Chapter 419 Panic
"Ah, so you knew I almost died at sea." Flora emphasized the words "almost died."
Susan halted suddenly. Her eyes caught on the surveillance camera overhead, and she clung to it like a lifeline. "Wine, don't even think about doing anything to me. The cameras are on. If you dare lay a finger on me, it won't just be the end for you, but for your mentor as well!"
Only those with a guilty conscience would hesitate to call her "Flora".
"You're overthinking it." Flora laughed lightly, idly fiddling with the competition number in her hand. "Susan, is your memory really that poor? Apart from harming Flora, have you forgotten what you did to Wine?"
Susan suddenly recalled a long-forgotten matter. "You…"
"So, you remember." Flora nodded with satisfaction. "You stole my design years ago to make your name, and then smeared my reputation through various channels. Did you think I would let you off?"
"Are you really Wine?" Susan's face showed terror.
"Susan, all these years, you've been standing on the stage built upon my blood and sweat - does it feel exhilarating? Do you think that I would resign to my fate like the other countless unknown designers that had been repeatedly suppressed and slandered by you?"
Few people knew that Susan's claim to fame wasn't truly her own work.
Before she became famous, Susan participated in various design competitions with mediocre results, until she accidentally saw a set of design drafts that impressed her greatly. After discovering that the drafter had no significant background, Susan bribed the competition staff to swap the works. That brilliant design became her signature piece, and it skyrocketed her to fame.
In the design world, stealing and plagiarizing designs was hardly uncommon.
If you're cunning, holding a high position will plagiarize the works of others and ruin the original owner’s reputation. The victims often had no other option but to accept their fate!
Susan's career flourished after that. Whenever the whispers of "Susan's plagiarism" surfaced, she was quick to squash the rumors and use her influence to completely silence such gossip.
Then a designer known as "Wine" appeared out of nowhere.
Wine's style was very similar to Susan's, so she immediately labeled Wine's designs as fabrications and convinced everyone that Wine was her imitator, condemned to live in her shadow.
Susan thought her actions were well planned - until she saw Wine's designs tonight. She immediately recognized that they were far superior to her work.
Wine's design style remained unchanged, yet the quality had soared several notches higher in the last two years.
Most importantly, Wine was indeed Flora!
Susan fled in disarray; it was uncertain if it was Flora's daunting presence or her guilt that scared her away.
However, none of this made a difference to Flora. Because the future that awaited Susan was one of even greater terror and guilt.
Flora stood in front of the washbasin, looking at her reflection in the mirror.
She looked the same as she did three years ago, but who could have imagined that Flora, who used to be a timid girl, would become so fierce?
She tousled her short hair and subconsciously lifted her chin, her lips curling into a distant smile.
"Wine, someone is looking for you outside!" A staff member finally found Flora.
"Who?" Flora immediately reverted to her usual gentle demeanor, as if the aloof version of her from a minute ago was an illusion created by time and space.
"A very handsome man."
Flora tidied up a bit before following the staff member out.
The competition ended, and the audience and guests began to leave one after another. Beyond the curtains, the clamor outside and discussions about the designers' works could be faintly heard.
"Wine, that's him."
A tall man, dressed in a formal three-piece suit, stood at the end of the security passage. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, and his back was facing Flora.
Flora stood there, stared straight at that man. Then she decisively turned and walked away. Even after three years, she still recognized that silhouette in an instant.
Arthur turned around and quickly approached, grasping the wrist of Flora who was about to leave. She was forced to stop, but she didn't struggle or turn her head. She just stood there quietly.
Arthur opened his mouth, but his voice seemed to fail him, as he was unable to utter a single word.
The staff member, aware of Arthur's exceptional status and seeing that he didn't seem to intend to hurt Flora, sensed the unusual tension in the atmosphere and quickly slipped away.
"Flora..." Arthur finally heard his own voice after a long while. It was low and hoarse, as if blocked by something.
Flora took a deep breath and turned around. Her smile was serene and untroubled. "Arthur, it's been a long time."
She greeted him calmly, as if he were just an acquaintance even though they had once been the closest of companions. They shared the most intimate moments, and they even had a baby together.
Arthur looked her, whom he had missed for three years, and felt sharp twinges of pain in his heart.
"Flora..."
"Arthur, you should call me Wine," she said. "Given your current status and our relationship, it's inappropriate for you to use such intimate terms."
Indeed, she was true to form. She was a close friend of Natalie and Jane, and they share similar manners of speaking - her words were laced with sharpness, the kind dipped in venom, expertly delivered to strike at one's vulnerability.
"Would you... would you consider coming back?" Arthur gazed intently at Flora.
She had changed. Her features had refined, making her even more beautiful. But the greatest change was her aura; once a gentle girl, she now radiated confidence.
"Come back?"
Flora blinked, a hint of confusion crossing her face before she broke into a smile. "Come back for what? To continue being your lover?"
Before Arthur could explain further, Flora continued, "Arthur, I was young and naive back then. I don't want those things anymore. We had an agreement from the start. It was just a business transaction. It's natural that once it's over. There's no need for further entanglement."
"A business transaction?" Arthur seized upon the phrase.
"Wasn't it? That's what you taught me back then, and I always remembered it."
Arthur looked at Flora, who now regarded their past with indifference and detachment, as if those memories had indeed dissipated like smoke, leaving no trace behind.
'No trace?' Arthur laughed and then abruptly pulled her with force!
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