ession thick with arrogance. "Of course. I w

be wearing the genuine article, and one of us is clearly

sneered. "Take off our dresses right here?

room, landing on a young woman with short,

on't be necessary. Because, as I understan

nt off in

ed in the directi

that Eva Chen? The head de

attendance as a guest's plus-one, looking deeply

eapon, never imagining the designer would actually be present. Emilia had commission

walked toward them,

od. "My apologies for the interruption

laims we are both wearing your limited edition 'Stardust' gown

dn't refuse. The integrity

on Melinda's dress. She barely glan

second, a flicker of surprise that quickly melted into the quie

voice cracking. "Mine is the real one!

d the fabric of her skirt. It was a special silk, blended w

dress between her fingers. The difference was stark. Meli

nal. "The concept of 'Stardust' is a 'fl

dismissive, "has the wrong material, the cut is imprecise, and the b

nter

's face. All the blood rushed from

bow. "And this," she said, "is the piece I poured my heart into. It is worn perfectly. Ma

nd briefly flickering back to the secret comp

my past I refused to sell, even when I had nothing. A quick, quiet chang

nd undeniable, cra

n and ridicule turned, like a volley of arrows, towa

s. And then conspired with her to use that f

ic proportions. The ul