Chapter 31:

Her eyes lingered on the gown for a moment longer, a small smile tugging at her lips. She was no stranger to this design—it was one of her own creations. “I’ll take this one,” Yelena said confidently.

“Alright then,” Donna said with a smile, her tone encouraging. “You two should try them on now. If anything doesn’t fit quite right, the designer will make the necessary alterations.” Yelena and Bella retreated to try on their gowns, each one no doubt imagining the impression they would make.

Moments later, Yelena stepped out, and the transformation was immediate. The room seemed to hold its breath as all eyes were drawn to her.

The white gown, which had seemed so simple on the hanger, fit her like a second skin, cinching at the waist to accentuate her slender figure. Her natural beauty—unfussed and effortless—shone through, making her the undeniable center of attention. For a brief moment, Bella stood frozen, her fists clenched at her sides.

She had assumed Yelena’s choice would be the least impressive, something plain and unremarkable that would leave her looking dull and out of place. Instead, Yelena looked absolutely radiant. The gown, simple yet elegant, seemed to become her.

Bella’s pink gown—once her beacon of confidence—now felt like a distant second. The sparkle she had expected to command was nowhere to be found.

A wave of resentment washed over her. She had always been the one to capture the spotlight, the one whose presence demanded attention.

The more Bella looked at Yelena, the more her dislike grew.

And then, a plan began to form in her mind. There was no way Yelena’s gown would make it to the Mitchell family banquet. No way she would let Yelena outshine her.

After trying on the gown, Yelena made her way to the DY Group. The DY Group was a name that carried weight across Eighfast. Owned by Yelena, it was an enigmatic powerhouse that commanded both admiration and fear from the city’s most influential moguls.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁: ⲅⲁⳑ𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⫺𝖼𝗈𝗆

To the public, its true ownership was shrouded in mystery, adding an extra layer of allure. What had started as a humble venture had quickly grown into a formidable force, dominating industries from design to research, and even pharmaceuticals. Usually, Yelena let her professional management team, along with Brody, run the day-to-day operations.

She preferred to keep her distance.

But with her mother’s health in decline, she felt the need to step in personally today.

As soon as she walked through the door, Brody greeted her with a smile. “Yelena,” he said, offering a warm welcome.

“Are the herbs I asked for ready?” Yelena inquired, her voice steady but expectant.

“They’re all set. Come take a look and make sure nothing’s missing,” Brody responded.

“Good,” Yelena nodded, her attention already on the task at hand. Before she could leave, Brody hesitated, looking like he had something on his mind. “I wanted to talk to you about something. You remember that black market bounty we discussed?”

“What about it?” Yelena raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t I tell you to decline it?”

“Well, you might want to hear this first,” Brody said, a trace of intrigue in his voice. “We found out who the patient is. It’s Austin Barton, the heir to the Barton family in Kheley. We saw him at that auction last night.”

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