Chapter 40

Hailey didn't leave. Instead, she lingered outside the conference room. As the judges stepped out, laughing and talking, a smirk tugged at her lips, her eyes gleaming with calculation. Without hesitation, she rushed toward them. ... After lunch and a brief rest, Alexia returned to the conference room. As she reached the door, she nearly collided with Hailey. She shot her a glare. Just her luck to run into Hailey! However, Hailey only gave her an unsettling smile. She seemed to be hiding something. Alexia frowned, unease prickling at her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something about Hailey's expression felt off. Once the judges and audience had taken their seats, Ryan walked up on stage. "Now that we've had a short break, let's resume the competition and welcome our three designers back to the stage," he announced. The three designers walked up to the stage. Ryan continued, "Over the past two weeks of fierce competition, these three have delivered truly impres