Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 69

Until Eloise said, "Let's continue the competition."

The host quickly changed his tone, "Please take a break, both of you. We'll now invite the next contestant to the stage."

Sylvia stepped down with a smile, while Bridget hurried after her.

"Did you already know?"

"Ms. Simpson, what are you saying? Why couldn't I understand? That is your design, isn't it? How could I possibly know anything about it?" Sylvia feigned confusion in her reply. Bridget glanced around, lowering her voice, "Why did the necklace break?"

Sylvia smiled thinly, "Didn't you study the blueprints I based my design on? Couldn't even copy it right?"

With that, she turned and walked away.

After a few steps, she paused, looked back at Bridget, and reminded, "When Rupert handed you those blueprints, didn't he warn you not to overdo it? That ring was truly hideous." "Sylvia!"

Bridget was livid, nearly shattering her composed image.

Sylvia knew the necklace would break the moment she saw Bridget present it with real stones on stage. That was why she had enticed Eloise to wear her own creation.

utterly different. The thin chain couldn't possibly bear the weight of so many real stones. Indeed, a simple weighing during its making would have revealed the flaw. But clearly, Bridget had been blinded by her arrogance for far too long, her mind clouded by

member who had

the staff member

didn't expect Sylvia to

if you can't handle this simple task, how

win,

as

bother showing

cold from the bricks seeping

her to dig her fingernails into the wall, using the pain to ground herself. Rupert, ever cruel for Bridget's sake, made it clear - Sylvia was always the one to be sacrificed, no matter her efforts

echoed over and

the end, after much

judges, and a few

was

a brief speech, she opened the envelope with an

this competition

"Second place, Sylvia."

"Third place, Christine."

many stepped forward to congratulate Bridget. Bridget smiled modestly, "Thank you, everyone. I'm so glad to have met you all." With that, she cast a triumphant glance at Sylvia, and