Chapter 248

Isabella's fingers trembled slightly, but she forced herself to straighten her spine.

She lifted her chin, her voice deliberately steady. "Miss Ferguson, I don't know why you're slandering me. Elia is indeed in her forties. We met at a café just last week."

Victoria immediately stepped forward, shielding her daughter. "Miss Ferguson, mind your words. The Jacksons won't tolerate being bullied."

Fiona curled her lips in disdain.

"How interesting." She leisurely pulled out her phone. "Before the competition results were announced today, we were all in the lounge. Elia left the venue at two. So tell me, Miss Jackson, how exactly did you meet her?"

A cold sweat broke out on Isabella's back.

She clenched her skirt, her eyes suddenly reddening. "Miss Ferguson, are you targeting me just because I won first place?"

Fiona scoffed and tossed the autographed photo onto the floor.

"Why would I envy a fraud?" Her voice rose sharply. "You've been parading around using Elia's name—it's an insult to designers!"

The banquet hall fell silent.

"What proof do you have?" Isabella's voice shook. "Are you just making baseless accusations?"

"Proof?" Fiona arched a brow. "The judges for this competition were personally invited by my father. Should I call Elia right now to confirm?"

The guests' expressions shifted instantly.

Victoria's face darkened as she grabbed her daughter's arm. "Isabella, explain yourself!"

Someone in the crowd suggested, "The manager of JM Couture must know Elia. Why not call and ask?"

Isabella's nails dug into her palms.

Seeing her daughter's ashen face, Victoria's heart sank.

But Fiona had already dialed the number.

"Manager Cruz, someone claims Elia is in her forties and is carrying a fake autograph..."

A clear voice came through the phone. "Elia is only twenty-six. Who's impersonating her?"

Gasps rippled through the room.

Fiona hung up and smirked at the deathly pale Isabella. "Miss Jackson, care to explain now?"

Isabella bit her lip hard, her eyes burning with hatred.

Victoria's card-playing friends exchanged meaningful glances.

The banquet hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.