Came Back as an Heiress After My Ex-Fiancé Made Me Blind novel Chapter 38

The host raised the microphone and announced loudly, "Dear viewers, I now announce the first place of the final round of the National Dancing Contest..."

At this moment, the host suddenly stopped.

The audience thought the host was intentionally building up suspense and eagerly waited for the announcement.

However, more than a minute passed, and the host didn't continue.

"What's going on? It's one thing to create suspense, but this is just ridiculous! Something's wrong!" Some members of the audience began to express their discontent.

"Hey, look, the host seems to be listening to something in his earpiece."

"Yeah, you're right!"

"What's happening? What's going on?"

The host, who had paused halfway through the announcement, had received a message through his earpiece from the backstage director. "Wait! Hold off on announcing the results! We've received an audio message..."

The audience was growing impatient. What could possibly be happening?

Onstage, the contestants were equally puzzled. They exchanged bewildered glances, not knowing what was going on.

Amelia, seeing the situation, furrowed her brows in anxiety. What was going on? The announcement of her first-place victory was imminent, yet the host had suddenly stopped?

In the live chat, viewers bombarded the screen with question marks.

[??? What's this sudden turn of events? Is it a technical glitch??]

Finally, when everyone was utterly confused, the host spoke again, "Dear viewers, our production team received an audio message in our inbox just before the final started. However, we didn't have time to check it."

"Just three minutes ago, one of our staff members discovered this audio message. Now, we've decided to publicly play this audio message. Please, everyone, listen together!"

After the host's announcement, he stepped aside, making way for the large screen behind him.

A staff member connected the laptop screen to the big screen. Everyone in the venue saw the program team's email inbox displayed on the screen. There was an anonymous audio message received there.

At this moment, Amelia's heart sank. A dreadful premonition washed over her. Could this audio message be...?

No!

Don't play it!

Amelia desperately prayed in her heart, anxiety painting her eyes.

But the staff member had already clicked the play button in front of everyone.

After a series of crackling sounds, a middle-aged man's voice came through the speakers. "Victoria and Amelia are both daughters of the Montgomery family, yet their fates differ greatly. Just look at the Third Young Master of the Montgomery family; he's done so much for Amelia."

The audience quickly recognized the voice. It belonged to one of the judges of the National Dancing Contest! And this judge was present on the stage right now!

All eyes turned to the judge.

The judge was now sweating profusely. It was indeed his voice, but how... how could it have been recorded?

At this moment, Amelia on stage was in a state of panic. How could this be exposed? How could Dempsey's bribery of the judges be revealed?

That useless man!

He couldn't even handle such a small matter as bribing judges properly!

In the backstage area, Dempsey angrily kicked the chair next to him, his face twisted with frustration.

Damn it, who leaked this information?

Now everyone knew he had bribed the judges!

And this was happening live, broadcasted to the world. Where could he hide his face now?

The host turned toward the four judges and demanded, "The four of you, can you explain this matter?"

The four judges exchanged glances, their faces pale, trembling with nervousness. They wanted to defend themselves, but the recorded conversation was crystal clear. The undeniable evidence was right in front of them, leaving them with no room for excuses.

Their bribery was exposed publicly, tarnishing their reputations irreparably. Their careers as judges were utterly ruined.

Then, the host directed his gaze at Amelia and questioned her once more, "Amelia, do you know about Dempsey bribing the judges?"

At that moment, everyone's eyes turned to Amelia.

Amelia was clutching her nails so tightly that it seemed as though she wanted to crush her entire palm. The gazes from those around her were filled with disdain and disgust, piercing through her like sharp swords, nailing her to a pillar of shame.