After Divorce I Married a Tycoon-Chapter 182: Why Ask for Humiliation?

Unaware of the firestorm raging online, Claire Mercer remained perfectly calm and composed.

She gave Joel Jennings a cold look and asked,

"Do you dare show me the evidence you’ve presented?"

A flicker of guilt crossed Joel Jennings’s eyes, but it was gone in an instant.

He snorted coldly at Claire Mercer.

"Claire Mercer, I suggest you stop wasting your time. Didn’t you hear? Judge Benny has already confirmed you plagiarized."

"Judge Benny is a titan of the design world. After a careful comparison by him and the other judges, they’ve unanimously concluded that you plagiarized. Why do you insist on humiliating yourself further?"

"Unanimously?" Claire said coolly. "The other judges haven’t said a single word."

’I saw it perfectly clearly just now.’

’The other judges had just received the documents and barely had a chance to look at them before Judge Benny—the one who accused me—snatched them away.’

’It’s probably because Judge Benny is the most senior and influential of all the judges.’

’That’s why the other judges, despite looking slightly displeased, didn’t say anything.’

’What’s more, I also noticed something else just now.’

’That Judge Benny and Joel Jennings exchanged a very brief glance.’

’Since he was the one holding the documents...’

’...I had been carefully watching his every expression.’

’Their subtle exchange didn’t escape my notice.’

’In that instant, I knew. Joel Jennings and this judge, Benny, were working together to frame me.’

’And of course, Scarlett Jewel had to be behind it all.’

’When I first spoke up, my gaze was fixed on Scarlett Jewel.’

’The distress signal she sent to Joel Jennings didn’t escape my notice either. All of it—every last detail—convinced me that Scarlett Jewel was almost certainly the one who orchestrated and planned everything happening here today.’

’But it doesn’t matter!’

’Since Judge Benny doesn’t dare let the other judges examine the documents closely...’

’...and since Joel Jennings is trying to brand me a plagiarist based on a few words from Benny...’

’...and since he doesn’t even dare to show his so-called evidence to me, the very contestant they’ve accused...’

’...then there must be something wrong with this so-called evidence.’

’And if there’s something wrong with it, then the ’evidence’ Joel provided can become the key evidence that I was framed and slandered.’

’Now, it all depends on whether Joel Jennings dares to hand that evidence over to me, the accused party.’

’If he keeps making excuses, my judgment must be correct.’

Just as she expected, Joel Jennings continued to be evasive.

He made no move to openly hand the evidence he’d produced to Claire Mercer.

Instead, he said shamelessly,

"Claire Mercer, you asked me for evidence, and I provided it." "I’ve already shown it to everyone. Judge Benny and the other judges have all seen it, so why are you still making a scene?"

Claire Mercer remained utterly unfazed.

If anything, she seemed even more calm and collected.

"Joel Jennings, you don’t dare to show me your so-called evidence."

"If you’re afraid to show this so-called evidence to me, the accused party, can I assume it’s because there’s something fishy about it?"

The smug look on Joel Jennings’s face vanished, replaced by a flash of fury. "Claire Mercer, you—"

Claire ignored his flustered anger.

Her words were sharp, clear, and methodical.

"You’re afraid I’ll find out what’s wrong with it, so you won’t dare give me the evidence."

"You just want to brand me a plagiarist based on a few words from Judge Benny."

"If this evidence is flawed, it means you’re colluding with certain people to frame and slander me."

"When that happens, you and your partners will be exposed. Some of you might even see your careers go up in flames."

"That’s why you still don’t dare show me the evidence. Am I right?"

Hearing Claire’s words, a flash of impatience crossed the faces of Joel Jennings, Scarlett Jewel, and the judge, Benny.

’How is this Claire Mercer so damn sharp?’

’If she keeps this up, our plan is going to be exposed in front of the whole country.’

Sure enough, after hearing Claire Mercer’s analysis, the audience and other contestants began to look at Joel Jennings with renewed suspicion.

"Claire Mercer is right. Why won’t Joel Jennings let her see his so-called evidence? He accused her in front of everyone, so she has the right to see it, doesn’t she? If he’s too scared to show her, then there must be something fishy going on."

"You don’t think Joel Jennings actually teamed up with a judge to frame and slander Claire Mercer, do you?"

"Look at that hateful expression on his face. I bet Claire Mercer hit the nail on the head."

"That Joel Jennings is such a scumbag. I don’t think Claire Mercer ever did anything to him, did she? Don’t tell me he’s holding a grudge just because he lost to her in the first round."

"What I’m curious about now is who his partner is. Is it really that judge? Why would he help Joel Jennings slander and frame a contestant? That’s completely unprofessional."

"I feel a plot twist coming."

"..."

Sitting at the judges’ table, Benny could faintly hear the murmurs from the audience behind him.

His expression grew grave, his face dark and sullen. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Meanwhile, Joel Jennings was so stumped by Claire Mercer’s questions that he didn’t know how to respond.

He shot another look at Benny.

Benny was in the same boat as Joel Jennings now.

If Joel was proven to be a slanderer, then Benny, the one who had made the final call, wouldn’t escape unscathed either.

At this thought, Benny spoke up angrily.

"Claire Mercer, are you implying that I’m colluding with Joel Jennings to frame and slander you?"

"Do you know my standing in the fashion design world? And what’s yours?"

"Why would I bother scheming against a rookie who hasn’t even broken into the industry yet?"

"Your designs might show a little basic skill, but you pose absolutely no threat or challenge to me."

"Since you’re no threat to me, what possible reason or motive would I have to slander you?"

"Everyone has a reason for what they do. So please, tell me, why would I slander you? Why would I frame you?"

"Judge Benny, no need to get so worked up. I never once said you were Joel Jennings’s partner. Why are you so eager to claim the title?"

As soon as she said this, the color drained from Benny’s face, his expression turning even uglier.

Claire’s words made it seem like he was protesting his innocence too much, rushing to identify himself as Joel’s partner—the scoundrel who had framed and slandered her.

He was furious, his face turning the color of beets with rage.

"Where are the organizers? I refuse to speak with this plagiarist any longer. It’s an insult to all of us original designers."

Seeing him act like a cornered animal, Claire sneered. "So, Judge Benny, are you saying that I definitely plagiarized?"

Benny declared with conviction, "I have already compared the materials carefully. Claire Mercer, you plagiarized the designer, CC. There is no doubt about it."