After the board meeting, Peter nearly ran a red light as he sped toward Sapphire Summit Hall. Glancing anxiously at his watch, he calculated the time, then sprinted the moment he parked his car.
By the time he burst through the hall doors, Niamh was already onstage, just as she removed her entry–her own design–from the model’s head.
The headpiece wasn’t symmetrical. With a deft motion, Niamh clasped together the two metallic lace ribbons dangling from either end, and in an instant, the. accessory transformed into a three–dimensional sculpture.
Peter’s lips curled into a knowing smile.
Niamh had won.
He didn’t need to see the judges‘ scores; he could already sense the outcome.
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
Preston Winslow, who’d just dashed back from the restroom, leapt to his feet, clapping wildly. Not far away, Quentin joined in, his expression a mixture of awe
and disbelief.
Niamh said nothing. She simply presented her creation to the judges in silence.
She believed her work spoke for itself–answering every doubt, every question.
Onstage, Marina was shaking with fury.
Impossible… How could Niamh come up with something like this?
Even the other contestants, all except Marina, couldn’t help but applaud Niamh’s ingenuity. Marina hesitated, then forced herself to join in, clapping stiffly, her face flushed.
Niamh’s design, worn as a headpiece, was a breathtaking, one–of–a–kind creation: a scarf of 22–karat white gold, encrusted with a mosaic of dazzling gemstones. But when removed and the lace ribbons fastened, it became the perfect model
human brain.
of
a
On one side, a ruby; on the other, a sapphire–together forming the left and right hemispheres.
To Niamh, artificial intelligence wasn’t just about robots. It was the simulation of human thought by computer systems, shaping every aspect of modern life. Her
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piece was a tribute to the brilliance of human intellect–a radiant arc of ingenuity.
She’d handpicked perfectly cut colored stones, set with countless tiny diamonds using her own hidden mounting technique, maximizing their brilliance and fire. This, she believed, was the very embodiment of human wisdom shining through.
Niamh didn’t voice any of this. But everyone in the hall understood her vision through her creation alone.
In the end, the judges gave Niamh a perfect score: 100 out of 100.
She was crowned champion of the Nova Jewelry Design Awards, outshining every other competitor.
The cash prize was generous, but what mattered most to Niamh was the invitation she’d finally earned: a spot at Luminous Divas Fashion Week. The best of both worlds.
As Niamh stood onstage accepting her award, Peter watched her intently, so absorbed he didn’t even notice when Liam Grant appeared beside him.
“Now, that’s a bit unfair, Peter,” Liam said, a hint of mischief in his voice.
Startled out of his reverie, Peter turned to him, puzzled. “Sorry? I’m not sure I follow,
Chairman Grant.”
Liam nodded toward the stage, where Niamh stood bathed in light. “That’s Niamh, isn’t it? The renowned designer behind your FY Grand Piano Collection–BYC?”
Peter’s mouth fell open. He inhaled sharply, caught between admitting the truth and keeping the secret.
Liam caught his discomfort and added, “That hidden mounting technique Niamh just demonstrated–it’s unique to the Grand Piano Collection, isn’t it? And that gemstone cutting method… it’s practically unheard of. Plus, her design philosophy–it’s unmistakable!”
The more Liam spoke, the deeper his regret grew. He shouldn’t have been so hasty, offering Marina his letter of recommendation the moment he saw her work.
But, to be fair, Devon had pushed him. Devon had sung Marina’s praises, insi J she was superior to Niamh in every way.
Yet seeing was believing. Tonight’s final had shattered every preconception Liam had about Niamh.
Still, as he reconsidered, Liam realized that if it weren’t for those earlier missteps, Niamh might never have entered the competition, and he might never have
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witnessed such a masterpiece.
