MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

"Oh my god, did she take Katrina's sapphire necklace?"

"No, she stole it!" Katrina earnestly said it without batting an eyelid. 

"That's hard to swallow. She doesn't seem the type!"

"Not for money, I guess. Maybe she feared that Katrina would impress the jury with her necklace. If Katrina doesn't do well in the second round, she might have a higher chance of winning first place in the final."

Silence reigned throughout the rest of the dressing room except for the whispering voices of those competitors.

Katrina, holding the necklace, frowned at Savannah.

Savannah's heart sank within her. Before she could explain it, a staff approached her and said coolly, "Miss Schultz, we found this necklace under the carpet in your fitting room. Please explain."

"I never laid a finger on that necklace. I've been set up," said Savannah, trying to quieten herself down. Somebody had tried to set her up, compromise her!

The staff discussed it, and then one went out first to report this matter with the jury. In a short while, a man and a woman came in.

They were both well-known people in the domestic fashion industry and served as the jury of the contest. The middle-aged man in a plaid suit and brown-framed glasses was Professor Bowden from a celebrated university in LA.

The woman in her 40s, wearing a sexy red dress with a soft belt around her waist, was a famous fashion designer, Serena Elliott, who was also known as Fashion Queen.

The two, of course, had a say in this matter.

A surprise that they were unable to hide registered on their faces. Professor Bowden was more shocked when he saw that Savannah was the suspect. He noticed Savannah's talent in her works in the first round and liked her design style very much.

"There must be a mistake somewhere," he said immediately.

"A mistake? I don't think so," Elliott frowned, glancing at Katrina again, "do you want to call the police?"

Katrina bit her lip and shook her head, "No… Forget it. I don't want to trouble you or affect the contest. I don't want to make a scene.

Elliott folded her arms and turned to Savannah.

"Since Katrina's not going to press the case, we won't send you to the police. But you're disqualified now. Please leave at once."

Professor Bowden glanced at Elliott. She had a good relationship with Katrina's parents, and of course, she was at the side of Katrina.

Savannah didn't move. If she was driven out as the suspected thief today, her reputation would definitely be defiled by malicious gossips. 

"Ms. Elliott, I didn't do it. I also wonder why the necklace was found in my fitting room." Savannah said calmly.

"It's not reasonable to disqualify her without evidence that she's guilty. Savannah's a potential competitor, and we'd better make a further investigation before deciding how to solve the matter," said Professor Bowden, who didn't believe Savannah would do something like that.

"Professor Bowden, I don't think it's necessary to spend more time on a thief. Lying and stealing are immoral! If audiences know that there's a thief in the contest, I'm afraid no one would like to take part in it next year. She's going to ruin our reputation!" Elliott's voice sounded shrill.

Meanwhile, out of the dressing room, a tiny figure crouched behind the door, watching the scene quietly, and then slipped out.

"Where have you been, my young master? Did you slip in to see Miss Schultz?" Louis, who had been looking for Kaiden all the way, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the boy coming out from the backstage. Kaiden could not sit still, and Louis failed to stop him from running into the backstage just now.

Kaiden, with a stern look, didn't reply to him.

"What's wrong?" Louis noticed his strange expression.

Kaiden clenched his fist, and then he took out his small mobile phone and made a call.

"Daddy, mommy's been bullied!"

***

There was still a deadlock in the backstage.

Savannah refused to quit. While Professor Bowden was at Savannah's side, Elliott could not drive her out.

Katrina and other competitors stood at one side, holding their breath.

"What are you waiting for? I advise you to take the initiative to withdraw from the competition so that you can maintain your reputation. If it comes to the police station, you will be in trouble!"

"If the police can find out the truth and prove my innocence, I don't mind you calling the police," replied Savannah calmly.

"Good! Since you are not afraid of losing face or making a big scene, call the police!" growled Elliott.

However, Katrina darted to Elliott and stopped her, "Come on, it's not worth it for a necklace."

"Don't be afraid. In order to win the first, she would rather turn to the theft regardless of decency and integrity. Why are you still concerned about her face? You're too softhearted!" Elliott showed to everyone that she backed Katrina up.

"Well... I just don't want to affect the contest. It will be on the bad news if we call the police…" Katrina insisted.

Elliott nodded reluctantly. Then she stared at Savannah.

"You refuse to leave? What a nerve! I give you ten minutes to clean up things and get out of here. I don't want to see you again. If you're still here ten minutes later, don't blame me for calling the security! It's not a nice thing to be pulled out by the security!"

With that, she left the dressing room.

Professor Bowden sighed and followed her out.

They had just moved on a dozen paces when they saw a young man in a suit standing in front of them.

He walked to them in an imposing manner and said politely, "Ms. Elliott, Professor Bowden, my boss wants to see you."

* * *

Elliott and Professor Bowden followed the young man into the lounge. A tall man was standing at the window, with his hands behind his back. He turned at the sound of their footsteps.