Chapter 31

“You two, help out. The client wants it cut into 404 pieces.”
“Uh… okay, sure.”
The sales associate had worked here for years, but she’d never seen anything like this. She hurried to grab a pair of scissors.
The sound of metal slicing through fabric rang out in the store, every snip echoing in the silence. Each cut felt like a slap to Olivia’s face.
Without the dress, what was she supposed to wear for the competition?
Staring at the scattered scraps on the floor, Olivia covered her mouth and ran out, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Olivia!”
Charlotte watched as Olivia and her mother left one after the other. She stood up slowly, rubbing the back of her neck.
“Put it on the Main Family’s account.”
At the door, Charlotte glanced at the sales associate, her lips twitching with the hint of a smile. She didn’t say a word and just walked out.
Not even thirty seconds later, the manager got a message from headquarters. The sales associate was fired on the spot.
“Why?” The associate just stood there, stunned.
“You really have to ask?” The manager tossed her a tablet. The screen showed security footage sent from headquarters—her being rude and insulting to a customer.
“You’re just a salesgirl, but you act like you own the place. Always looking down on everyone,” the manager snapped. “Corporate gave the order. Pack up and leave.” Everything went black for the sales associate. She slid to the floor, powerless.
Charlotte left 1-KISS and caught a cab back to the Main Family home.
She walked into the foyer and heard chaos coming from inside.
Olivia was throwing a fit, still fuming from the humiliation. The whole family was gathered, trying to calm her down.
Steven had rushed home from work as soon as he heard the news.
“Olivia, don’t worry. I’ll find you an even prettier dress. You’ll look amazing at the competition.”
“It’s just a dress. If you want another one, I’ll buy it for you,” Steven added.
Olivia bit back a smile, still sniffling. “But it was so expensive. I don’t want you to spend so much on me, Dad.”
If she’d known things would turn out like this, she would have called her dad right away.
Steven looked at Olivia, his heart softening at how considerate she seemed. “Charlotte, you’re home.”
Hearing his voice, Charlotte strolled
in. Steven’s eyes landed on the
l.ne
shopping bag in her hand, and his
face instantly turned cola Content,
“Olivia’s devastated she didn’t get her dress, and it’s like you don’t even care.”
Care? She definitely did.
Charlotte blinked, then held up her
bag with a little smile, her eyes
sparking. “But got mine
be happy about that?”” that?” Content-.net>
Steven looked like he was about to explode.
Olivia and Elizabeth both glared at her, fuming.
Was she clueless? Did she really not get it?
“If there’s nothing else, I’m going to my room. Charlotte dropped her smile, her eyes sweeping over everyone before stopping on Olivia’s tearstreaked face. Go ahead keep crying. Might as well while you’re at it.” swñovels
Olivia could only stare at her, speechless.
“Charlotte!”
Steven’s angry shout followed her, but Charlotte ignored him and headed upstairs.
She tossed her bag onto the floor and flopped onto her bed, arms spread wide.
Pulling out her tablet, she opened her art app and tapped her latest project.
She was almost done with a beautiful evening gown design.
Holding her stylus, she added a few quick strokes.
A few minutes later, she saved her work.
She opened her email and sent the design out.
Sender: Tracing.
The founder and chief designer of 1-KISS.
…
That night, after taking her meds, Charlotte sat up in bed, scrolling through
apartment listings on her phone.
The villa was way too big for one person.
But all the places she liked were too far from school.
As she agonized over it, her phone buzzed.
A friend request on social media.
Charlotte tapped it open. The profile picture was just the name “Blair” in big, bold
letters.
She knew exactly who it was the second she saw it.