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.

all wanted to see what this year's designs were like

wearing a mask, followed Leander backstage. Haley held a dress designed by Mona. It was tightly sealed

all kinds of people. It would not be an exaggeration to say that there was a

they reached the backstage area, Mona, Haley, and Elara

from the gown. They did it

cities that sent contestants. Excluding some cities that did not participate,

among these people was not an easy

rumors Mona had heard, there seemed to be a direct mentee of Danielle participating in this competition at Noretin. Danielle was almost retired, but her reputation in the fashion industry continued

her direct mentee participating in the

I do? I'm so nervous." This was the first time she had seen such

many

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 next year. After all,

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

and she guessed it was

her phone and glanced. As expected, Maxwell's name appeared on

you've arrived, huh?"

at the

then. I'll come to get you." As Mona spoke, she gestured for Elara and Haley to keep an eye on the gown.

saw Maxwell. Even though she did

standing at the entrance. As usual, he was dressed in a black suit, but today, he was holding

somewhat at odds with his cold

moment he saw

the bouquet of roses

fingers, I won't be able to hold on much longer. Mona, I

was as if in this small space at the entrance,

few nights, she instinctively leaned toward the edge of the bed when she slept. Previously, that spot was occupied by Maxwell. When she leaned there for the