THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 366: You’ve Worked So Hard To Get Here

Seemingly unconvinced, Lauren held Peggy’s gaze. "What exactly did you do, Peggy?"

She knew if she mounts more pressure, others will begin to suspect Peggy which was exactly what she wanted.

Peggy struggled to maintain her composure. "Nothing. I did nothing," she said. Despite trying to maintain her cool, her voice still sounded unconvincing, earning her curious gazes from everyone.

The judges and spectators watched the exchange in silence, the tension in the room palpable.

Peggy realized she had overplayed her hand and tried to backtrack. "I just meant that it’s surprising that the judges would give such praise to your brew with the beans you used, since that was not the original beans you were to use, that’s all."

"I see, but how did you know which beans each team was to use? Is it possible you went from station to station to check what each team had? But if I remember clearly, that’s the job of the store keeper," Lauren stated.

"Yeah, how did she know someone used the wrong beans when she is neither the storekeeper or the organizer?"

"She’s really suspicious."

"Don’t tell me you are on such good terms with the storekeeper that he couldn’t help but let slip this little detail when he was engrossed in a conversation with you," Lauren pressed mockingly.

Everybody understood what Lauren was driving at.

"I think she must have connived with the storekeeper."

"I wonder how many people she must have used or coerced into working with her?"

"I have no interaction with the store keeper," Peggy quickly denied.

"Really? I must have been mistaken then," Lauren said sarcastically. "But it still baffles me how you got to know about all these."

Lauren turned back to the judges, who were now looking at Peggy with suspicion and disappointment. From their expressions, one could tell that some of them were already angry.

"The beans wasn’t the original beans we planned to use but...," Lauren admitted, glancing subtly towards Peggy,"

With Lauren’s admission, another round of argument broke out online. They didn’t even wait for her to finish her explanation before jumping to conclusions.

"How could Empress Brew admit openly that the beans they used wasn’t the original one thei weretl to use. Don’t they know the implications of that?"

"It’s clear Empress Brew cheated in the competition?"

"Does that mean Ms Peggy wasn’t lying about Empress Brew using the wrong beans?"

Peggy’s fans who had been too slapped by her strange actions earlier, suddenly found a way and became bold immediately.

"You heard it yourself, why would Ms Carter lie about such a thing?"

"But that doesn’t change the fact that she crossed the line," an anti fan pointed out.

"Does it matter how Ms Carter got to know?"

"Instead of accusing the wrong person, why not apprehend the real cheat?"

One of the judges saw that Lauren still had something to say and signaled her to continue.

"Thank you sir," Lauren said then continued. "If the judges believe Empress Brews did not follow the rule and cheated, we are fine with whatever punishment we are given today, including a disqualification. We will take it for breaking the rule as no one man can bend the rule or be above the law."

"What?!"

"What did she just say?"

"That’s going too far!"

Even Peggy was shocked when she heard the harsh punishment Lauren imposed on herself. Was she that foolish? She has always known Lauren was not her match from the beginning.

Such a fool wants to contend with her? She had truly overestimated her.

Since Lauren wants to be buried deeper than she had planned, why not help her dig the grave more deeper then? With that she stepped forward.

"You don’t need to be so harsh on yourself and your team, Ms Holmes. After all, you have worked so hard to get here. But like you said, no one is above the law and should be punished. But asking to be disqualified ... that is definitely a harsh punishment."

"But it’s also good you realised your mistake early and I’m sure you would have thought well about it that what you did was unforgivable and saw that as the best form of punishment commensurate with the offence."

"With that, you have also earned my respect as that is exactly what I would have asked for if I was the one at fault. I might even consider a ban as too much of a punishment from the esteemed judges of this great event inorder to show my penitence and remove the dirt my actions might have caused. But that’s me, anyway. You don’t need to put such stringent measures on yourself.

Lauren stared at Peggy pitifully after hearing what she said. She had known Peggy would once again want to prove that she was a better person even in this kind of situation and sure enough, she was not disappointed. But before she would let the cat out of the bag, she still needed to give one more push to completely get Peggy where she wants so that she would find any way to escape later.

"Hmmm," she said, feigning deep respect for what Peggy had said. "Are you saying that whatever decisions the judges deem fit is acceptable as long as the offender is found guilty?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"That’s exactly what I’ve been saying all along. Nobody is above the law, including me," Peggy repeated self-righteously.

"You said it yourself. Don’t regret it later," Lauren said casually, however, her expression had changed from the subservient one she had to a sarcastic tone that gave Peggy the jitters. She couldn’t help but have a bad premonition, but she waved it aside. What else can Lauren do with her poor abilities?

"What’s there to regret? I meant whatever I said. I expected you as a leader to also stand by your words," she said

"Of course I am not someone to go back on my words. It’s just that I was yet to complete my explanation to the judges when you all interrupted," Lauren responded.

Peggy let out a mocking laugh. "What’s there to still say? You already passed judgment on yourself.

"What I mean is that not only has the great concern you have for me made me happy, but it has also given me the boldness to continue with what I wanted to say as what you said will also help the judges in making their decision without any form of sentiments."

Believing that Lauren had taken her bait and would outrightly ask for the harshest form of punishment, which was a ban as she had magnanimously suggested, she smiled in satisfaction.

"Of course. The judges should do their duty without any form of sentimentality. This is what should be done,"

"Thank you," Lauren said and turned to the judges. "Like I was saying, honorable judges, we did indeed change the beans earlier sourced for this particular brew, but that was because we encountered an accident along the way."

But Peggy butted in. "What accident? Are you being diplomatic and blaming your failure and incompetence to follow up on your earlier plans because of inability to source for the right beans... calling it an accident?"

Lauren, who was done arguing with Peggy, ignored her and continued her explanation.