"Who is that vision?"

"Seriously? That's Adaline."

“Look at her, draped in affluence. She truly is a Phillips. Why can't I have such a lavish life?"

The hushed voices were tinged with a mix of admiration and envy.

Adaline reveled in the spotlight, feeling no less than a celebrity.

As she navigated her way, a quick glance at her phone revealed the cyber gossip surrounding Lilah was at its zenith, and Lilah's silence seemed like a tacit surrender.

Feeling vindicated, Adaline believed Lilah was reaping what she sowed for openly deriding her work.

Yet, stepping into the elevator, Adaline froze in her tracks.

She hastily removed her glasses for clarity.

Before her stood Lilah!

The elevator doors slid open to reveal Lilah alongside a young woman.

"Is that... Lilah?" Adaline's voice dripped with incredulity.

Lilah met her gaze with a hint of amusement, offering a noncommittal hum in response.

“Why are you here? I heard you didn't make it past the preliminaries?"

Adaline's tone was accusatory, her words resonating throughout the confined space, drawing intrigued glances from the other occupants.

Adaline continued with a mix of pity and scorn, "If you were keen to compete, you should have earned your spot genuinely. Resorting to dubious means is both disgraceful and unfair to genuine participants."

She insinuated that Lilah had manipulated her way into the competition. Adaline was prepared to drag Lilah's name through the mud.

When Janet overheard this, her expression morphed into one of disbelief. Realizing the underlying misunderstanding, she quickly interjected, “Lilah didn't pull any strings to be here."

Adaline, refusing to be silenced, shot back, “And you are? Her advocate? She's not a contestant on the list; why defend her?"

Janet, retaining her calm, clarified, "I'm not her advocate. She's not here to compete."

A moment of realization flashed across Adaline's face. "So, Lilah, did you come here to spectate? Or maybe you landed a minor job here?

Something in housekeeping perhaps?"

Whispers and murmurs buzzed through the elevator.

With a hint of impatience, Janet stated, "Lilah isn't here for a job.