s your system screwing up, not mine," I shrugged. "I’m not here to explain your technical problems. You think I cheated? Show me proof. Otherwise, stop acting like I owe you answers for being screwed over."

Octavia jumped in, "Exactly. You think we pulled off some elaborate scheme in sixty seconds? Then you better tell us what you think happened."

Dr. DuBois’s eyes dropped to the floor for a moment, then she straightened up.

"Fine. We’ll launch a formal investigation. We’ll figure out whether it was equipment failure or if Ms. Grey used a signal jammer. But—" she gave a smug little smile "—investigations take time. If you refuse to submit new work now, we’ll consider your application voluntarily withdrawn."

Akira growled in my mind. She’s setting us up. Someone wants you out of this competition.

Octavia pulled me aside. "This whole thing reeks of a setup. Let’s just go. Don’t let them treat you like this."

I didn’t move. Walking away now would be handing them the win. It would be like admitting I was guilty.

"You only have three hours. Can you come up with something completely new in that time?" she asked.

"I’ll have to," I said. I didn’t come all this way to give up without a fight.

I turned back to Dr. DuBois.

"I’ll stay. I’ll draw something new. But you better investigate this surveillance thing thoroughly. If you can’t come up with solid evidence that we messed with anything, that’s slander, and I’ll sue you the minute this competition is over."

That’s my girl, Akira purred happily. Hannah will love this case.

Dr. DuBois gave a sharp nod. "Very well, then."

She reached for the tablet in my hand. "This one is compromised. Your original work is void. We’ll get you a new one."

Before she could touch it, Octavia grabbed it away.

"All of Christina’s work is on here. Even if it’s disqualified, it’s still her property. You don’t get to take it."

Dr. DuBois reluctantly stepped back. "Fine, keep it."

Octavia smirked. "If the surveillance cuts out again, then we both know someone on your team is targeting her."

Dr. DuBois’s eyes narrowed. "The signal is fixed. It won’t happen again."

She turned and walked out.

Octavia hugged me. "Just focus on your designs. I’ll handle everything else. This isn’t over by a long shot."

"Thank you." freewёbnoνel.com

Someone brought me a new tablet, still warm from the box, along with a lunch tray I hadn’t touched.

I closed my eyes.

Before, I had two ideas fighting for space in my head.

I’d chosen the safer option.

Now I had the chance to draw the other one.

But time was against me.

I took several deep breaths, holding the last one before opening my eyes.

The stress was still there, but my hand wasn’t shaking around the stylus anymore.

I couldn’t care less what Dr. DuBois thought I’d done.

I’d deal with her later.