3

As a judge, I could see everyone's entries.

As I was preparing to go in and score, a man wearing a hat came out urgently, clutching his stomach.

I glanced at him and walked into the room with the entries.

When I saw Harley's work, I knew why she was so high-profile.

Unfortunately, she didn't know that an empty shell with only appearance would only make her fall harder.

"Miss Hersey, do you have any questions?"

The staff couldn't help but be curious when she saw me holding Harley's painting.

I raised an eyebrow, smiled meaningfully, patted her shoulder, and said, "Just wait. There will be a great show later."

In order to ensure the fairness of the competition, the judges scored the works in public.

I gave higher scores than the average for the previous few works, but when it came to Harley's work, I gave her a "zero".

Everyone present looked at me in astonishment.

Other judges tried to defuse the situation, saying, "Miss Hersey must have made a mistake."

I smiled at Harley's angry eyes.

"I didn't make a mistake. Learning calligraphy is about cultivating one's character. Unfortunately, someone has a twisted character."

"Tilda, what are you talking about? Don't sling mud at me!"

Harley stood up abruptly and pointed at me, cursing loudly.

"Harley, don't you know that pointing at someone is very rude?"

The others looked at each other and dared not speak when they heard us quarrel.

"Tilda, I know. You are jealous that my calligraphy is better than you, so you want to slander me, right?"

I sighed softly, "Stop overestimating yourself, OK?"

Just then, a surveillance video appeared on the big screen behind me, showing the room with the entries.

Among a pile of works, a man wearing a hat sneakily switched one of them.

People at the scene started to discuss when they saw that.

Hersey's face turned pale.

A well-known strict judge stood up, looked at Harley, and asked her, "I'll give you one more chance. Is this your work?"

"Of course, it is," Harley said. She clenched her teeth and refused to admit it.

"Really? Then why did my assistant find a work with your name written on it in the trash can outside the corridor?"

I nodded, indicating my assistant to open the thing on the desk.

A piece of paper with Harley's name on it was unfolded, and the audience burst into laughter when they saw the horrible handwriting.

The evidence was conclusive. Harley's face turned livid, and she covered her face and ran out under the contemptuous gaze of the crowd.

"Miss Hersey..." The organizer looked at me with a difficult expression.

"Don't worry. Someone will be here to clean up the mess for her."

I left smartly.

I was sure that after this, Harley would never defile the things I liked again.

I wanted to go home and rest after leaving the venue, but I realized that Harley would definitely go back and complain to my parents, so I turned and went to the bar.

Just as I arrived at the bar, my mom called.

"Where are you now?"

I casually shook my glass and didn't answer her. I said, "What's up?"

Probably being annoyed by my attitude, she was silent for a while.

"Harley said that you deliberately embarrassed her today."

"She didn't have what it takes but insisted on showing off. She embarrassed herself."

My mom was furious. "She was missing for so many years, and she didn't even have enough money to live. Unlike you, she didn't have the money to pay for her hobbies!"

"She wanted to go to the competition. No one forced her.

"She has the nerve! I've been studying traditional painting for over ten years, and I wouldn't dare say that I'm a nine. Your sweetheart, however, obtained Grade 9 in traditional painting in no time. Do you think everyone is as foolish as you and Dad?"

My mom was speechless and could only hang up the phone.

Just as I picked up my glass, I received another call.

"Tilda, are you happy to see me making a fool of myself?" Harley's voice came through.

I took a sip of wine and replied, "Kind of."

Suddenly, someone tapped my shoulder from behind, and my hand shook, accidentally putting her on speaker.

Harley's sarcastic and malicious voice came through the phone. "Tilda, you bitch! One day I will kick you out of the Hersey family!"

"Harley? Want to go out for a drink?" A slender hand snatched the phone from my hand.

4

I turned around and saw Adrian sitting down, dressed up, looking charming.

When Harley heard Adrian's voice, her attitude immediately changed, and even her voice became sweeter.

"Adrian, are you with Tilda?"

"Yes. Are you coming? We're at Starry Bar."

She was quickly coaxed by his sweet nothings and came over.

"Why did you ask her to be here? It's annoying."

I frowned and objected.

Adrian glanced at me, wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and clinked glasses with me.

"No one can bully my bestie. I will make things right for you."

Adrian called a few close friends to have fun together.

When Harley arrived, we were having a great time.

She sat directly between me and Adrian and held Adrian's arm.

"Adrian, I'm here."

After seeing Harley with a super short skirt and a sexy outfit, one of Adrian's friends whistled and teased, "Adrian, you're quite lucky."

I glanced at Harley's sexy cleavage and then at my own flat chest and couldn't help but curl up my lips.

Harley tightly hugged Adrian and kept pressing her body against him. The people didn't make comments as they were expecting a good show.

"Enough. Sit a bit further away from me. You're so close to me that your sweat is dirtying my clothes."

Adrian finally spoke.

I saw his livid face and the pleading look he gave me. I knew he had reached his limit, so I suppressed my laughter and squeezed Harley to the side.

Harley glared at me. Although she was angry, she still maintained a smile.

The next second, someone pinched my waist hard, and the pain was immense.

I turned around and saw Harley giving me a provocative smile.

I had always been clear about what to love or hate. If I had a grudge, I settled it on the spot. So, I raised the glass in my hand and splashed the wine on her face.

The pale yellow drink splashed on her face, washing away a small part of her false eyelashes.

Harley screamed.

"Tilda, are you crazy?"

She raised her hand and tried to grab my hair.

Adrian took a step forward and stood in front of me.

He frowned and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

I rubbed the spot where I was pinched, and I knew there must be a bruise without even looking at it.

"She pinched me."

"Adrian, don't listen to her. She's full of lies!"

Adrian gave Harley a cold glance and pulled me away.

Everyone present was smart enough to judge the situation. They all left in an instant, leaving only Harley sitting awkwardly in the booth.

I and Adrian left the private room, and then we heard her screams and the sound of glass breaking inside.

We looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"I didn't expect you to confront her head-on directly."

Adrian sighed, his eyes full of mockery.

I waved my hand and said, "What else can I do? My dad taught me so many things, and one of them is never letting myself be taken advantage of."

"Harley, you truly live up to your reputation as the heiress of the Hersey Group. By the way, there is something I want to tell you." Adrian became serious.

"What's the matter?"

"Your mother is not your biological mother. She used to be your father's mistress."

"Really?" I frowned.

"Yes. I swear. My mom told me this yesterday."

We fell into a long silence.

Adrian had been my friend for over ten years, and he wouldn't lie to me.

There were countless secrets in wealthy families, but it was extremely difficult to hide anything from people within the same circle.

The Bond family was as powerful as my family, so he didn't have to lie to me at all.

Suddenly, many things made sense.

Looking at my gradually cooling face, Adrian beside me asked, "What are you going to do?"

"If it's true, of course, I'll kick them out of my home."

I clenched my fists, trying to calm myself down.