Chapter 27 I Am Not a Plagiarist

Annie's mind went blank for a beat. Murmurs from the audience below grew louder and crashed against her nerves like relentless waves. She couldn't afford to panic now. Just as she was about to speak, the highly respected chief judge seated among the panels, Wallace Locke, suddenly raised his hand. His assistant was bent close to his ear, whispering urgently as he listened to a clear command coming from his earpiece. Wallace's expression shifted before he picked up his microphone and solemnly announced, "The contest is suspended. "There are questionable aspects to this matter, so the judging panel needs time for an urgent review. There will be a 30-minute break." In a private VIP lounge backstage, Wallace, who'd just made the announcement for the contest's suspension, now stood stiffly to the side. Cold sweat beaded at his temples. On the couch, a tall man sat with easy, almost idle composure, his long legs crossed. It was Christian. Wallace sneaked a glance at his face and inwa