Ch. 116..120: Begging For A Reconciliation Chapter 116-120

Chapter 116

Han watched as Ian get out of the car calmly. Then, he put out the cigarette in his hand expressionlessly.

Ian saw Han as well.

Their eyes met and there was a thick atmosphere between them.

Tension arose in Ian’s heart at the same time.

Although Han did not know, he was incredibly sure that Leah was participating in Fashion Week.

Ian greeted Han with a nod.

Han could not ignore him since the both of them had to communicate at the venue eventually.

However, Han seemed to be calm. He threw away the cigarette butt and turned away coldly.

The catwalk had already started in the venue.

Becky had finally found a well-known jeweler to style her jewelry. She heaved a sigh of relief although it was neither Cindy nor Serena who styled it for her,

She had to win the championship no matter what. She wanted to slap both of the women across the face.

Becky’s turn was before Emma. She was wearing a long vintage dress with jewelry. She held her head high and walked out with confidence.

She managed to gather a round of applause in just a minute.

The judges were also nodding.

Becky grinned sarcastically as she passed by Emma.

Becky took notice of which models were participating in Fashion Week through her cousin. Among all of them, she wanted to win against Emma the most.

Both of them used to go to the same university. During their time there, they were often compared by others. They also participated in the university’s beauty contest together.

Becky lost to Emma at that time.

Becky had to regain her pride to make up for the shame she felt three years ago.

Once Becky was done with her catwalk, it was now Emma’s turn. She clenched her palm nervously and thought about her dress. She became even more nervous.

“Relax, don’t be nervous. What happened is in the past now. Don’t worry about the dress, and face everything with confidence.” Leah patted Emma on her shoulder and comforted her after seeing her this nervous.

Emma glanced at Leah and asked, “Is this okay, Miss?”

Leah nodded and answered, “Butterflies are the main element of your dress. It shouldn’t be a problem. Now, go on.”

Music played and drums could be heard.

Emma took a deep breath and summoned up her courage. She held her dress up and walked out to the beat of the drum confidently.

She caught everyone’s attention as soon as she appeared.

Her dress was designed by a rookie designer. The combinations of colors were bold and bright. With Emma’s charming face, they complement each other.

“Look at her waist, the embroidery looks quite rough.”

“It’s part of the design. It’s inspired by butterflies. There’s even a peony embroidered on the waist. The designer’s concept is good.”

“Yes, even her jewelry matches her dress. People might think that she’s a butterfly princess.”

“This isn’t bad. The dress is noticeable to everyone. I’ve never seen such a bold and harmonious design before.

“Yeah, it feels refreshing.”

The judges showed their admiration.

Some people even speculated. “Could Cindy be appointed as her stylist? She’s mysterious. I heard that she was also invited to this event. I want to meet her in person.”

Another person asked, “Cindy? I think I remember her. Are you a fan?”

“I admire her a lot. How can there be such a talented jewelry designer.”

“…”

Emma’s palms were sweating when she got off the stage.

Even so, she walked through the audience confidently.

Leah patted Emma on her shoulder and praised, “You did great.”

Emma smiled coyly as soon as she heard her praise. Then asked gratefully, “Thank you, Miss. Can I ask for your name? I just want to thank you properly.”

“It’s my pleasure.” Leah shook her head and answered with a grin. “I’m Cindy.”

Emma’s eyes widened instantly.

She looked at the woman in front of her in disbelief. This confident and stunning woman was Cindy.

Was she lucky?

“Uhm… Miss Cindy, I… I… I’ve been admiring you for a long time.” Emma was so excited she could not speak properly.

Leah smiled gently and said, “Well, thank you for your support. I’m heading to the bathroom.” Leah left after that.

Leah had been praised by many people while she was in Melville for two years. Her confidence grew and became more cheerful over the past two years. She realized that she can be liked by others.

Leah was about to leave the bathroom when she heard a voice coming from the cubicle next to her, She halted.

It was Becky’s voice.

“Someone fixed that woman’s dress, what am I supposed to do now, sis?”

Upon hearing those words, Leah raised her eyebrows and grinned sarcastically.

She took out her phone and started recording.

“I tore the dress as you told me to. There was an emergency so I didn’t put a large tear in her dress because I thought it was enough.”

“What should I do, sis? I must win against her!”

“Alright, thanks, sis.” Becky walked out of her cubicle after she was done talking.

Leah listened to the recording of Becky on repeat and smiled sarcastically.

Although she had seen this kind of dirty trick numerous times, she had never been involved in one.

After the competition was over, she would hand it over to the organizer.

…

Three days of Fashion Week went by in a flash.

Fashion week had been broadcasted live on the Internet. Many viewers also participated in the discussion. The most discussed topics were “What does Cindy look like?” and “Emma’s outfit”

The results of the competition were announced in the afternoon on the third day.

The number of people attending the event was more than before. This was because all of the designers would be making a public appearance,

It might also be Cindy’s first public appearance, which attracted a lot of attention from the public.

“Mr. Howard, over here.” The staff led Han to the VIP seat.

Han sat down impatiently.

The award ceremony started shortly. All of the models were invited to the stage. The host did not waste any more time and announced everyone’s score because of the tight schedule.

Chapter 117

All but the first three rankings were fully revealed, among them were Becky Hills and Emma Clay.

Becky, who was prepared to win, glanced at Emma proudly. It did not matter if they were within the top three ranks, she would ultimately be the champion.

Leah stood at the back, waiting silently.

“Next, is the birth of our champion and runner-up!” The host said energetically, instantly attracting everyone’s attention, “I announce that the champion of this week’s fashion show is-”

A triumphant smile appeared at the corner of her lips, she thought to herself, Becky Hills.

“Emma Clay!” The host’s voice echoed as she was thinking excitingly in her thoughts.

“Let’s give a round of applause to Emma for winning this week’s fashion week. We will now present her with her reward which includes an opportunity of signing into a modeling agency under Howard agency.”

Bursts of loud applause were heard while Leah was smiling gratified backstage.

She was rooting for Emma from the very beginning, she had high hopes for her.

“How was it possible? How could she be the champion? Are you mistaken?” Her loud voice can be heard through the microphone considering that she was near the host.

The host was completely dumbfounded by her statement. “No, all our data is strictly reviewed by the organizers. There won’t be any mistakes,” She smiled.

“Why am I not the champion?” She snapped.

The audience below frowned as they stared at her in confusion.

Becky noticed the unusual silence surrounding her and realized that she might have offended the audience. she panicked and tried to change the subject rapidly, “Oh, I just remembered that Emma’s dress was originally damaged therefore she arbitrarily modified the dress and added some embroidery on it. Logically speaking, she should’ve been disqualified.”

“How did you know about this?” Emma asked.

Previously Leah feared that others might use this information against her and therefore warned her not to tell anyone, so no one else should know about this.

“Emma and her designer modified the dress without authorization, they should be disqualified.” She continued.

The judges below looked at each other in dismay.

“Is this true?” Someone asked.

“Of course, I would never lie”

The judges gathered around to discuss and asked after half a minute, “Please ask Emma’s Jewelry designer to come forward.”

Leah sighed briefly backstage and walked forward amid the suspicious gazes of everyone.

As all of this unfolded, Han grew more and more impatient. Therefore as they were asking Leah to step out, Han stood up and left regardless of how hard Assistant Ben tried to convince him.

It was quite difficult for him to walk through the crowd. He walked towards the exit expressionlessly as the voice of the host protruded behind him. “You are Emma’s Jewelry designer?”

“Well.”

“What is your name?” The host asked politely.

As Han was about to exit through the door, a clear voice was heard from the microphone, “I’m Cindy, Emma’s Jewelry designer. I came up with the embroidery design for her dress.”

Han stopped in his tracks upon hearing this.

Becky’s smirk grew more intense on stage.

The audience turned their heads in disbelief and scanned her from head to toe.

Han stood by the entrance, the lights were dim. At that moment, the stage lights were shining on Leah making her look extremely dazzling. Her gentle and beautiful features along with her fair skin. She wore a long aqua-blue dress which made her look both soft and attractive.

Her face… isn’t she the woman that appeared in my dreams? He stood in the dark as his eyes deepened.

She is Cindy? Becky was horrified at the news. She didn’t expect that the young designer whom she looked down upon was Leah Murray. She even attempted to humiliate her.

“It turned out to be Miss Cindy, the young and most promising Jewelry designer in Melville. It is an honor to have you here Miss Cindy.” An earnest smile appeared on the host’s face instantly.

There were a lot of rumors surrounding Leah in her career. It was mostly due to her abilities but part of it was her background. Her grandfather was a well-known investor from Melville. Adding that she was both young and successful.

“She looks gorgeous!”

“I know she was famous and all but I didn’t know that she was this young.”

Even the judges stood and looked at her with modesty.

She shook her head, “I came up with the idea of embroidery on that dress. I couldn’t think of any other way to save the dress when the incident happened.”

“Oh, so you embroidered that peony?”

“I think that it adds a nice touch to the dress.”

“I remembered that there isn’t a rule stating that the dresses can’t be modified. As long as it’s within the concept, small changes are acceptable.”

“Exactly.”

Becky clenched her hands slowly as the judges complimented the dress. If this goes on, Emma would still be the winner.

“No,” Becky interrupted. “Emma Clay damaged the dress, this should be a serious offense. We can’t just brush it off because of external reasons, right?” She said vaguely while dodging Leah’s Gaze.

Chapter 118

“Besides, would you want to let her get away with this? You will all be screwed if I tell my cousin this.” She raised an eyebrow and threatened them with an Icy smile.

“Your cousin?” Someone asked, ‘who is it?”

Her arrogance was boosted in an instant. “My cousin is Molly Lamere, the only daughter of the Lamere family.” She said with her chest puffed.

“Huh…”

“Molly Lamere? Is that the daughter of Jackson Lamere, the politician from Linkville?”

“I remembered that her fiance is Han Howard, CEO of Howard Group.”

As soon as she finished her sentence, the judges hesitated instantly.

One should bear in mind that Leah was still a citizen of Melville no matter how successful she was. Molly was a true Pasterian, her father was a high-ranking politician while her fiance was a businessman. Compared to her, Molly seems quite untouchable at the moment.

“I think that the dress is still damaged regardless.”

“Since the skirt is damaged, she should still be punished for it.”

“Should we just disqualify Emma and postpone the top three rankings?”

Emma’s face turned pale at their comments. Her family is not as wealthy as Becky’s. If she was disqualified, she would have to wait for another three years.

Youth is extremely important for a model. Plus, her family would no longer allow her to continue her modeling career if she isn’t showing any results.

“Don’t disqualify me, I am willing to give up the champion,” She said impatiently.

“What do you mean giving up? You should be responsible for your mistakes,” She said with pure arrogance, drastically different from her previous obedient attitude.

At this moment, Leah could feel the irony in this situation. Some people are selfish like this. They felt the need to block every path of their competitors.

Leah stood in front of Emma and stared Becky dead in the eye, “Do you have to be like this?”

Becky felt nervous gradually as Leah glared for some reason.

But she can’t just let this be. She asked Leah,” I respect you as my favorite jewelry designer but why are you so protective of Emma?”

“It’s not that I’m protective.” Leah sneered, “I know the truth, the one who truly damaged the dress.”

Upon hearing this, Becky gulped nervously. She clenched her fist as she felt the tension between them. Had she found out? How could this be? She thought that she must be overthinking it.

“Stop wasting everyone’s time, just disqualify her.”

The judges heard her words and nodded to each other, prepared to announce the results of the competition.

At this moment, Leah took her phone out of the bag slowly, “Since Miss Hills is being stubborn. I shall just show the evidence to the public.”

Becky’s heart grew heavy when she saw her phone. Before she could react, Leah snatched the host’s microphone and released the voice recordings from the toilet earlier.

Although it was a few seconds, it was enough evidence to prove that Becky Hills was the culprit.

Emma’s face turned even paler, clutching her dress in disbelief. “You ruined the dress?!”

The audience below started whispering.

“No This must be forged! You are framing me!” She exclaimed.

“We can check if it is real or fake through some investigation. Would you want me to continue checking?” Leah scoffed.

Becky moved two steps backward as her face turned pale.

“What is going on here?” The judges wore a horrified look on their faces.

“We’ll know the truth after some investigation. But I’m afraid that Miss Hills won’t last till the investigation.”

“Search.” At this moment, a deep voice appeared on the front. Everyone looked back at the same time.

Leah was horrified when she heard the voice.

She widened her eyes subconsciously and scanned through the audience to look for the source of the voice.

Although two years had passed, his voice was still enough to make her nervous.

Along with his deep voice, Han’s steady footsteps were also heard.

“It’s Mr. Howard.”

“Mr. Howard came.”

“Becky is his cousin-in-law, it is natural for him to handle these situations for her.”

Han stepped onto the stage as everyone was discussing this matter.

His sight never left Leah from beginning to end.

However, she failed to notice this.

“Mr. Howard?”

“We must investigate clearly to prevent tarnishing the fashion week’s reputation,” he said with a straight face.

Becky started panicking upon hearing this. She will be screwed if he found out about this.

She said to him quickly, “I didn’t do it, you have to believe me cousin-in-law.”

Instead of replying, He approached Leah. “Leah?”

Leah raised her head and shared a glance with Han, trying her best to restrain herself.

“Since you are willing to participate, show me the results after it’s done. I have something that I have to do.”

Han grabbed Leah’s wrist aggressively. Everyone was too stunned to speak. “Sir, what are you trying to do?” she frowned.

“Sir? Are you trying to play dumb with me?” He looked at her.

“I don’t understand what you are talking about.”

“Two years, I knew you weren’t dead.” He said to himself.

Leah frowned as she knew that she might eventually meet him again, she just didn’t expect their reunion to be so soon. Even if she was alive, there was no way that she will be tortured again.

She sneered in her heart as she was struggling to speak, “I don’t know what you are talking about. I will call the security guard if you don’t let go.”

 

Chapter 119

“You’ve grown braver.” Han looked at her as if he knew who she was. “Leah,” he said slowly and tersely.

Leah felt her heart hammered in her chest, but she tried to appear calm. “You have got the wrong person, Sir.”

Han grimaced and thought inwardly, did I really get the wrong person? This woman bears so much resemblance to Leah.

Han’s thoughts were interrupted by the clinking of approaching high heels. He furrowed his brows and looked at Serena with disdain when she forcefully pulled Leah to her side.

“Mr. Howard.” Serena tugged the loose hair behind her ear and gave a seductive smile. “You have got the wrong person. Cindy is a trueborn Melvillian. Her grandfather is Ryan. We grew up together abroad. She isn’t the Leah that you were referring to.”

Han shifted his gaze from Leah to Serena. After contemplating for a moment, he spoke, “You are lying.” Leah pursed her lips and clutched her hands behind her back tightly.

“You are welcome to send someone to look into the situation.” Given Mr. Howard’s clout, I’m sure it’ll be a breeze,” Serene replied with confidence. Ryan had made the necessary preparations when Leah was sent to Melvillie earlier. Instead of wasting her time on a man, she could instead lead a comfortable life with her promising and clean background.

Han scrutinized Leah intently, confident that he had not misjudged. However, the woman seemed to have transformed into a beautiful goddess. She had delicate, refined features that could captivate many people’s hearts. She seemed to have a natural glow that illuminated her presence.

Han noticed that the woman’s eyes were distant, as if she was hesitant to look at him. Although she appeared the same as before, she seemed like a complete stranger.

For the past two years, Han had relied on his memories with Leah to fall sleep. He felt guilty at first and realized that his feelings for Leah were more than just hatred. In fact, it was his greatest hope to see her live a happy and safe life. His longing for her soon turned to hatred as he could not understand why she chose to end her life. She had not even given him a chance to say goodbye or take one last look. Han frequently imagined what he would say to her if she had survived death and they were reunited. He never gave up hope for the past two years as he firmly believed that she would one day return to him.

Now that Leah was standing before Han, he felt a mix bag of feelings. He admitted that he was feeling fearful that it was all a dream. He wanted to reach out and caress her cheek, but stopped himself when he remembered her expression when she jumped off the cliff two years ago.

Han’s body went cold with dread, and the emotions within him vanished instantly. Before turning to leave, he raised his head and looked Leah in the eyes.

Leah thought to herself incredulously, Han is willing to let me off just like that? She watched the man’s back disappear from sight with a troubled expression. Given that Han was aware of her presence now, Leah had no choice but to continue with the plan for Fashion Week.

Leah and Serena dragged their tired bodies back to the lounge after working with the staff to retrieve the audio recording. Emma arrived soon after and said gratefully but wearily, “Thank you, Ms. Cindy.”

Leah was in the midst of tidying her stuff. She waved her hand and said, “No problem. I was just doing the right thing.”

“But…” Emma bit her lips.

Leah knew what Emma was concerned about. Hence, she said, “The Fashion Week is held once every three years. It’s such an important event and cheating cannot be tolerated. Don’t worry, I’ll ensure justice is served.” Emma breathed a sigh of relief as she trusted Leah’s credibility.

Serena stood by the door and beckoned. “Hurry up, Leah! I’m famished!”

“I’m coming,” Leah called out. She then grinned at Emma and said, “We are heading out for a meal. Would you like to join us?”

“No thanks,” Emma said as she waved her hand goodbye. I’ve already bothered you enough.”

After walking a short distance from the lounge, Leah and Serena bumped into a tall and muscular figure. When Serena realized it was Han, she immediately put up a defensive front. Ever since the episode earlier, she guessed that Leah and Han had an unusual relationship. However, she could not understand why the man continued to bother Leah even after having a fiancée.

When Leah saw Han, she came to a halt. In silence, the two looked each other in the eyes from tens of steps away. The woman knew that it was impossible to hide from Han. She had hoped that he would have let things go after two years.

Han narrowed his eyes and leaned against the wall, puffing on his cigarette. His gaze lingered on Leah, and he turned to leave after finishing his cigarette. Leah wondered to herself with a solemn expression, what exactly does he want?

Once Leah and Serena left the location, they found Ian standing by the gate waiting for them. He handed Leah a bouquet of flowers and said merrily, “Congratulations! I saw that you are the champion.” Leah smiled and replied, “Thank you.”

Ian could tell Leah was trying hard to hide her sadness. He suspected that the incident earlier had influenced her mood. After getting into the car, he asked Leah, “Do you remember the classmate I introduced you to two years ago?”

“Sunny Cole?” Leah guessed after some thought.

Ian nodded his head and said, “That’s right. Didn’t you say that you wanted to follow him to the suburbs to teach? It didn’t work out previously as you left. He came back from abroad recently and asked if you are still interested.”

“Teaching? That sounds interesting. Let’s go together, Cindy!” Serena interrupted excitedly.

Leah was reminded of Han’s piercing gaze earlier. She was certain that after knowing him for so long, he would never let her off so easily. Even if he did not act now, he may seek vengeance later. Hence, she nodded her head slowly and said, “All right.”

Ian grinned and said gleefully, “I’ll make the arrangement.”

The trio then drove off to their destination. They did not notice that someone had been standing by the exhibition entrance the whole time and spying on their conversation.

Chapter 120

The incident at the Fashion Week garnered considerable media attention. Given that it was a prestigious worldwide event, the International Federation had to intervene and investigate the matter. The organization was efficient and was able to learn the ins and outs of the episode within a day. After cross checking against the recording evidence provided by Leah, they were certain that Becky was the main culprit. As punishment, she was informed that her Fashion Week competition results would be canceled and that she would be barred from participating in any fashion competition for the next ten years. It was a career-ending move as she could not partake in any events relating to fashion.

This incident has had a far-reaching impact; not only did Becky become infamous, but it had also boosted Leah’s popularity. Everyone on social media was expressing their admiration for the latter.

“Is this Cindy, the famous and mysterious designer? She’s so beautiful and elegant.”

“Of course! She’s Mr. Crawford’s granddaughter after all. She comes from a prestigious family.”

“And she also has a sense of justice. If it’s not for her, Emma would have been wronged by Becky.”

“Cindy is extremely beautiful and powerful. I adore her so much!”

“Are you aware that she’s about to release a new set of jewelry? After hearing the news, many prominent ladies approached her to pre-order.”

“If only I could be her, my life would be wonderful.”

Leah, who was envied by all, was currently nestled on the sofa. She sighed dejectedly as she held her version of the design draft that had been changed dozens of times.

Serena walked over with a cup of coffee in her hand and sat herself opposite Leah. “Why are you still amending it, Leah? This set of designs is awesome! The public is getting anxious and frustrated at the long wait. When do you intend to unveil your new designs?”

Leah sighed and muttered, “I don’t think it’s good enough.”

Serena rolled her eyes and scoffed, “Stop nit-picking! I’m going to go crazy from their incessant questioning if you refuse to unveil it soon.”

“I’m sorry,” Leah replied half-heartedly.

Serena decided not to harp on the matter any longer. Instead, she shifted the conversation to another subject. “I’m still interested in the volunteer teaching opportunity that your fiancée mentioned previously. How’s it going?”

“Why would a person born to a privileged background like you be interested in volunteer teaching?” Leah asked causally.

Serena shook her head and explained, “I have always read about such opportunities in the newspaper. I wish to experience it for myself. Moreover, my dad is constantly nagging me to return home and marry. I refuse to return, so I need to keep myself occupied.”

Leah nodded her head in agreement. She knew that Serena was a mixed-blood and her father was a real estate tycoon from Melville. Although the Colemans were a wealthy family, they were lacking in power. As a result, Serena’s father planned for her to marry a politician’s son. The two families were favorable to the marriage, but Serena refused as she had someone else in mind. In addition, she was not one to give up her desires to please her father.

Suddenly, a phone call from Ian cut into the duo’s conversation.

“Sarah, I’ll come over to get you guys later for a meal with Sunny. There will also be other volunteer teachers present too,” Ian informed.

Leah replied, “All right.” After hanging up the call, she said to Serena, “What a coincidence! Ian called to ask us to join them for a meal tonight.”

“I shall get dressed up then!” Serena said excitedly.

Leah rested her chin on her palm and said helplessly, “Please restrain a little. Unlike you, those people are conservative.” After Leah’s repeated persuasion, Serena reluctantly gave up wearing her sexy top and hot pants in favor of a figure-hugging dress.

The evening soon arrived and the vehicle pulled up outside the restaurant. Leah was wearing a shoulder-baring top and a black wide-leg pants. Coupled with her stiletto heels, she looked elegant yet classy. Many patrons could not help but to steal a glance the moment the ladies entered the restaurant. Ian hurriedly ushered Leah and Serena to their seats, where Sunny and the other volunteer teachers were already seated.

“I’m sorry for being late. The traffic was bad.” Ian smiled apologetically.

Sunny and the five volunteer teachers seated at the table turned their attention to the newly arrived guests. The division between the two groups was obvious. The two female volunteer teachers wore light makeup and dressed simply, while the three male teachers had a down-to-earth demeanor. Leah and Serena’s appearance made Sunny and the gang felt uneasy. They hastily stood up and waved their hands. “It’s all right. We just arrived.”

The waiter served the food after noticing that all of the guests had arrived. It was a four-star restaurant that specialized in spicy numbing food. When Ian took Leah to the restaurant previously, she thoroughly enjoyed the food. Most of the volunteer teachers, however, were nervous because it was their first time visiting such a high-end restaurant.

“It has been two years since we last met, Ms. White. You were already so awesome previously. I was a little surprised to learn that you are Cindy when I saw the news report.” Sunny shifted his glasses and grinned at Leah.

The woman shook her head and replied abashedly, “I was just lucky.”

“It’s a strength to have luck on your side.” One of the male volunteer teachers interrupted. “I was thinking about how envious I was of you yesterday. Little did I know that we will meet in person today. Hello, Ms. Cindy. I’m Bryan Foster, a Doctoral Candidate from Hudson University. I’m participating in this round of volunteer teaching.”

“Hi everyone, I’m Sarah White,” Leah said politely.

“Sarah White? You belong to the White family? Two years ago, they…” One of the female volunteers frowned and asked.

Sunny quickly interjected, “It’s been so long, let’s not talk about it.”

The woman bit her lip and tried to control her anger as she was annoyed by Sunny’s interruption. However, she noticed that Leah looked a little forlorn at the mention of the White family’s incident.

After a round of introduction, Sunny and the rest of the volunteers started sharing about their past expedition trips. Serena was amazed by their experiences and fielded many questions.

“Are you interested in joining us?” Bryan smiled and asked Serena. The woman nodded enthusiastically and replied, “Yes, I’m coming with her!”

“Well…” Sunny turned to Ian and asked after a moment of hesitation, “What about you Ian? Are you coming along?”

Everyone’s attention was focused on Ian as they waited for his reply.