Chapter 754:
Alyssa chimed in, “She faced heavy criticism before, but her work rescuing dogs and finding them homes has earned her a wave of new fans. Recent reports are glowing, and she’s landed several endorsements and scripts.”
The comments on Ainsley’s post reflected this shift. Criticism was rare, with most responses brimming with praise and encouragement.
The trench coat style drew a circle of curious girls on the street. They cheered for Ainsley like she was already their idol. Each one leaned closer, eager to see the outfit in full.
Rylie stayed composed. She showed not the faintest hint of worry. “So, what’s the problem?”
The manager sighed. “Kyla and Zander were supposed to come for styling at eight. We planned to pre-shoot the cover and run some promos. With this delay, Ainsley’s post will go live long before ours. That gap could stir up trouble.”
Alyssa brushed the worry aside. “Ainsley’s not on the same level as Kyla and Zander. And remember, we’re rolling out an entire four seasons. She’s got only one look. There’s no way she’ll eclipse us.”
“Don’t worry about it. Just follow the plan.” Rylie passed the tablet back. “It won’t hurt if we’re late. They’re only paving the way for us.”
Designers from across the globe joined the contest. The organizers chose a secluded island, owned by the Royal Academy of Arts, as the venue.
The island held just one grand hall. Students usually came here to sketch and practice, but today it stood ready for the event.
On the morning of the competition, Kyla, who was supposed to have taken an early flight to the island, still hadn’t arrived. Zander, however, showed up on time and was already getting his makeup and styling done.
Kyla’s assistant had tried calling her all morning. When there was no answer, panic set in, and they rushed to inform Rylie.
м๏гє υρ∂คтєร คт gคlภ๏שєlร.ς๏๓
To Rylie, Kyla was not the type of person to break a commitment. Just as she was about to use some technical means to track Kyla’s location, her phone rang.
“Sorry, Miss Owen, something came up.” Kyla’s voice carried exhaustion.
Rylie’s brows pulled together. “What happened?”
“I need your help,” Kyla said after drawing in a long breath. “You know I have two women’s outfits. I want to hand one over to Fiona.”
Rylie arched a brow. “You’re pulling out?”
Kyla scratched her head, unsure. “It’s not easy to explain. Fiona used to star in one of my music videos. I even wrote a song about her. For a long time, she was my muse.”
Rylie tilted her head. “And?”
Kyla’s voice dropped. “This morning she tried to take her life. She meant to call Deandre, but she pressed my number instead. I knew something was off, so I rushed to her place. I just got her to the hospital. Thankfully, the cut wasn’t deep, and the doctors say she’s stable.”
Rylie’s face hardened. “She tried that again because of Deandre?”
Kyla shook her head and looked toward the woman near her. “I don’t think it’s about him. This is more about work. Ainsley looks a lot like Fiona, and because of that, she’s taken away plenty of jobs. After Ainsley’s scandal, Fiona thought she’d finally get a break, but Ainsley found herself a wealthy backer and snatched all of Fiona’s contracts. Elegance had planned for Fiona to debut in the spotlight, but when they backed out at the last minute, it crushed her. Then Ainsley’s photo went viral, and that was the last straw.”
.
.
.