Kelly was so shocked that she became as still as a statue. She had never expected that answer. She was a globally renowned supermodel. Anthony did not show her the respect that she was due and instead went ahead to hire Charmine, the rookie model! How was she going to show her face in public after this debacle?Kelly lifted her head and said, “Mr. Bailey, since you’re not giving me any logical explanation, I quit!”She quit! The implication of this meant that the Auto Show was one model short! How could they find a replacement in such a short period of time? Mr. Dalmore anxiously tried to repair the situation by saying, “Mr. Bailey and Miss Milan, I’m sure we can resolve this issue if we just sat down to discuss it calmly.”Charmine who was sat at her dresser frowned at the scene. How did the issue get so out of hand? She wanted to speak up but before she had the chance to, Anthony had already picked up his cellphone and gave the order, “You have twenty minutes to find a model to re
Charmine’s assistants had already helped her change into her outfit for the Auto Show. Sitting in her chair, she was as still as a statue. Anthony walked toward Charmine and suddenly leaned forward. With a stretch of his hand, he tugged at the zipper of her tight-fitting, leather top, zipping it all the way up. By doing this, he completely concealed her slender neck.Anthony glared at her and said, “The Mercedes Auto Show is a high-class event. There’s no need to show that much skin.”The crowd gasped in surprise as they could not believe that Anthony had actually done up the zipper of Charmine’s top! With what he had said, his words sounded like those of a jealous and possessive boyfriend toward his girlfriend. This was unbelievable news! This powerful man was in a relationship with Charmine! That would explain the special favors he was showing Charmine!Charmine wriggled uncomfortably in her seat. All the other models were dressed in skimpy tube tops or tops with a deep V-line. Wa
“Charmine, you should have some too,” Veronica said as she held out a juice bottle.“Oh, ‘beware of Greeks bearing gifts’ is how the saying goes. Nothing good can come out of this,” responded Charmine with an air of indifference, not even bothering to reach out her hand.Veronica smiled awkwardly in embarrassment. “That’s not a problem, I’ll leave it here for you. You can have it later when you’re thirsty.” She placed the juice bottle on the dresser then left.Charmine scrunched her eyes in bewilderment. ‘Veronica’s not a good person, so why is she being so nice to me? It looks like Tiffany is up to no good once again. Since Tiffany seems up for a game, I’ll give them a game to play,’ she thought. Charmine rolled her eyes then reached for the juice bottle, only to toss it straight into the trash can next to her. Tiffany kept a straight face but inside, she was bursting with glee. ‘Watch out Charmine, prepare to rot in jail!’ At this moment, Mr. Dalmore’s assistant, Faye Ronan, w
After all the strawberries had been eaten, it was now time for the start of the grand Auto Show! As it was an annual event, there was no room for even the slightest misstep. The models stopped focusing on their backstage drama and started to prepare. The exhibition hall was huge, thousands of square meters wide. Even so, it was already filled with men dressed smartly in suits. Each one of them looked extremely wealthy.Anthony carried Chris to take their seats in the front row, waiting quietly for the show to begin. When the musical accompaniment started to play, the dance floor slowly rose to reveal a raised platform. On the platform were the latest luxury cars, each accompanied by a supermodel standing next to them. Both the cars and the models were a sight to be admired.As soon as the platform stopped moving, the supermodels started to circle the luxury cars, stopping at intervals to pose attractively next to them. Their poses showcased how enticing both the cars and the beautifu
Everyone was hanging off their seats with anticipation. They could not wait to find out who the amazing driver was. Nial Bailey originally did not want to attend the Auto Show just to watch Anthony chase after a girl. Moreover, each year there were always people who stooped to such shameless measures to achieve their own agendas, so it was too embarrassing to watch.Nial did not expect that by attending this year, he would have the opportunity to witness such a jaw-droppingly, exciting car demonstration! He was extremely interested in drag racing and at that moment, he felt re-energized and joined the rest of the crowd in looking toward the runway.On the runway under the intense, unblinking gaze of the audience, the door of the gleaming gold race car opened. A pair of black Doc Martens boots stepped onto the runway, followed by a pair of long, slender legs. Those legs were beautiful to look at, shapely, long, and beautifully proportioned. Matched with a tight-fitting black leather s
In a matter of moments, everyone had fallen and was lying on the ground. This included Tiffany. She also laid in suffering on the ground, hugging her stomach weakly while screaming, “It hurts… It hurts so much. Please help…” That pitiful voice and her forehead covered in sweat did not look like an act.The organizers reacted quickly. Mr. Dalmore loudly ordered, “Stop the music! Doctor! Call the doctors!” The background music stopped and the assistants reorganized the stage so that all the platforms originally set at different heights were now uniform.The first thing Charmine did was to walk toward the model lying closest to her and kneel down beside her. It was Eunice! Eunice was curled into a ball on the ground but when she saw Charmine walking toward her, all she wanted was for Charmine to get lost! However, Eunice was so crippled with pain that she could not speak. Charmine knelt down and reached out her hand to touch Eunice’s forehead and feel her pulse. Eunice’s assistant saw
“It’s definitely her! She must have wanted us to embarrass ourselves in public!” said Eunice with gritted teeth. Eunice was in so much pain that her expression looked absolutely ghastly. Charmine faced everyone’s gaze head-on, a look of understanding crossing over her face. She began to understand why Tiffany had decided to participate in the Auto Show. Tiffany had a hidden agenda all along. The current situation where all of the models were poisoned and yet she was unharmed would mean that all suspicions would land on her…However, Charmine kept a straight face and responded to the crowd, saying, “Before pointing the finger at me, I would ask that you provide some evidence. Otherwise, I have the right to sue you for defamation!” Her clear voice commanded a strong presence.The audience gasped in surprise. Tiffany frowned and said weakly, “My sister is right, we can’t accuse her without any proof. I know my sister, she’s not the kind of person who would do such a thing.” After sayi
Charmine was made to sit on a chair as she stared widely at Officer Ryan walking toward her. Officer Ryan held out the test strip toward her and requested, “Ms. Jordan, please use your fingers to pinch the test strip briefly.”The test strip was partially wet and contained several complicated components. If there were any trace of halophilic bacteria on her fingers, the test strip would change color from white to purple.The crowd turned toward Charmine and started to taunt her, “Didn’t you say that you were innocent? Hurry up and use the strip!”“You sounded pretty arrogant back there so why aren’t you taking the test now?”“Are you scared? You better hurry up and do the test. We need to see the results!”The mocking voices grew louder and louder. Charmine had some reservations about this but was now forced into a corner and had to reach her fingers out. As soon as she squeezed the test strip, the white strip actually turned purple! She was the perpetrator! There were still trace
There was an unnoticeable glint in Sonia's eyes. She nestled herself further into Harry's arms as she added, "Let’s go to Pares. We'll come back after I give birth to the baby.""Alright."Harry stayed by Sonia's side as he watched over her, cared for her, and talked to her until she finally slept in his care.He stood up tiredly and walked out of the room to sit in the living room.Thuck!Something fell out of his pocket.He narrowed his eyes to the source of sound and spotted a USB.Since when did he have a USB in his pocket?With a small frown on his face, Harry curiously picked it up and noticed the front side of the USB glowing. Something was carved onto its surface, too.[Granger].Was it Dior’s USB? Why was her USB inside his pocket?Harry’s clear fingers held on the USB tightly. He thought for a moment before he took out a laptop, turned it on, and plugged in the USB.A moment later, the screen showed what seemed to be peculiar surveillance footage with a descriptio
Dior was still lost in her storm of thoughts when a shadowy figure zipped past her and ran toward Harry.When she spotted this familiar figure, she reacted quickly and held onto him."Let go of me!" growled Guy. "How dare he slap you and misunderstood you? I have to beat some sense into him!"Harry broke free and chased after Harry.Dior, despite having lost all hope and life in her, mustered the last strand of her will to chase after Guy and reeled him back. "Brother, don't," she muttered, "spare your energy…" Her sorrow clouded her eyes as she mumbled, "He’s the man I love. Even though he hates me, I won’t allow you to hurt him. As for the explanation…"Dior smiled ironically. "Whatever. That slap decimated every beautiful daydream I have about him, anyway."She no longer expected anything from him.He had no trust in her, so what would it matter if she finally got him? He did not even love her, and he did not trust her either.Dior smiled elegantly, but her eyes were fille
Dior looked forward to that new shift.She watched as Harry made his way into the restaurant silently, unable to deter her mind from the daydreams she had of him, of the new chapter of their story they would have.He would apologize to her, trying to redeem himself, and kiss her dearly as he embraced her. Later down the line, they would have a child of their own, too.Harry's long legs walked in strides, his dark gaze trained on Dior.The bright light shone on Dior’s delicately stunning face, and she also wore a red dress.He remembered her wearing this back in Mount Village.He could remember how alluring she looked back then, how they stayed in the same room, how she put down her ego to treat him with so much gentleness.Harry’s cold face mellowed down, but recalling a certain memory, the vague wistfulness in him vanished and he sat in front of her.Dior looked at him fondly, like she always would. "Long time no see."Her eyes burned brightly as if she wanted to drink in his
Dior examined the footage the moment she received it.True enough, it showed Sonia and George talking about their little deal. It also showed how Dior was telling the truth while they both ganged up on her.Dior’s frail heart felt as though it was rejuvenated once more, feeling as though blood was once more pumped into her heart. Her dull eyes devoid of hope regained their lost luster once more.Not thinking twice, she dialed Harry's number with this evidence, though he had to be busy, seeing as he did not pick up even after the phone rang for a long while.Just as she was about to hang up, Harry picked up the phone."What do you want?"On the other end of the call was the voice that she had missed for so long. His low, hoarse voice sounded so cold and emotionless.Hearing his voice brought Dior back to the image of his handsome face, and her heart skipped a beat.She tried her best to restrain her fluttering emotions as she tried to speak calmly, "Do you have time? I’d like to
At Mount Village…Inside the elegant bamboo house was Dior, dressed in a beige dress. She sat in the front yard as she took sips of her wine.The sunlight shone past the leaves and illuminated her, yet she exuded an air of loneliness.She swirled the glass and could not help recalling the moments she spent with Harry.In the beginning, she was attracted by his looks; he looked so gentle and elegant.She gave him money, kept him company, and continuously showed up around him in hopes of conquering him.Alas, she ended up in this state.The time she spent with him in Mount Village was the happiest time she had ever had. They had lived inside the bamboo house together, where he took care of her and claimed her to be his woman.They even laid inside the same room.Everything was so beautiful.Cursed was her luck, however, that it was just an illusion. He had been using her from the start, while he chose to stay with the woman who lied to him and even hurt him!No matter how mu
"Although Susan was unhappy, she should've voiced out her displeasure instead of bottling things. Cheating is wrong, regardless. Furthermore, if she wanted a career, she didn't have to stay home and depend on her husband."Grandma Bailey halted.Was that what Charmine truly thought of?Grandma Bailey thought Charmine would find Susan too aggressive unto herself.Charmine glanced at Susan again and apathetically commented, "She doesn't want to make money on her own, but she wants to be rich while complaining about her man not making time for her and taking care of her? If a woman has no ability of her own and also blames others for her miseries, all she's worth is to sit quietly at home and wait for her husband to come home. She also has no right to cheat! This is how the world works."Charmine patted Grandma Bailey’s shoulder and held Anthony’s hand, her words met with everyone's evidently surprised gazes and their silence.Grandma Bailey was shocked. Sure, Charmine sounded rathe
The colossal cruise started to drift away from the pier.Eric stood on the cruise and let the wind blow at him, loneliness and hatred still oozing from his being.He stared at the blue ocean ahead of him as Charmine's words rang in his mind unceasingly.'Will you really feel good after you've killed them?''You saw Susan suffering from a serious wound; would you still kill the one sibling you have left in the world?'"Forgive them and yourself.'Deliberating everything carefully, his lips curled into a bitter smile.It was true, after all, that Charmine understood him the most.Eric poured himself another drink and downed it with loneliness as he allowed the cruise to bring him wherever it would take him.…Susan was still inside the operating room when Charmine and the rest of the Baileys rushed into the hospital.Darryl stood before the room, his expression blank, his figure lonely and helpless.So many things had happened in half a day.He found out about his wife's inf
"No one's stopping you now. Eat!"Anthony clenched his hands tightly and took another glance at Charmine. He was more determined than before, and he was close to eating the pills in the bottle.Charmine, who was held hostage, gradually opened her eyes at that moment. Her gaze drifted toward Eric before she asked, her tone challenging, "Will you really feel good after you've killed them? You saw Susan suffering from a serious wound; would you still kill the one sibling you have left in the world?"Eric halted, and his eyes darkened.Charmine had just woken up, yet what she said…He cast a cold glance at Charmine. "It's my business, and it has nothing to do with you!"They were his family, and he did not want a family like this!Charmine looked squarely at him. "Eric, I don’t care if you used me or plotted against me all these years; I've treated you like a true friend, nothing more nor less. You were the only person who stayed by my side in the past five years, so I hope that you
Anthony's breath hitched when he saw Charmine.He clenched his fists and, without doubting himself, relented "I can agree to your terms, so let her go right away. This has nothing to do with her; you only hate me after all. As long as you let her go, I'll take the pill. Everything will end right away."Susan shook her head. "We'll die after eating the pill. I’m not taking that!"She had just reunited with Eric, and she did not want to die yet. She looked at Eric and begged, "Please let Anthony be, why don't you? He’s your brother, after all, and he doesn’t even know about your existence. If you’re really angry, just kill Charmine, and I'll make it up to you—"Anthony's expression contorted in sheer fury upon hearing Susan's plea, and he glared at her with murderous intent."This was all your fault, so what right do you have to make Charmine take your blame?!""What on earth are you going on about?" snapped Grandma Bailey. "Charmine has been kidnapped because of you, yet you want