Chapter 346

 346:
“I can’t fathom how Kristy would dare to sport a knockoff at a reunion. Aren’t you terrified of becoming the laughingstock once word spreads?”
“She’s already the butt of the joke, isn’t she? It was clear from the beginning that Kristy’s dress was a cheap imitation. Just compare the craftsmanship to Linsey’s—there’s absolutely no contest.”
“The difference doesn’t stop at the dress; it extends to the wearer as well. Linsey’s poise and grace are in a league of their own, something someone like Kristy could never grasp.”
The crowd’s whispered comments painted Kristy’s face with a blush of embarrassment mixed with flashes of rage.
Even Beth, who had initially rallied to Kristy’s cause against Linsey, now retreated into a shadowy corner, her voice lost in silence.
Despite her reluctance, Kristy knew an apology was her only escape.
The repercussions of this scandal threatened to ripple far beyond her own tarnished reputation.
Clenching her teeth, she faced Linsey with a stiff expression, her tone laced with forced humility. “Linsey, I admit my mistake—I was wrong. Misled by others, I misunderstood you completely. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Linsey, her patience worn thin, chose not to extend the conversation with Kristy.
While the apology was palpably hollow, she decided it wasn’t worth her energy to contest it.
Arthur, catching the undercurrents of Kristy’s reluctance, shifted his cold gaze away dismissively. “Enough of this. I’ve got better things to do than waste my time here. I’m out of here,” he announced with finality.
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As he turned to leave, the surrounding onlookers murmured their polite goodbyes, eager to impress him.
Just then, Linsey mustered all her courage and took a decisive step forward. “Mr. Flores, please, just a moment,” she called out.
Arthur paused and turned, his expression one of mild curiosity. “Linsey, do you have something else to say?”
Together, they stepped out of the bustling room, seeking refuge from the nosy crowd and the relentless buzz of conversation.
Once they found a quieter spot, Linsey’s eyes shone with genuine gratitude as she addressed him. “Mr. Flores, I can’t thank you enough for what you did back there. Without your intervention, my reputation might have suffered irreparably tonight.”
To her surprise, Arthur arched an eyebrow, his face registering a flicker of astonishment that she had sought him out merely to express her thanks over what he considered a minor act.
He shrugged nonchalantly, brushing off her thanks with a casual flick of his wrist. “Oh, there’s no need for that. I was merely speaking the truth.”
His tone grew firmer, edged with a mix of professional pride and a touch of irritation. “As a designer, how could I possibly stand idly by while someone parades a counterfeit as the real thing? And to top it off, claiming that my dress was the imitation? No one in their right mind would stand for that kind of disrespect.”
Linsey blinked, taken aback by the revelation. “Wait, are you saying the dress I’m wearing is actually one of your original creations?”
She had initially believed that Arthur had intervened simply out of a sense of justice or kindness.
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.
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