Chapter 68

Chapter 68

Priscilla's figure wasn't bad, and she had even learned how to walk the runway in college. She just rarely did it herself.

"I'll go ask someone else!" Mireille said, still uneasy. If someone could tamper with the shoes, they could tamper with the clothes too.

"There's no time," Priscilla said, already seated at the dressing table.

Coralie looked apologetically at the bustling group. "The shoes need to be repaired. If you trust me, I can help."

"You can?" Priscilla asked, surprised, looking at Coralie's reflection in the mirror.

Coralie nodded. "As a model, I often run into situations where clothes or shoes are damaged. I'm not a professional, but I'm more than capable of a quick fix."

Priscilla didn't hesitate any longer and handed the shoes to Coralie. It was just a broken heel; some strong glue and pressure would hold it together for the show. Priscilla was already wearing makeup, so she only needed a few touch-ups.

Mireille's phone rang like a death knell. After the third ring, she squeezed back into the dressing room. "Are you ready?"

"Let's go," Priscilla said, standing up. She had changed into the outfit, her makeup now complete.

Just then, the stage manager called for Priscilla's entrance.

In the stands below, Algernon was taken aback when Priscilla appeared on the runway. 'Why is it her?' he wondered. Didn't the Grayson family find a model? That doesn't seem right.

From the moment Priscilla appeared, gasps of admiration rippled through the crowd. Algernon could hear the hushed whispers behind him.

"What is that material? It looks like silk, but silk can't be that structured, can it?"

"I don't know, maybe it's some kind of high-tech fabric?" another person replied.

Priscilla ignored the murmurs, a confident smile on her face as she graciously presented her work.

Quinlan sat elegantly in the front row, diagonally across from Algernon. Throughout the show, she maintained a perfectly poised posture and a polite smile, but her gaze kept drifting towards him. However, Algernon never once looked her way. Quinlan ground her teeth in frustration. It was only when Priscilla appeared that all of Algernon's attention was captured.

"Quinlan, look who that is!" Pearl, sitting beside her, gently nudged her arm.

Her attention pulled back to the runway, Quinlan quickly spotted Priscilla, confidently striding down the catwalk in a dress.

"Why is she walking herself?" Pearl whispered, her tone full of confusion. As a fellow contestant, Pearl knew Priscilla was competing. Which of them, designers, would ever model their own clothes?

"She probably couldn't find a suitable model. You know how much a model can enhance the clothes. " Quinlan said, feigning thoughtfulness. Major designers often had their own muses, usually famous actresses or favorite models. In any case, they were always stunning beauties. When a designer created a piece, they usually had a specific person in mind to model it. Priscilla couldn't possibly say that she was thinking of herself the whole time she was designing. A faint, mocking smile touched Quinlan's lips.

"What's the hurry? Let's just watch," she said with a cold smile.

Pearl's eyes darted around, and she whispered something in Quinlan's ear. Quinlan's smile widened. "Alright, once is enough for something like that. Don't get caught."

"Don't worry, they won't find out," Pearl said, lifting her chin slightly and nodding towards the backstage area. Quinlan said no more.

After the show, Priscilla returned to the dressing room and changed out of her clothes. Coralie had already been sent to the hospital, leaving only Mireille and Niamh. When they heard Priscilla return, they both rushed to greet her.

"How was it? Did the shoes hold up?" Mireille asked worriedly.

Priscilla shook her head and sat down on the sofa, casually slipping off the shoes. The glue had held firm, but a fine crack was still visible upon close inspection. A perfect creation, marred by even the tiniest flaw, could ruin one's mood.

Priscilla examined it closely. "It looks like it was cut by an old-fashioned razor blade. They're easy to install, but not many people use them anymore because they're so sharp and dangerous."

Mireille leaned in for a closer look at the break. "While not many people use old-fashioned razors for shaving, a lot of designers still carry them for cutting materials. If we start investigating, the list of suspects would be too long. " she added.

Priscilla rubbed her temples, a headache forming.

"But don't worry, I've already told the organizers. They're going to check the security footage. We should be able to find out what happened once we see it," Mireille said, trying to comfort her.

Outside, the final segment of the show was beginning. Pearl's team was the grand finale. As a friend of Quinlan's and a wealthy heiress herself, Pearl was one of the most talked-about contestants in the competition. This, of course, sparked a lot of discussion.

Tatum, a rising star who had won numerous awards both at home and abroad in just two years, was a hot favorite to win. Everyone had high hopes for her, yet she wasn't the finale. Many found this strange.

But at that moment, Tatum wasn't in the mood to think about it. Her gaze was fixed on the person sitting next to Quinlan in the distance. She lowered her head slightly, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Tatum, I still think your design is the most outstanding this time. You have the best chance of winning," said Lark Morris, who was sitting beside her.

Tatum shook her head. "My work is good, but there might be even more brilliant newcomers this time. Don't be so sure until the results are out."

Lark pouted. "Besides you, I can't think of anyone else. Look at this finale piece. It's beautiful, but so rigid and soulless."

"Lark, how many times have I told you to watch what you say in public? What will people think if they hear you?" Tatum turned to her, exasperated. She glanced around; thankfully, no one nearby had noticed. The music on the runway conveniently drowned out their conversation.

Lark was unconvinced. "Tatum, I'm not just saying this, but why are you so cautious? I heard that the winner of this competition gets a chance to collaborate with the Visconti Group!"