Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 512

The Architectural Design Competition.

The finals were being held in Seaview City, featuring a select few designs chosen from countless submissions.

Alicia's and Jade's entries were strikingly similar, yet none of the judges had raised the issue before the finals. This could only mean one thing: Jade had already gotten to the judging panel and the event organizers. She had paved the way for this moment, confident that today would be the day she destroyed Alicia's reputation.

Even though Alicia had returned to the White family as Nicole White and had become the sole heir thanks to Patriarch Reginald White, the executives at White Corporation still didn't respect her abilities. This was the perfect opportunity for Jade and Brandon White. They were looking for any weakness they could exploit to crush her and erase her from the minds of the company's leadership.

"So what if she's Reginald's only heir? When it comes to their own bottom line, loyalty means nothing," one of the event organizers, a former White Corporation employee, remarked to Brandon during a private chat. After leaving the company, he had focused on organizing these competitions.

Alicia knew about him. The head of White Corporation's architectural design department had warned her to withdraw from the competition if she wasn't absolutely certain of victory, fearing it would damage her standing.

But Alicia hadn't listened.

Withdraw? If she withdrew, how could she enjoy the show?

"You're right. Profit before everything," Brandon said with a smile, handing the man a cigarette as they met secretly before the event began.

Alicia watched from a hidden corner. Once they had re-entered the venue, she took off her sunglasses and followed them inside.

Just before she and Felix entered, she received a message from Tyrone on WhatsApp.

*Don't be afraid. I'm here.*

A small smile touched her lips. A message from Tyrone always had a way of steadying her nerves.

"Well, well, isn't it Alicia? Miss Shelton, I hear you're the heir to White Corporation now. Quite the accomplishment for someone like you." As soon as she stepped inside, a rich kid she knew from the old days swaggered over to make trouble.

The words had barely left her mouth when Easton, who had been sitting with the Lynch Corporation contingent, strode over, his expression grim. He punched Heston squarely in the jaw.

Heston started to curse, but when he saw it was Easton, he fell silent. The Lowell family still depended on Lynch Corporation.

"Say one more ugly word to my sister-in-law. I dare you," Easton snarled.

Natalia, sitting nearby, turned pale. They had wanted to put Alicia in her place, and now Easton was defending her. Gritting her teeth, she walked over. "Easton, you're being too impulsive."

Alicia ignored Natalia and stepped toward Heston. In front of everyone, she brought her heel down hard on his hand. "You don't seem to understand the new reality. That's fine. I'll make it crystal clear for you… and show you that times have changed."

She turned to Easton. "Easton, can Lynch Corporation terminate all its contracts with the Lowell family?"

***