Bonnie went straight for the kill, summoning the Organizing Committee: "I want to file a complaint! Someone swapped the artworks and stole another contestant's achievement!"
Cliff hung his head pitifully, the picture of wounded innocence.
The judges' expressions turned grave.
"The entire painting process was conducted under surveillance," one of them said. "It's impossible for anyone to have swapped the works."
Cliff's eyes reddened as he lifted his head, glaring at the long-haired female judge at the front. "Ms. Chavez, you're friends with Jack Gilbert's mother. Of course you'd side with him. But none of us even said who did this, and you're already rushing to cover for him. Don't you think that's a bit much?"
Bonnie piled on, her voice cold as ice: "Ms. Chavez, I donated five million dollars to this competition. Not so I could watch you play favorites and pull strings behind the scenes. My prize money needs to go to someone who actually deserves it."
The other contestants joined the chorus:
"So the judge is friends with Jack Gilbert's mother? No wonder he had a chance to swap the paintings!"