With a sway of her hips, Marina strode to the guest room door, ready to open it and usher Quentin out.
Just then, Quentin’s hesitant voice sounded behind her.
“Niamh… she changed the theme. Last minute.”
“What?”
Marina turned around sharply.
Quentin’s face was etched with guilt and uncertainty–classic signs of betrayal–but his eyes were disarmingly sincere, making it clear he was telling the truth.
“She actually changed the theme last minute? But there’s hardly any time left!”
Seeing the skepticism on Marina’s furrowed brow, Quentin hurried to explain,
“It’s true. That big–shot designer, Miranda, she dropped by Niamh’s studio the other day. Niamh made her a butterfly ring…”
“Butterfly…”
Marina rubbed her chin, chewing over the word.
“Right.” Quentin nodded. “Chrysalis Reborn was supposed to be Niamh’s showpiece for Luminous Divas Fashion Week…”
Marina’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Chrysalis Reborn?
Her frown deepened.
Chrysalis Reborn carried a powerful metaphor for transformation–so much more impact than her own childhood sweetheart–inspired clover theme.
Lost in thought, Marina barely noticed Quentin step closer.
“Maybe it’s because Niamh’s theme got leaked, or maybe it’s because Miranda told her that butterfly designs are played out. Either way, Niamh decided to scrap the whole thing and come up with something new…”
”
Marina lifted her gaze to Quentin, now standing just a breath away.
To her, Chrysalis Reborn was already a rare stroke of genius.
1/3
20:19
Chapter 254
And Miranda called it cliché?
No wonder she’d been so scathing at Marina’s exhibit yesterday.
Marina had gone to great lengths to make a good impression on Miranda–pulling every string she had to get Jonathan to introduce them, hosting an exclusive jewelry show just to showcase her best work. Instead, Miranda had sneered at her designs, dismissed them as trash, and left her utterly humiliated in front of her
peers.
Thank God Jonathan had comforted her afterward, assuring her that her reputation with him was still untarnished.
If it hadn’t been for that fiasco, she’d never have stooped so low as to cozy up to Quentin for inside intel on Niamh.
But Michael had said Miranda was a fan of Niamh’s work, which meant Marina needed to be prepared–or else risk being outshone by Niamh at Fashion Week.
“Niamh still hasn’t settled on a new theme…”
As soon as Quentin finished, Marina folded her arms and let out a cold, mocking laugh.
“I’m serious! I swear,” Quentin insisted, thumping his chest for emphasis. “It’ll be decided in the next couple of days, tops. As soon as Niamh picks something, I’ll let you know right away…”
His cheeks flushed as he reached out to take Marina’s hand, fidgeting with her fingers, unable to hide his eagerness.
The touch made Marina’s skin crawl, but she forced a smile.
“So… our deal still stands, right?”
Quentin swallowed hard, nodding almost desperately. “Yes, yes, I’ll help you take Niamh down. And when that happens… you and I…”
“Relax. I always keep my word,” Marina said, patting Quentin’s shoulder, her fake smile growing stiff.
When Niamh’s career finally crashed and burned, Quentin…
Well, he’d be of no use to her anymore.
Once Quentin was out the door, Marina’s shoulders slumped. She let out a weary sigh.
20:19
When she’d first returned from abroad, she never imagined that a stay–at–home wife like Niamh would turn out to be her biggest obstacle. Even less did she expect Jonathan to drag his feet on the divorce…
“It seems your time at Blackspire wasn’t wasted after all. You’re getting pretty good at seducing men, aren’t you?”
A man’s voice echoed from the bathroom as he stepped out.
20:19
