Chapter 366

Chapter 366:

“Ms. Shaw, I didn’t mean to offend. I just find it somewhat demeaning to use Miss Wade’s design on a dog.”

“What’s wrong with adorning a dog?” Eva cut her off. “It’s my pet, and I’ll accessorize it as I see fit. Maybe, Miss Quinn, you should pay more attention to enhancing your own designs rather than critiquing my choices.”

Eva’s authoritative tone rendered Vivi momentarily speechless.

Vivi bit her lip, her eyes flickering toward Sadie, revealing a whirlwind of emotions.

Sadie, who had been watching the exchange silently, allowed a subtle smile to play at the corners of her mouth.

When Vivi approached and took the seat next to her, her voice carried a sharp edge.

“It’s been a while, Sandra.”

Sadie turned her head, meeting Vivi’s gaze with a steady one of her own.

“Indeed, it has.”

The air crackled with tension as their eyes locked.

“I didn’t expect to find you here,” Vivi remarked, her tone laced with envy.

Sadie’s smile was faint yet confident.

“I was invited.”

“Humph!” Vivi scoffed, her voice bitter. “It seems you’ve been prospering since your return to Helva.”

“I appreciate the compliment,” Sadie responded, her posture composed and resolute.

Vivi observed Sadie’s serene poise, feeling her resentment grow.

“Sandra, don’t assume a single victory gives you the upper hand. We’ll see how long that lasts.”

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Sadie raised an eyebrow, her tone even.

“I’m always prepared.”

While she maintained her composure outwardly, Sadie felt a sense of inner tension.

The banquet transitioned to a buffet-style dinner, under the gleam of chandeliers.

Elegant guests mingled, glasses clinked, and the rich aroma of gourmet dishes filled the air. Yet, beneath the surface, a subtle tension simmered, fueled by unseen rivalries.

Navigating the crowd with a champagne flute, Vivi engaged various designers with a charming smile, subtly disparaging Sadie’s work.

“Sadie’s designs, well, they’re rather avant-garde, not really aligned with mainstream preferences,” she commented with a feigned sigh of regret, her smugness thinly veiled.

“Indeed, an excessive focus on artistic flair often compromises practicality,” one designer concurred, his eyes flashing with envy.

Another added in a hushed tone, “I heard rumors of plagiarism in her latest drafts, but who knows the truth?”

From a distance, Sadie watched the scene unfold, recognizing Vivi’s familiar tactics of isolation and character assassination.

“Sadie, why are you standing here by yourself?” Alex approached, plate in hand, his concern palpable.

Sadie replied, managing a smile, “I just need a moment to breathe.”

Following her gaze, Alex quickly grasped the situation.

He leaned closer and whispered, “Ignore them. They’re just spreading gossip.”

Sadie simply shook her head, choosing silence over engagement.

Meanwhile, a man in a sharp suit approached Vivi, presenting her with a business card.

“Miss Quinn, hello. I’m an editor from Modern Muse magazine. I’ve long admired your work and would love to discuss a potential collaboration.”

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