The Plain Jane Everyone Mocked Was Actually the Queen of a Fashion Empire Chapter 09
When I got back to the apartment the company had arranged for me, I finally had a moment of peace.
I shut out everyone and everything that could distract me and focused on refining my design, determined to present the best possible version at the competition.
I stayed up all night perfecting it.
Early the next morning, I took my design sketches to the office.
Chloe was standing right outside the building.
She was obviously waiting for me.
The moment she saw me, she froze just as Ethan had.
For several seconds, she didn’t seem to recognize me.
Then she asked in disbelief, “You… you’re Nora?!”
Her gaze swept over me from head to toe.
She still seemed unable to accept the way I looked now.
“That’s impossible. How could you have changed this much? You’re supposed to be a plain Jane!”
“Are you dressing like this just to keep Ethan hooked? I never knew you were this calculating.”
I replied calmly, “You’re not the only woman in the world who’s allowed to want to look good. You’ve got a very narrow view of the world.”
In my heels, I stood several inches taller than she did.
I looked down at her.
Her expression darkened.
“You need to stop stringing Ethan along. He’s been here for days.”
“If he doesn’t go back to New York City soon, everything will fall apart! His company and his career need him. You’re being incredibly selfish!”
I scoffed.
“I’m selfish? Did you ever stop to think about what that makes you after you interfered in my relationship
with Ethan?”
“Before you tear other women down and treat them like objects, did you ever stop to remember that you’re a
woman too?”
She wouldn’t listen and kept ranting.
When she lunged forward as if she intended to hit me, I dodged her, and the sketches slipped from my hand.
Something seemed to click. She quickly snatched them off the ground and glanced at them.
“These are important to you, aren’t they? Who knew you were a designer?”
A sudden smile crossed her face.
Then, staring at me defiantly, she tore the sketches to pieces.
I was about to tell her I had a backup on my computer, so she could tear them up all she wanted.
Before I could speak, Ethan appeared behind us.
His expression was icy as he approached Chloe and watched her tear up my sketches.
“Chloe, why did you come here just to cause trouble?”
“Nora probably pulled countless all–nighters to finish those sketches. You just destroyed all her hard work! Apologize and pay for the damage right now!”
In the past, he hadn’t even been able to bring himself to speak harshly to Chloe.
But now that he was on the other side, everything had changed.
That was all there was to it.
Chloe stared at Ethan in shock as he yelled at her, almost as if she’d never seen this side of him before.
She said quietly, “Ethan, you never used to yell at me or blame me. You always took my side, no matter what…”
Before she could finish, Ethan cut her off impatiently.
“Things aren’t like they used to be! Chloe, you should’ve known this day would come when you broke up with
me.”
“I’m not going to live my whole life for you. I have feelings too, and I can fall in love with someone else.”
He turned his head and glanced at me.
I remained calm and said nothing.
I had no interest in watching their drama.
My voice was flat.
“Sorry, but you two can finish this little show yourselves. I’m going to be late for work.”
“By the way, those sketches are backed up on my computer. Sorry to disappoint you, but tear them up all you
want.”
I turned and walked away.
Behind me, the two of them were left staring at each other.
