Chapter 12
Winter got off the plane and turned on her phone to find news about Dominic’s wedding drama looding in. She briefly looked at tags like “Aurelia’s ex crashes wedding” and “Dominic and Aurelia
part ways.”
But seeing that Mrs. Thorne had collapsed from anger, she paused.
Dominic’s mother had always been kind to Winter, pitying her for growing up without parents. She had treated Winter like a daughter.
But now-
Winter sighed. The past should stay in the past. Now, she needed to cut ties with everything before.
After resting for a while, Winter began job hunting. She applied for a design position at a luxury fashion company, planning to start as an intern.
‘Do you have any work samples?” the interviewer asked kindly, adjusting his glasses.
Winter felt nervous but brought out the designs she had created for school competitions.
As expected, the interviewer frowned. He was about to ask something when his phone rang. Excusing himself, he stepped out to take the call.
Winter prepared herself for rejection, knowing that this design had once been labeled as plagiarism inder Aurelia’s careful arrangement and with Dominic’s support.
But she stood her ground–this was her best work, and she would present it regardless.
When the door opened again, the interviewer returned with a smile,
‘Congratulations, Ms. Bailey. You’ve passed the interview. Our chief designer really liked your work.‘
At Santa, Winter learned about her responsibilities and quickly became familiar with her colleagues.
But the interviewer’s words-“Our chief designer really liked your work“-remained a mystery.
One day, while reading about Santa’s chief designer and CEO, Lucas Gray, in the break room, Winter
accidentally bumped into someone, spilling coffee all over them.
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“I’m so sorry!” she quickly backed away, but it was too late–the coffee had completely soaked the person’s clothes.
She looked up to see a man holding a water cup, smiling gently at her despite the coffee dripping from his clothes.
“It’s nothing,” he said, removing his stained jacket and asking, “Did you get burned?”
“No… no,” she stammered.
“Good.” He took a mop from the corner, and when Winter offered to clean up, he shook his head.
After mopping the floor, he even washed her fallen cup and handed it back.
“Be careful with hot water next time. Burns are no joke.”
Winter nodded quickly and returned to her desk, checking her phone. As she scrolled down, Lucas Gray’s photo appeared on the screen.
Her eyes widened in shock–the photo showed the same angular face as the man she’d just bumped
into in the break room.
Because of her previous experiences, Winter had to stop pursuing her design education. But she
understood that natural talent alone wasn’t enough in this field, so she continued studying after
work.
One evening after finishing her courses, Winter noticed that a certain workstation still had its light
- on. Come to think of it, that light seemed to be on whenever she worked late.
She’d never paid attention before, but tonight she felt a strange urge to greet this fellow overtime
worker.
The person seemed to sense her approach and looked up as she neared.
It was Lucas Gray,
Winter quickly approached him–she’d been meaning to properly apologize for the coffee incident, but hadn’t found the opportunity since he’d left the break room so quickly that day.
“It’s you,” Lucas said, rubbing his temples and smiling as he stood up.
Winter nodded. “What a coincidence, Mr. Gray. Working late too?”
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apter 12
ust some matters to attend to,” Lucas smiled. “But do you work overtime every day?”
Vinter quickly explained she was trying to learn additional skills. Lucas nodded, and she quickly dded, “By the way, Mr. Gray, have you eaten? I still feel terrible about the break room incident and ever got to properly apologize.”
Don’t worry about it,” Lucas checked the time. “But I actually haven’t eaten. Shall we go together?”
at the restaurant, Lucas asked, “I’ve seen your designs. You clearly have a unique perspective. Were ou in design before?”
More or less,” Winter said vaguely, not wanting to bring up the past.
Your talent is rare. You could have developed well in America too. Why come all the way to France
lone?”
Could have developed well in America…
Winter remembered that day–two identical designs appeared on the big screen, and her missing
riginal draft was somehow in Aurelia’s hands.
Will your school only nurture plagiarists? If this matter isn’t addressed seriously and Aurelia isn’t iven justice, I’ll reconsider my donations to your institution.”
Jominic’s words had been like a hammer, shattering all of Winter’s explanations and her dreams.
…Are you alright?” Lucas waved his hand in front of Winter’s face, bringing her back to reality.
‘Sorry, I was just thinking about something.”
Lucas nodded understandingly and didn’t pursue it further.
As Winter ate, she didn’t notice the way Lucas was looking at her, his eyes carrying emotions others
wouldn’t understand.
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Chapter 13
