Chapter 58: Sudden Change
The sticker was gone. It hadn't fallen anywhere in the trunk.
Evelyn frowned, quickly lifting the case out and setting it on the ground. She tapped the bottom lightly. The sound was hollow, dead. Evelyn's heart dropped to her stomach.
Her hands shook as she flipped the latches. Click. The lid sprang open.
It was empty.
That’s what this was all about.
The staged accident was a diversion. The time delay, the yelling crowd—all cover for swapping the case. They hadn't tried to stop her from coming; they wanted her to bring an empty case and be utterly disgraced in front of the judges.
Evelyn stared at the empty box, her jaw clenched, her nails digging into her palms. She forcefully swallowed the towering rage inside her.
She slammed the lid shut, shoved the empty case back into the trunk, and closed it. No time for anger. No time for despair.
The game isn't over. Thank God for the backup plan.
She rushed back into the taxi. “New York Design Association, fast as you can!”
The taxi screeched to a stop outside the building. Evelyn threw the money at the driver and ran inside.
She spotted Sophie, who was frantic, pacing by the entrance. The moment Sophie saw Evelyn, she rushed over and grabbed her arm.
“My God, Evelyn! You finally made it! I thought that bastard Damian had kidnapped you!” she whispered, barely masking her panic. “I guarded this like my life!” Sophie pointed to a pristine black case at her feet, her voice trembling.
Evelyn’s gaze locked on the real sample. The tension that had coiled inside her finally eased. “I’m fine. Traffic,” Evelyn said simply.
Sophie let out a breath and pulled her toward the backstage preparation area. “Quick, this way! The model, Lily, is waiting. I’ve confirmed the time with her multiple times.”
They found Lily in a temporary partition. She was scrolling on her phone, aloof.
“Lily, we need to get you changed. We’re cutting it close,” Sophie said with a professional smile, reaching for the garment bag zipper.
“Hold on.” Lily finally put down her phone, her voice lethargic. She stood up, slowly sizing up Evelyn with open contempt. “Sorry, Sophie,” she managed a fake smile. “I don’t think I’ll be walking this show today.”
Sophie’s smile froze. “What? Lily, we have a contract!”
“Contract?” Lily scoffed. “Someone paid me three times the breach penalty. The only condition was that I stay here and watch the show instead of wearing the dress.”
Her eyes shifted, locking onto Evelyn. Her smile grew vicious. “Who was it?” Evelyn’s voice was icy.
“Who else? Your dear husband, Damian, of course.”
“He also said I shouldn’t help a woman who betrays her husband.”
“A woman who can’t hold her family together thinks she can make waves in the design world? Pathetic.”
Lily grabbed her designer bag and clicked away on her heels, leaving the backstage area.
“What are we going to do?!” Sophie was completely distraught, sweating as she spun in circles. “We have ten minutes! Where do we find a model? We’re done, Evelyn, we’re completely done!”
Evelyn stood motionless, overwhelmed. The fake crash, the empty case, and now the bought-off model—one disaster after another left her breathless.
Suddenly, Sophie stopped. Her eyes, red with panic, locked onto Evelyn. “Evelyn!” She rushed over and grabbed her shoulders. “You walk!”
Evelyn was stunned. “Me? Sophie, that’s insane. I’m not a model.”
“Why not?!” Sophie’s voice rose sharply. She dragged Evelyn into an empty dressing room. “This dress was designed for you! The story, the inspiration—it is you! No one has your body, your presence. You are the perfect fit!” Every word struck Evelyn's heart.
“Trust me! I’ll do your makeup and adjust the dress. We can do this!”
Slam. The door closed.
Sophie pushed Evelyn into the chair in front of the mirror. “Don’t move! Face up!” She worked fast, applying foundation to cover the fatigue and pale skin. She used simple, sharp lines to enhance Evelyn's features, deepening her eyes so the anger and humiliation that lingered there now looked intense and powerful.
“Quick, take off your coat!” Sophie applied lipstick, then opened the black carrying case.