Chapter 696:
In front of the gathered crowd, Laurel asked this question deliberately. Of course, Rylie saw through her tricks, and she didn’t flinch. “It’s for the Meridian Future design competition,” she answered coolly.
“Meridian Future?”
“She’s entering design now? I thought she was all about medicine.”
“I’ve heard Rylie’s been turning heads lately, but no one can excel at everything. Meridian Future isn’t just any show — it’s one of the most prestigious contests in the design world.”
The murmurs swirled behind her, drifting straight to Laurel’s ears. Certain of her triumph, Laurel put on a mask of reluctant regret. “This is a bit sudden. I already gave that fabric to Paola not long ago.”
Rylie’s lashes fluttered. “You gave it to her?”
Laurel offered a subtle smile. “She’s been adrift lately, so I encouraged her, representing Elegance, to cooperate with Buckley Jewelry and participate in the Meridian Future competition. Winning isn’t the goal; it’s about expanding her perspective and exposing her to new experiences.”
Nearby, Mylo sauntered over, wine glass in hand, his gaze fixed on Paola as he showered her with compliments. “I never would’ve guessed Paola was so versatile. Even her offhand sketches made quite an impact on me.” Celia stood beside him, lost in her thoughts.
Laurel let out a soft laugh before turning to Rylie. “Since Paola’s work is entered in the competition, and Sweetberry is participating too, using the same fabric, I suggest switching to something different. How about renegotiating with my factory for a new contract? I’ll have them send it over.”
Patrick quickly said, “I agree. It’s a mutually beneficial solution.”
“Miss Owen, you really ought to consider it,” another woman pressed. “You’ve got talent, no doubt, but in unfamiliar territory, it’s wiser to heed some advice from those who are seasoned rather than to act rashly. It’d be a shame for Sweetberry to face humiliation at Meridian Future.”
ｍ𝚘𝚛ｅ ｕ𝚙ｄ𝚊ｔｅｓ 𝚒ｎ ɢ𝚊ｌ𝚗𝚘ｖ𝚎ｌ𝚜.𝚌𝚘𝚖
Rylie gave a faint smile. “What a coincidence, but I’m not interested in signing any contracts, so let’s leave it there.”
With a decisive gesture, she ended the video call and turned to Patrick, whose face held a trace of feigned innocence. “The meal was delightful. Thank you for hosting. I’ll take it from here and explore on my own.”
Patrick, having accomplished his aims, felt no need to press further and let her go.
On the other end, as Laurel disconnected, Celia approached and asked abruptly, “Is it truly just a coincidence? Rylie’s competing in Meridian Future too, alongside Paola.”
The memory of their last shared stage—the Wesdown International Piano Competition, where Rylie judged and Paola faced plagiarism accusations—made Celia wary.
“I admire the design, but its origins…”
Despite the public challenge, Laurel remained unruffled and drew Paola close. “Paola used to sketch with Miguel in her spare time, and this piece is indeed her original creation, later polished by professional designers. If it were tied to Sweetberry, why would Rylie approach me for fabric?”
Celia conceded the logic in Laurel’s words. During her partnership with Elegance, she had questioned Paola’s dependability, and upon receiving the concept sketch, she had immediately investigated whether it had been sold or if similar designs existed.
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