Chapter 99 Ciara Struck Again

With Ciara egging them on, the two women started mocking Quinn too. They didn't even know her, but they jumped right in.

"Girls these days are so sneaky. Bet the guy she's with is married. No way a young dude has that kind of cash."

"She looks all proper and innocent, but who knew she could be so shameless and conniving."

Listening to them trash-talk Quinn, Ciara felt a lot better.

Quinn, meanwhile, was sipping on some juice, gazing at the sky, and thinking about how to capture the sunset in her designs, all while avoiding any chit-chat.

"People who don't belong in a circle shouldn't try to crash it. Don't they know every circle has its own entry fee? Crashing in just makes you look like a fool."

"Totally! Look at her, just standing there staring at the sky. Doesn't that prove she's not one of us?"

After having her fill of their gossip, Ciara felt content and was just about to head off to mingle further when a girl rushed up to her, bubbling with excitement. "Oh my God! Are you really Ciara?"

The sudden enthusiasm caught her off guard. She looked the girl over, realizing she didn't know her.

"It really is you, Ciara! I know you. You just won... an international design award for a belt you made." The girl was practically glowing with excitement.

Ciara was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. "Yep, that's me!"

"I was in that competition too but got knocked out in the prelims. I saw your name on the list, so I remember you. I even saw your photo on the intro board over there. I've been looking for you. Can we take a picture together?" the girl asked eagerly.

Hearing the admiration in her voice, Ciara noticed the envious looks from the two women and felt her confidence soar. "I was just lucky. Thanks!"

"Nice to meet you in person!" The girl stood next to her and snapped a selfie.

Ciara played along, striking different poses and coming off as friendly and well-mannered, which made the two women admire her even more.

Then Sienna showed up, rocking a classic black suit without a tie but with a scarf, her short blonde hair giving off a cool, queen-like vibe.

Her short hair matched her whole look, making her seem super stylish.

A bunch of people recognized her and came over to toast and chat. She responded to everyone, but her smile was a bit stiff, like she was on autopilot.

Ciara spotted her and wasn't about to miss this chance.

After the photo op with the girl, she grabbed her glass and made her move. "Hello, Ms. Scott. I'm Ciara. I've always admired you. It's such a pleasure to meet you in person today."

"Thank you!" Sienna clinked glasses with her, took a sip, but her eyes were already wandering, clearly not interested in chatting with Ciara.

But then she saw Quinn standing on the lawn, looking at the sky, clad in a dress that bore a striking resemblance to one of her creations.

She furrowed her brow slightly, realizing the dress mirrored her Midnight Sparkle design, yet there was something amiss.

Just as Ciara was about to say something, Sienna, holding her glass, walked straight towards Quinn.

Ciara's words got stuck in her throat, her face turning red.

Seeing Sienna stop in front of Quinn felt like a punch to the gut.

"Hi! Can I ask if the dress you're wearing was like this when you bought it?" Sienna asked, her curiosity piqued. Hearing the voice, Quinn was a bit taken aback. She glanced at her dress and shook her head. "No, I altered it myself."

"Why did you alter it?" Sienna asked, genuinely curious, without a hint of judgment.

Quinn, who loved to share, smiled and explained, "At first, I thought the silver accessories were too much. Then I realized the puffy skirt, while eye-catching, felt lifeless. So, I cut it to let it flow with the wind. Plus, my small chest couldn't pull off the designer's vision, so this way, the focus isn't on the upper body."

Sienna appreciated Quinn's honesty and nodded. "Did you alter it yourself?"

She asked because she noticed two flowers made of the same material on the dress's waist.

Quinn followed her gaze and said with satisfaction, "One is to keep the dress's integrity, as it's the designer's proud work. The other is that the fabric is precious, and I couldn't bear to throw it away, so I made flowers and kept them on the dress."

"It looks nice, adds a bit of innovation. Very good." The more Sienna looked, the more she liked it, her smile becoming warmer.

Since arriving at the event, she hadn't smiled so genuinely.

Suddenly, she asked, "What's your name?"

Quinn replied, "Quinn Sullivan."

Sienna introduced herself, "Nice name. Hello, I'm Sienna Scott, the designer of this dress."

Quinn's eyes widened in surprise, her face showing shock as she processed the information.

Sienna, holding her glass, clinked it with Quinn's, smiling. "Cheers, I like you!"

Quinn watched her boldly down her drink, then smiled brightly and sweetly said, "I like you too. Welcome to Sunrise City."

"Quinn, may I call you that? Can we exchange Facebook contacts?" Sienna took out her phone, seeking Quinn's permission, being straightforward with someone she liked.

"No problem, it's my honor." Quinn, while unfamiliar with Sienna's face, was well-versed in her reputation. Sienna was a prominent figure in women's fashion, jewelry, and apparel, setting the bar for fashion trends.

Ciara inched closer, eavesdropping. Watching Quinn and Sienna exchange Facebook contacts extinguished her fleeting sense of superiority. It was one thing for Quinn to gain entry, but winning over Sienna was too much. Ciara felt her carefully crafted image wane in Quinn's presence, unwilling to accept the change.

She turned to the crowd around Christian. If she couldn't connect with Sienna, she'd focus on him. As the evening's star, earning his favor could pave her way in the design world. Even a fleeting impression on him could be invaluable.

As she approached Christian, she was stunned to see him watching Quinn. Her worldview was shaken. Why? Was it just the expensive dress? How had Quinn become the center of attention, captivating everyone?

"Mr. Warren!" Seeing Christian finish his conversation, Ciara quickly greeted him.

Christian, hearing someone call him, turned to the well-dressed Ciara and greeted her politely. "Hello!"

Ciara guided Christian's gaze towards Quinn, starting her familiar skill of slander. "Don't let that girl's innocent look fool you. She's not as angelic as she seems."

Christian was slightly stunned, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Seeing this, Ciara pointed directly at Quinn. "It's her!"

Christian found it amusing. While others introduced themselves, this girl gossiped about his mentor. He just raised his glass and sipped his red wine.