CHAPTER 031
425 BONUS
CHAPTER 031
AVA’S POV
The room whirled, my heart constricting as Laura’s voice echoed in my mind.
She stood there, upright and graceful, with a shining, flawless smile on her face, appearing calm and confident, as if she fully deserved to be there and claim my efforts as her own.
How could she?
My hands balled into fists at my sides, yet I stayed rooted in place. I couldn’t move. My legs felt as though they were anchored to the ground, my breath caught between stock and anger.
The audience erupted into polite applause, oblivious to the weight of the lie Laura had just told.
She was smiling, soaking in their attention, her voice dripping with false modesty as she started bragging about her “contribution.”
“Thank you so much for your support,” Laura said, her tone syrupy. “These dresses were a result of my vision and dedication. I worked tirelessly to ensure they complemented the jewelry perfectly.”
Her words cut through me like shards of glass. I couldn’t believe the audacity. My hard work, my sleepless nights, my designs – she was standing there, claiming it all as her own.
I clenched my fists tighter, my nails digging into my palms as I reminded myself, “Stay calm, Ava. Don’t cause a scenie,”
The jewelry designer, Mrs. Davies, took a step closer to Laura, her brows furrowing slightly. “Miss, I thought Ava was the designer of these dresses?”
The question hung in the air, silencing the murmurs of the crowd. My heart leaped with a mix of hope and dread. Please, let her see the truth.
Laura’s expression didn’t falter. She let out a soft, dismissive laugh. “Oh, Ava? She helped, of course, but the designs and the execution were all mine. I had to step in and fix everything when things went wrong.”
“Besides, she works under me and isn’t talented enough to handle such designs,” she said with a chuckle.
“I find it absurd that you think a junior colleague without experience could manage something like this. Don’t you think it’s funny?”
Her words sent a sharp stab of anger through me. My throat tightened, and I could feel tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. Not from sadness – from sheer frustration.
Funny? How dare she?
The room felt suffocating. The crowd began whispering, their curiosity piqued by the exchange.
“I
“That’s not true,” I said under my breath, but my voice didn’t carry.
Just as I was trying to muster the courage to speak louder, to confront Laura a sudden voice rang out from the side of the stage.
“That’s a lie!”
Every head turned, including mine. It was Chloe.
She stepped forward, her face pale but her eyes blazing with determination, “Laura, stop lying. You didn’t design these dresses. Ava did!”
1/2
CHAPTER OST
The crowd gasped, their attention snapping between Chloe and Laura.
Laura’s smile faltered for the briefest moment before she recovered, her expression hardening
I could see the fear in her eyes, she looked like she had been caught red–handed, “Chloe, what are you doing? Don’t make a scene. This isn’t the time for your childish antics.”
“It’s not childish,” Chloe shot back, her voice steady despite the tension in the room. “It’s the truth. Ava worked day and night to create these designs. She even had to repair the ruined dresses after…”
“Enough!” Laura’s voice cut through Chloe’s words like a whip. “You’re lying. You’re just trying to cause trouble because you are jealous of my success.
The crowd buzzed with murmurs again, but Chloe didn’t back downL
“Jealous of your success?” She scoffed. “And why would I be jealous of what is not yours?” Her hands shook slightly as she pulled out her phone.
“If you all–doubt me, then listen to this,” Chloe said, her voice trembling yet resolute. She pressed a button, and the room fell silent as the recording played.
Laura’s voice crackled through the speakers, unmistakably cold and condescending. “Ensure the gowns are destroyed. I don’t care how you do it, just make sure it’s done. Ava cannot have this moment.”
Gasps rippled through the audience. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at Laura, whose face had turned ghostly pale as if she had seen a specter.
So she was the one behind all this ugly incident that happened?
I knew Laura disliked me, and I knew she had eyes on Jason but I never expected she could stoop so low and do something that could damage the company’s reputation because of me.
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Mrs. Davies‘ eyes widened, her gaze snapping back to Laura “Is this true? Did you destroy the dresses?”
“I don’t know what that is,” Laura stammered, her confident facade crumbling. “That could be anyone’s voice! She’s just trying to frame me.”
Chloe’s voice was steady as she responded, “Why would I do that? You used me, Laura. And I’m done lying for you,”
The crowd erupted into whispers, their admiration for Laura quickly turning into judgment.
Laura’s lips moved soundlessly, her gaze darting between the crowd and Mrs Davies, searching for an escape.
However, there was no escape.
For a brief moment, I could only stare, my body frozen as watched her unravel, Then, a tiny ember of relief ignited within me.
Mrs. Davies folded her arms, her tone icy. “This is not finished, Laura,”
And with that, the truth was exposed, and the room buzzed with tension.
For the first time that evening, I allowed myself to breathe
