Chapter 106
Chapter 106
Holden had been back in the country for a while now, staying at Lawson Villa the entire time. He'd never once blown up at anyone in the Lawson family—even when he found out about Ondine's plagiarism, he'd only brushed it off with a single remark, telling her not to do it again.
Everyone in the Lawson family assumed he'd let the past go.
Bringing it up today was like pouring gasoline on a fire for Pearl.
She was already seething over Holden praising Cordelia. Now he was dragging up old mistakes to criticize Ondine—and somehow making it her fault too.
"Holden, what the hell is that supposed to mean? Ever since you walked through the door tonight, all you've done is sing that little tramp Cordelia's praises. She mouths off to you in public and that makes you happy?"
"Back then I told you to take Ondine under your wing and you refused. Now you're pointing fingers at me? Where was all this concern before? If you'd listened to me years ago and let Ondine train with you, she wouldn't be in this position!"
The more she talked, the angrier she got.
When Ondine was born, Holden already had a solid reputation in the international design world. Pearl had immediately begun scheming to have him mentor her daughter.
Before Ondine came of age, Holden did exactly that. Between his mentorship and the Lawson family's connections, Ondine entered the industry with a built-in advantage. Her career had been smooth sailing from day one—no obstacles, no setbacks.
Until Cordelia showed up.
She'd stolen everything that should have been Ondine's. The recognition. The status. The identity. Even her own family was siding with that woman.
Today's argument had been building for days. Pearl had held it in long enough.
"So that's how you see it." Holden's voice was calm, but his eyes were heavy with disappointment. "Then there's nothing left to say. I'll be moving out of Lawson Villa immediately. From now on, don't come to me about Ondine."
His words hit like a bucket of ice water. Pearl went still instantly.
Her heart went cold.
"You—wait!" Pearl stepped into his path. "What do you mean? You're cutting us off?"
Ethan sat on the couch the entire time, unmoved.
He didn't think Holden was wrong. If anything, it was his mother and sister who'd been coddled beyond reason.
"If that's how you want to take it, then sure."
Holden sidestepped her and headed straight for the second floor, ignoring Pearl's shrieks behind him.
He'd been back for a month. If Pearl hadn't insisted he stay at Lawson Villa, he would have gone back to his own place long ago.
In that month, he'd confirmed what he already suspected—Ondine had no real talent for design and no desire to put in the work.
Before she was grown, he'd been willing to teach. Young people learn fast; anything is worth trying at that age.
Now there was no point wasting effort.
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
No matter how Pearl screamed, Holden never looked back.
"I can't believe him! Does he even see me as his sister anymore?"
Pearl's gaze landed on Ethan, and suddenly all that fury found a target. She stormed up to him and laid into him without mercy.
"You're just like Holden! Turning your back on your own family. You're both happy now, aren't you? Ganging up on your mother and sister!"
Ethan actually nodded. "Being like Holden beats being like you. At least I won't end up unreasonable."
"You—"
Pearl's breathing turned ragged. She clutched her chest, eyes rolling back, and collapsed to the floor.
"Mom!"
Ondine finally snapped out of her anger. "Would it kill you to keep your mouth shut?"
But Ethan only glanced down, then turned and walked upstairs without a word.
When you've seen the same drama enough times, you learn the script. It loses its effect.
---
Cordelia sat at her desk in a daze after getting home.
The video of her discussion with Holden had gone viral. Griffin had even texted her, joking that she was famous now.
Seriously—at a time like this, he still had the nerve to crack jokes?
A full three hours passed. Her bedtime alarm finally went off, and Cordelia pushed back from her desk—only for an unexpected call to light up her phone.
She stared at the caller ID for a solid ten seconds before answering.
"Mr. Sforza?"
With the time difference, it should be near the end of his workday.
"It's me." Xander's warm chuckle came through the line. "Long time no talk, Cordelia. You've been doing very well lately."
Cordelia wanted to hang up right then and there.
No question—Xander had already seen the video.
She didn't take his words as a compliment.
"I'm sorry. I was reckless. I embarrassed you."
Why hadn't she just kept her cool?
Xander paused, caught off guard. Then an amused laugh filled the speaker. "Cordelia, I'm not blaming you. You don't need to worry so much about what people think. If you believe what you did was right, then it was right."
Cordelia assumed he was just being kind. She let out a sigh. "Mr. Sforza, you don't have to comfort me. I know plenty of people think I'm arrogant and naive. I won't speak out like that in public again. It was immature."
Silence stretched on the other end.
Cordelia shifted gears, forcing a small smile into her voice. "Mr. Sforza, let's drop it. What did you actually call about?"
If it wasn't urgent, Xander wouldn't have called at her bedtime—even if she hadn't been planning to sleep just yet.
A long sigh came through the phone.
"Cordelia, you never used to sell yourself short. When I say you were right, I mean it."
Xander paused briefly, then continued. "Griffin probably doesn't know yet. Vogue Vortex headquarters just contacted me. Apparently, the company that originally planned to choose Holden as their lead designer saw the video and changed their mind. They've decided to go with Vogue Vortex instead. Unfortunately, given your limited experience, you can't lead the project outright—but their intent is clear. If you're willing to take it on, they'll push to get you approved as head designer."
"In other words, Cordelia—you could transfer to Vogue Vortex headquarters."
---
For days afterward, Cordelia could barely believe what Xander had told her.
Vogue Vortex headquarters wasn't somewhere you just waltzed into. Even getting into this branch office had partly been thanks to Griffin pulling strings.
And now, because of one video—one bold statement—she could get into headquarters?
Impossible.
Had Xander pulled some strings behind the scenes? Or was the client who changed their mind simply eccentric enough to be swayed by her little speech?
Whatever the reason, the outcome was good.
Over the following days, more orders landed in her hands than ever before. Some people even urged her to leave Vogue Vortex and go independent.
Her design style was too distinctive, they said. Staying at a firm would only hold her back.
Liliana brought it up every single day.
"Cordelia, open your own studio. My family will invest. I guarantee you'll be bigger than you ever could be at Vogue Vortex."
She said it daily, tirelessly, until Cordelia finally caved and asked, "Liliana, I don't think I've ever asked you—why did you choose Vogue Vortex in the first place?"