Chapter 365 She Confessed
Aspire Securities' sudden turnaround caused quite a buzz in the business world.
Vito was thrilled and called them back, showering them with praise.
At dinner, Luann ate gracefully while Myron occasionally added dishes to her plate.
Vito, smiling joyfully, said, "Who would've thought your luck would be this good? A company on the brink of bankruptcy made such a comeback!"
Grace, sitting across from Luann, looked resentful. She jabbed her spoon into her soup, making an unpleasant noise. She never expected that after all her efforts to push them out of the headquarters, they'd thrive at the branch office!
Joshua gave an awkward smile, glancing at Luann. Others might rely on luck for investments, but their success was all skill. Following Luann, he always benefited. He felt his sense of accomplishment vanish.
Luann looked up and said, "It's all thanks to Joshua's keen eye. He saw the potential in the company we invest in."
Joshua silently rolled his eyes, unsure if she was praising herself or him.
"Joshua, you've made significant progress," Vito said, looking at him with rare satisfaction.
Joshua was stunned. He stood up abruptly, bumping his knee on the chair. "Th-thank you, Grandpa."
In the Curtis Family, he was the least favored by Vito. He never expected to be praised.
Lily cleared her throat, smiling. "It seems you kids are making my life easier! Dad, Grace's agent contacted her today. She secured a spot in this year's international fashion week!"
Vito, a bit surprised, asked, "Oh? Really?"
"Of course," Lily said proudly. "Grace will be busy soon, learning to walk the runway from professional models."
Joshua glanced at Grace and Lily, staying silent but feeling dissatisfied. 'They bring this up just when Vito is praising me, giving Grace the spotlight.'
"This year's fashion week is different. All 188 outfits are from the brand Sunflower. It's unprecedented!"
Vito was slightly shocked. 'Sunflower?'
Despite the name, it was a luxury brand that had skyrocketed in popularity abroad. Last year, Sunflower ranked 32nd in the world's top 500 brands.
For a brand less than ten years old, it was impressive. Sunflower offered a wide range of products, including clothing, cosmetics, perfumes, jewelry, watches, and bags. Recently, their jewelry, designed by the renowned designer Sunshine, had gained significant fame.
Grace pretended to interrupt Lily, "Mom, today is about celebrating Joshua. Why bring this up?"
Lily seemed to realize her mistake. "I got too excited and blurted it out. Joshua, you won't mind, right?"
Joshua, with a complex expression, chewed his beef hard.
Grace smiled faintly, looking at Luann. "Luann," she said through gritted teeth, "I have a few reserved seat tickets. Want to go? This is a world-class fashion week. Not everyone can attend without an invitation."
Joshua couldn't hold back. "Does she need your help to go? You're just a somewhat famous celebrity. Luann has been the top artist on the Avoida list for ten years! I'm sure she already has an invitation."
Grace's eyes showed a hint of disgust. "Just asking to be considerate. Joshua, why are you so agitated?"
Joshua let out a sarcastic laugh. "Considerate? You just want to show off, don't you?"
Lily frowned. "Joshua, what's your problem? Grace just wants Luann to see the world, right?"
Luann, who had been eating, paused. She put down her fork and wiped her mouth with a napkin.
She looked up with a half-smile, repeating Lily's words. "See the world?"
Lily quickly said, "Oh, I misspoke."
Luann lazily replied, "No, you didn't. Seems it's time for me to see the world."
Grace placed the tickets on the table, pushing them over with one finger. "Keep them safe. Don't lose them."
Luann took them and smiled sweetly. "Don't worry, I'll be there on time."
After dinner, everyone dispersed.
On the way back, Luann sat in the passenger seat, lost in thought.
Myron was driving, occasionally glancing at her with concern.
They stopped at a red light. Just as he was about to speak, Luann's phone rang.
It was an unfamiliar number. Luann answered and put it on speaker. "Hello."
"Oh my God! Finally, we got in touch with you!" The voice on the other end was excited. "We're from the international fashion week. This year, the only brand being showcased is yours, Sunflower! As the sole designer and founder, you must come!"
Myron slowly turned his chiseled face, his temple throbbing.
Luann responded, "Got it."
"We'll be waiting for you!"
After hanging up, she heard Myron's complex voice.
"You're the designer of Sunflower? The founder?"
Luann nodded.
"He just said you're the sole designer, so all these outfits are your designs?"
Luann was silent for so long that the cars behind started honking.
Myron restarted the car, then pulled over to the side of the road.
Luann spread her hands with a helpless expression. "Alright, I can't keep it up anymore. I confess. Most of Sunflower's designs are mine, including clothing, jewelry, perfume, and so on."
