Chapter 192

The woman slipped into the changing room to take off her evening gown. Emily Blair took the dress from her, her slender, pale fingers deftly pinching the needle. She found the small tear in the fabric and expertly began to weave the needle through the rip.
Emily’s hands moved with such practiced ease that each stitch landed perfectly in line with the last.
Watching her work, the woman felt a strange pang in her chest.
“Haven’t you been with the Lane family for a few years now?” she asked quietly.
Emily kept her head down, her voice even. “You all said it yourselves—I’m just the driver’s daughter. Isn’t this sort of thing exactly what you’d expect me to know?”
The waiting room was dimly lit, making Emily squint as she turned toward the nearest lamp.
But before she could adjust, a shadow fell over her.
Emily frowned slightly and looked up.
Alex White was leaning in, blocking the light from behind. His amber eyes, warm and impossibly deep, studied her. A slow, teasing smile played at his lips.
“Emily Blair, you can sew?”
Emily held the needle between her fingers, expression calm, offering no reply.
A moment later, Alex chuckled and leaned in closer, his sly fox-like gaze never leaving her face.
“Emily Blair, are you—”
Falling for me
Emily’s tone was steady. “You’re blocking the light.”
The smile faltered on Alex’s face.
Emily pushed his shoulder back, her movements brisk. “Don’t get in the way.”
In a few swift, practiced motions, she tucked the thread beneath the fabric and gave
a final pull. The tear was gone, the repair invisible.
She handed the dress back to the woman. “It’s done.”
The woman cradled the gown, scrutinizing the mended spot. Only when she saw nothing amiss did she hesitate, her voice uncertain. “Emily… why are you helping me?”
Emily returned the sewing kit to its place, her tone cool and offhand. “Just needed something to do.”
The woman stared, incredulous. “What did you just say?”
Emily said, “Aren’t you going to change? You’re up next.”
Flustered, the woman hurried into the changing room, swapped into her dress, and rushed back out.
As she passed Emily, her gaze was conflicted. “Thank you, Emily.”
Emily didn’t even blink.
The woman was second to last; Emily would be the final contestant to take the stage.
When the woman left, only Alex White remained with Emily in the now-silent waiting room, the other contestants already in the audience awaiting the results.
The vast backstage area felt unusually still.
Alex was silent; Emily enjoyed the peace.
But Alex was never one to let things lie.
“Emily, I just don’t get it,” he said, a wry smile tugging at his mouth and a glint of interest in his eyes. “She was talking trash about you not long ago. And you still fixed her dress?”
“You really don’t hold a grudge, do you?”
Emily closed her eyes, waiting. “What’s it to you?”
Alex gave a short, disbelieving laugh. “I just don’t buy that you’re really that generous.”
He leaned back, propping his chin on his palm, his tone casual. “I’ll bet you sabotaged her dress. The moment she steps onstage and moves, it’ll fall apart. She’ll make a fool of herself in front of the judges and be out of the competition. One less rival for you.”
As he spoke, his eyes darkened, the playful curve of his mouth fading.
“Tell me, Emily am I right?”
Emily almost wanted to laugh. “Do you really think you’re that clever?”
Alex’s smile turned mocking. “Am I wrong? Emily, you’re always scheming. No wonder nobody ever likes you.”
This Emily Blair-she’d stirred up trouble everywhere she went in the Lane family. Every mess seemed to have her at the center. Especially Isabella Austin-sweet, gentle Isabella-had suffered time and again at Emily’s hands.
Clearly, Emily Blair was nothing but trouble.
He refused to believe otherwise.
Emily’s gaze was steady. “Whatever makes you happy.”
Her stubborn composure made Alex frown.
The distant piano music outside the waiting room faded. The woman Emily had helped stepped down from the stage, carefully holding up her skirt as she descended.