“Why don’t we make a bet then?”
Robin asked Marry.
“What bet?”
Marry crossed her arms, her face full of arrogance. She wasn’t exactly the top designer at St. Sunday as Hanh had said, but she was a very capable designer with a big reputation at St. Sunday.
She was full of perfect confidence.
“Let’s make a bet. If Rosey Chambers wins the crown later, you have to shout out loud a hundred times, ‘I am not fit to be a fashion designer, I am not qualified.’ If you lose, similarly, I will let you do as you please with me.” Robin said calmly.
Suddenly, Marry laughed out loud, “You must be crazy. This ugly duckling winning the crown? Impossible. But if you want to bet, I accept.”
She agreed.
She, like Hanh, thought Robin was nuts. He must be crazy to make a bet he was destined to lose.
Maybe, deep down, he wanted to walk out naked and deliberately lose face.
But her demands wouldn’t be the same as Marry’s. Since he said he would let her do as she pleased if he lost, she planned to make him even more embarrassed to teach him a lesson.
“By the way, let me remind you. The clothes Hanh is wearing are the most expensive ones here, and the clothes I’m wearing were carefully designed by me, which took me several years. Do you think you can surpass me? Ridiculous.”
Marry sneered.
“So what, who knows until the end.”
After Robin said this, he took Rosey Chambers and left.
Rosey Chambers didn’t know what to say, so she obediently lowered her head and followed Robin.
“Heh, dream on about winning. Look at yourself. You think an ugly duckling can turn into a swan? An ugly duckling can turn into a swan because she’s originally a swan. And you, heh, you’re just a truly ugly duck.”
On the road, Hanh said this to Rosey Chambers.
Suddenly, Rosey Chambers lowered her head even more.
After a while, Rosey Chambers and Robin went to a special changing room. There were many changing rooms here, each person had a room specially for changing clothes.
“Your friend is quite interesting.”
Marry picked up a glass of red wine and took a sip.
“No, she’s not my friend. She’s just a low-class ugly duckling, a Cinderella. And me, I’m a beautiful woman high above, a rich young lady. Can we be friends? Does she qualify?”
A hint of mockery appeared on Hanh’s red lips.
But then she turned her head to look at May and said, “But there is someone here who is her friend. May, go now and steal Rosey Chambers’ clothes for me. I want to prevent her from coming out.”
“Ah.”
May was startled: “If I steal the clothes, isn’t that going too far?”
If she took the clothes, how would Rosey Chambers come out?
“I don’t want her to come out.”
A sinister smile appeared on Hanh’s lips: “When the competition begins, I’ll have someone tear down the changing room. That would be so interesting.”
The changing room was, after all, just a temporary structure; clothes hung all over it. If she wanted to steal, she truly could. After all, this was a social gathering for high society ladies. Normally, only women were present. Robin was not supposed to be there, but Hanh had given a nod to the security guard, allowing Robin to enter. As the attendees were all women, the level of vigilance was not high. So, of course, she could steal.
“Um… I…” May seemed reluctant, feeling it was too much. She was just a girl. Why make her lose face like this? Especially when she used to be a good friend of hers.
“What, are you sympathizing with her? Interesting. Believe it or not, I could strip you naked and throw you out on the street,” Hanh said, her gaze turning cold.
“I…” May was frightened. After being with Hanh for so long, she knew that Hanh was capable of doing such a thing. But she was still hesitant.
“May, you are living off me and using my stuff. I pay your salary. If you are not satisfied, I can take back your bags, shoes, skirts, and even your mansion at any time. You should know that only by being obedient can you have everything,” Hanh stepped forward, touched May’s face, and whispered.
May shivered, then seemed to consider her current lifestyle and the dazzling clothes she was wearing. She had never worn anything so beautiful before, then nodded, “I’ll steal.”
“Good girl.” Hanh then took a step back, crossing her arms, watching May with anticipation.
May then tiptoed quietly to the changing room, reached out a hand, gently grabbed a piece of clothing, and began to run.
“Who’s there!” Rosey Chambers’ panicked voice came from the changing room.
May panicked, feeling a wave of guilt. But then she remembered that her affluent lifestyle was all thanks to Hanh. She absolutely could not go against Hanh’s words, and so the guilt in her heart vanished without a trace.
“I got it.” May handed the clothes to Hanh.
“Throw it away.” Hanh glanced at the clothes, they were plain, monotonous, without any character, and even looked a little like student clothes. She looked disdainful.
She gestured toward the trash can, and May immediately threw the clothes into it, feeling no guilt, but rather some excitement. If she pleased Hanh, maybe she would give her something valuable.
Then, Hanh went to the door and said a few words to the security guard, who then left. Only then did Hanh return to their group, a smirk on her lips, “Wait and see the show later.”
Soon, the competition began.
On the stage, a young, beautiful and very charismatic female host held the microphone: “Ladies, today is not only our high society social gathering but also a fashion competition. We have invited ten fashion experts to serve as judges. Who will be today’s champion? Stay tuned.”
With her words, the whole place lit up.
All the women had a glint of anticipation in their eyes. Unlike the men, and as high society ladies, what they wanted was the title of St. Sunday Goddess. St. Sunday was a big deal, a very big deal. Once crowned as the St. Sunday Goddess, there would be endless advertisements, wealth, and fame.
This was why so many people had come.
There were many judges on the stage, all big names in the fashion industry, frequently seen in newspapers.
“Hello everyone, my name is Martha, president of Phoenix Fashion.”
…