The Queen's Back

"Barbara, were you the one who tipped off the entertainment reporters yesterday?" Brendan asked.

Despite asking a question, his tone was certain. He played with the walnut in his hand, and it rolled again and again in his hand.

Barbara thought she had been discreet when she contacted the reporters, but she didn't expect the man in front of her to call her out directly.

For a moment, she felt a bit conflicted.

'The man in front of me doesn't look like someone to be trifled with,' she thought.

Rather than hiding and being exposed in the end, she reckoned it was better to just admit it outright. "Yes," she said.

'If this man didn't have any evidence, he wouldn't have sent someone to the hotel to fetch me,' she thought. 'All I know is that he's the man in the bathroom yesterday. I don't know anything else.' "You admit it very quickly," Brendan said.

"Since you called me over, doesn't that mean you already know?" Barbara replied with a question as she looked at Brendan with her big, innocent eyes.

Brendan warned, "Just this once. Before you do anything next time, think about your identity."

He was only doing this out of consideration for the fact that Barbara was Mona's cousin.

Barbara was still in a daze as she was led out of the villa.

She thought she would have to come up with an excuse for herself again, but unexpectedly, she ended up leaving just like that.

She had to think carefully before she did anything next time.

Six days was neither long nor short. Time passed as Maxwell counted the days on his fingers.

Noretin Design Competition was held in a lecture hall in downtown Noretin, which could accommodate over ten thousand people.

wanted to see what this year's designs were like

light illuminated the hall. Mona, wearing a mask, followed Leander backstage. Haley held a dress designed by

people. It would not be an exaggeration to say that there was a sea

Mona, Haley, and Elara

dust bag from the gown. They did it very gently, afraid

to participate in Noretin Design Competition this time. The top three from each city took part, and there were several hundred cities that sent contestants. Excluding some cities that did not participate, there were hundreds of groups in the first showcase alone. There were two more improvisation rounds to follow, making the process quite

out among these people was

in this competition at Noretin. Danielle was almost retired, but her reputation in

participating in

do? I'm so nervous." This was

looking at so many people made

have to do our best. Besides, the gown is already prepared. Even if we don't get a ranking in the first round, with so many spectators, someone may like our gown. We can then sell it for a good price. When we go back, we can still have a nice meal." She thought, 'If I don't win this time, I'll come back

concerned about the outcome than a contestant." Hearing Mona say this made

Mona's phone rang, and she

picked up her phone and glanced. As expected, Maxwell's name appeared on the screen. Mona

arrived, huh?" Mona

at the

she gestured for Elara and Haley to keep

had been six days since Mona last saw Maxwell. Even though she did not say it out loud, she

usual, he was dressed

somewhat at odds with his cold

he saw

the bouquet of roses into

"If I keep counting the days on my fingers, I won't be able to hold on much longer. Mona, I missed you

her heart completely calmed down. It was as if in this small space at the entrance, there were

nights, she instinctively leaned toward the edge of the bed when she slept. Previously, that spot was