Every gaze in the room locked onto Nana.

She began to shake uncontrollably, panic seizing her.

Standing exposed before the host, the studio audience, and the rolling cameras, Nana had no choice.

She confessed that she had taken the gown and brought it back to the studio.

The truth was out—Elise had been deliberately framed.

Yet, everyone sensed Nana wasn't the true mastermind. She had no real motive against Elise.

All attention shifted to Amanda, still on stage. Her face turned ghostly pale.

She had no defense.

The host snarled, "Why did you switch the gown Elise made? Why set her up?"

Amanda pressed her lips together, silent.

No matter her connections, her career in showbiz was over. Exposed under the bright lights, in front of the entire nation.

She shook her head, instinctively turning to Sophia, her eyes pleading.

She begged Sophia to cover for her, to offer some explanation, to save her from this isolation.

But Sophia was more enraged than panicked.

She felt Amanda's desperate look, but she wouldn't let her own image and integrity be tarnished.

She had planned for this. If things went south, Amanda would be the fall girl.

So, Sophia's expression twisted into pained disbelief. "How could you, Amanda?" she cried. "I know you didn't want my sister to win for Mitchell Corp, but to frame her? You were my best friend! I can't believe you'd do this..."

She broke down, covering her face with her hands, seemingly devastated.

Amanda stared, utterly stunned.

How could Sophia push all the blame onto her? Why did she have to take the fall?

It was Sophia's plan to frame Elise from the start! And now she was being blamed?

Amanda couldn't accept it. But before she could protest, Sophia cut her off.

Turning to the judges and audience, Sophia sobbed miserably, "I never imagined it would come to this. It's so regrettable... My sister on one side, my best friend on the other. I forfeit my place. The winner is my sister, Elise. She deserves this victory. I'm content with that."

With those words, Sophia turned and hurried off stage, dragging a shell-shocked Amanda with her.

Sophia was clever. She ended the drama here, emerging unscathed, appearing like a saint.

Elise watched, a cold sneer forming as she saw Amanda's face contort in anguish.

Amanda never saw the betrayal coming.

She had trusted Sophia completely. Sophia always listened to her. She had even helped Sophia get close to her own brother.

She probably never anticipated... that Sophia would be so ungrateful.

Elise spoke up firmly. "A competition is a competition. I don't want concessions. I won't accept a win that wasn't earned. I don't want anyone saying I won by luck."

Her words were a clear jab at Sophia's ulterior motive—trying to appear gracious in defeat when she never stood a chance against Elise.

The live comments exploded.