Chapter 97 The Reputation of Elegance Group

The driver didn't give a damn and just floored it, making the car lurch forward.

Ciara peeked out the back window, her eyes going wide. There was Quinn, all decked out in Sienna's latest hit—Midnight Sparkle. Ciara had balked at its steep and recently inflated price. The idea that Quinn could afford it herself was laughable; Carl must have footed the bill. Anger flared up inside her.

What did Quinn have that made Carl shell out for her?

She mulled it over for ages but couldn't come up with a good reason, jealousy written all over her face.

Carl dropped Quinn off at home and saw the makeup artists who had been waiting forever at the entrance of the complex.

"Take your time, don't worry about me!" Quinn told him.

"Alright, just make sure to rest a bit after your makeup's done before heading out, and stay safe!" Carl said, glancing at her belly, giving more instructions to the makeup artists, and then taking off.

Quinn knew Carl's big change was because she was carrying his baby.

Carl was all about Quinn now, and her status was clear as day. Everyone got it without needing to guess, but they didn't dare gossip. They were part of Carl's image team, handpicked and trained to keep their mouths shut.

"Miss Sullivan is really lucky!"

"Mr. Ward has never had any scandals, and now he suddenly has a girlfriend. We're all shocked. We've been with him for so long, but we've never seen a woman around him."

Quinn just smiled.

"Miss Sullivan, your skin is amazing, the makeup goes on so smoothly."

Quinn replied, "Thank you!"

Actually, Quinn was naturally beautiful, with delicate features. She didn't wear makeup before and didn't flaunt her looks, otherwise, she'd have a ton of admirers.

"Miss Sullivan, you and Mr. Ward are a perfect match, made for each other."

"You guys really look like a married couple!"

The makeup artists were chatty, their compliments making people feel good without sounding fake.

But Quinn didn't tell them she and Carl were already married.

Meanwhile, Ciara was in shock, trying to figure out Quinn's connection to Carl.

She saw Quinn get into Carl's car, and he even helped her pick out a dress. Suddenly, she remembered the flowers Quinn had received and wondered if they were from Carl.

Thinking of this, she snorted. "What a scheming woman, I underestimated you before. You must be pulling some tricks."

She swore that tonight she would humiliate Quinn in public, ruin her reputation, and make sure she could never mix in the design world again.

Carl avoided sending the invitation directly to prevent gossip. Unfortunately, his secret delivery was uncovered, leaving her blameless and Quinn criticized for being too flashy. After finishing her makeup, Quinn looked at herself in the mirror. This was the first time she had dressed up so grandly.

Although the dress looked great, maybe because she was a designer herself, she felt the decorations on the chest and lower abdomen could still be tweaked.

The silver decorations looked nice, but if they were changed to red or removed altogether, it might be better.

Thinking of this, she immediately got to work, went to the workroom, and started modifying it. Since she bought the dress outright and didn't rent it, she had no qualms about making changes.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky turned a stunning shade of purple-red.

The villa, tonight's venue for the designer exchange, was surrounded by luxury cars, and top designers were making their grand entrances.

Everyone had to go through three levels of security checks—Invitation, Identity, and Guest List—before they could get in, showing just how exclusive this event was.

The tight security was a comfort. As each car pulled up, valets and attendants were there to greet the guests and guide them to the verification point, with all the luxury cars parked in neat rows.

It was no exaggeration to say that with such strict security, not even a mouse could sneak in.

Reporters and media had arrived early to cover the event, as tonight's exchange meeting was big news.

On a lawn the size of five football fields, an oval platform was set up, surrounded by rows of introduction walls with photos and personal bios, arranged by rank. Looking around, there were at least five hundred people.

Christian's photo wall was front and center, the most prominent spot, indicating he was the star of the night.

Many people whipped out their phones to snap pictures upon arrival, while others carefully read each introduction wall.

A band, no less than a professional performance band, played various styles of music, and unique desserts and drinks were everywhere.

Bartenders at each bar mixed drinks to the guests' preferences, and waiters bustled around, making sure everyone was well taken care of.

Flashlights kept popping, and reporters found designers for interviews before the exchange meeting officially kicked off.

It was clear this would be the grandest designer exchange meeting in Sunrise City history.

Ciara got the address from Isolde and showed up at the event. She stepped out of the car in red high heels, with a matching bag, and dressed in a red diamond-studded gown that accentuated her figure. Though eye-catching, the look was a bit tacky.

Moreover, she didn't have the sexy and charming vibe to pull off the dress, but she didn't care. Her goal tonight was to stand out and become the most eye-catching female designer, leaving a lasting impression on the big shots.

Following the introduction walls, Ciara quickly found her photo and felt a burst of joy. Unlike the many signs around, she was now the face of Elegance Group. Carl must think highly of her; otherwise, with her status, she wouldn't have her own introduction wall.

Celeste Noir arrived before Ciara. His outfit was the same as usual, just a change of clothes, still casual and loose, not changing his style for the exchange meeting.

Notably, he tied up his popcorn-like hair and wore a new pair of earrings.

A burgundy Maserati pulled up, and as the valet was about to step forward, Kelly got out first and opened the door. "Miss Sullivan, we've arrived!"

Kelly helped Quinn out of the car, her crown-like headpiece encrusted with diamonds, black gemstone earrings, and a Y-shaped diamond necklace sparkling in the light.

Stunned by the sight of luxury cars around her, Quinn followed Kelly to the entrance for identity verification.

After handing the invitation to the verifier, she said, "Kelly, come in with me!"