Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Vivian Linton, Stop Pretending, You Make Me Sick
"Keep a close watch on our cheongsams. Make sure nothing goes wrong," Holly Sinclair instructed in a low voice.
"Okay," Joanna York nodded.
...
「In the lounge area.」
Holly Sinclair finished a phone call and was about to head backstage when she saw Vivian Linton walking toward her.
Her good mood instantly evaporated.
She turned to leave.
"Holly."
But Vivian Linton hurried forward and blocked her path.
"Piss off!"
Holly snapped, her voice cold.
A chilling frost filled her gaze.
The smile on Vivian Linton’s face froze. With a wounded look, she reached for Holly’s hand. "Holly, please don’t be like this. I really want us to make up and be friends again, just like before..."
Holly Sinclair slapped her hand away.
Her brow furrowed in disgust. "Vivian Linton, there’s no one else here. Drop the act. You make me sick!"
The smile on Vivian Linton’s face vanished completely.
She finally dropped the facade.
Her entire demeanor changed in a flash.
She gave a cold smirk, her words a deliberate, cutting provocation. "Holly Sinclair, you don’t have to put on that holier-than-thou act for me. Hasn’t anyone ever told you? That condescending attitude of yours is what’s truly disgusting!"
"Are you asking for a fight?"
Holly Sinclair cracked her knuckles one by one, a sharp CRACK echoing with each movement. Her low, sinister tone was utterly terrifying.
Vivian Linton involuntarily took a step back, swallowing hard.
But she refused to be intimidated so easily.
Especially not in front of her rival. She couldn’t afford to look weak.
"Holly Sinclair, I’d advise you to give up while you can. Tristan doesn’t love you. The only one he’s ever loved is me."
Vivian Linton puffed out her chest, looking down her nose at Holly Sinclair. "Don’t you get it?" she said smugly. "Think of everything he’s done for me, all the doors he’s opened since I returned. Holly Sinclair, do you have no self-respect? How can you stand for this?"
"And you think he’s so in love with you?" Holly Sinclair asked, crossing her arms with a derisive smirk.
"Of course!" Vivian Linton said, jutting out her chin, her confidence unwavering.
’Everyone knew Tristan Sterling loved her.’
’Tristan’s love was her greatest asset.’
"Then why hasn’t he divorced me to marry you?" Holly Sinclair asked with a smile.
Every word was a dagger.
"You—" Vivian Linton choked, her face turning ashen.
’That was what she wanted to know, too.’
’Tristan clearly didn’t love Holly Sinclair, so why wouldn’t he sign the divorce papers?’
’She didn’t dare ask Tristan, afraid he would think she was being childish.’
’He loved her, doted on her endlessly...’
’...but no one could defy his decisions.’
’Since she couldn’t sway Tristan, her only option was to torment Holly Sinclair.’
Under Holly Sinclair’s gaze, which felt sharp enough to pierce right through her, Vivian Linton’s embarrassment turned to rage. She sneered, "Don’t get cocky, Holly Sinclair. Tristan promised me he would divorce you. It’s just a matter of time. Good things come to those who wait, and I can afford to wait!"
"Oh? Can you really?" Holly Sinclair’s smile grew wider.
Vivian Linton silently gritted her teeth.
’Of course it was a lie!’
’She couldn’t afford to wait!’
’She was sick of waiting!’
’She was growing desperate!’
’Every extra second was agony.’
’Otherwise, she wouldn’t be here, recklessly provoking Holly and risking a beating.’
’Because Tristan had told her that his grandfather was recovering well.’
’That old bastard who hated her was coming back soon!’
’She didn’t get it. She cursed that old bastard every single day, so why wouldn’t he just die?’
’Once that old bastard returned, Holly Sinclair would have a powerful ally.’
’Her dream of becoming Madam Sterling would be crushed all over again.’
’So, she had to make Tristan divorce Holly Sinclair before that happened.’
’She had to drive Holly Sinclair out of the Sterling family!’
Seeing the infuriating smile on Holly Sinclair’s face, a vicious glint flashed in Vivian Linton’s eyes.
Seething, she snarled, "You’re such a slut, Holly Sinclair! You’re the one who broke up me and Tristan! You’re the one who shamelessly climbed into his bed—"
Holly Sinclair raised her hand.
Vivian Linton immediately stumbled backward, her face draining of all color in terror.
She was terrified of being hit.
She retreated so hastily that the back of her knee hit the arm of a sofa. Losing her balance, she tumbled to the floor.
Terrified of being seen, she ignored the pain and scrambled back to her feet.
She was a pathetic, comical sight.
"Heh."
A delighted sneer escaped Holly Sinclair’s lips.
Vivian Linton looked up and glared daggers at Holly Sinclair.
But Holly Sinclair couldn’t be bothered to say another word. She simply turned and walked away.
’Vivian Linton was asking for a beating, but now wasn’t the time.’
’Today’s cheongsam exhibition was a turning point in her life, and she didn’t want to cause a scene.’
Vivian Linton stood rooted to the spot.
She stared daggers at Holly Sinclair’s retreating figure.
A moment later, Holly Sinclair’s figure disappeared around the corner.
A middle-aged woman dressed as a janitor approached Vivian Linton.
"Miss Linton."
"You know what to do."
"I know."
After the brief exchange, the middle-aged woman quickly departed.
A sinister, cold smile slowly formed on Vivian Linton’s lips.
’Go on and be smug, Holly Sinclair.’
’You’ll be crying soon enough!’
’You’re guaranteed to lose the cheongsam exhibition tonight!’
’Just you watch.’
’I, Vivian Linton...’
’...will be the final winner!’
...
「The cheongsam exhibition officially began.」
Lights flashed and music swelled through the air.
In the front row of the guest section, Tristan Sterling and Nathan Fletcher occupied the seats of honor, flanked by Sonia Sutton and other guests.
Onstage, tall models filed out one after another, gliding down the runway in exquisite, elegant cheongsams.
The camera flashes from the reporters flickered relentlessly.
After the first two sets of designs, guests in the audience began to whisper among themselves.
They were all discussing which studio was superior.
The one mentioned most often was SH Studio—
"SH Studio’s designs are really impressive. The color palettes are striking."
"I agree, especially that white one with the large, navy-blue floral pattern. So regal and elegant. I absolutely love it."
"Vervain Studio’s aren’t bad, either..."
"They’re not even in the same league. SH’s designs are clearly more sophisticated and high-end."
"Shh~ I heard Vervain’s Miss Linton is Tristan Sterling’s one true love. You might want to be careful what you say..."
"So I can’t even tell the truth...?"
Not far away, standing at the entrance to the backstage area, Vivian Linton overheard the discussion, and her face immediately twisted with rage.
’These fucking idiots!’
’They wouldn’t know quality if it hit them in the face, yet they dare say her designs are worse than that bitch Holly Sinclair’s?’
’Impossible!’
’She had poured her heart and soul into every single piece on that stage today.’
’There’s no way they were worse than Holly Sinclair’s!’
Holly Sinclair, on the other side of the stage, also heard the comments.
She lifted her gaze and glanced at Vivian Linton.
Her eyes were full of ridicule.
’Without Tristan Sterling, Vivian Linton would be nothing!’
’Today, she was going to use her own talent to put Vivian in her place!’
Just as Holly Sinclair was relishing the thought, she suddenly felt a pair of eyes on her.
She looked up toward the front row of the guest section.
Their eyes met.
Tristan Sterling’s gaze was deep and unreadable.
After only a second, Holly Sinclair tore her gaze away.
’Even looking at him for a second longer felt like bad luck.’
Then she turned and headed backstage.
"So, what’s the plan?"
Seeing Tristan Sterling staring after her for a long moment, Nathan Fletcher crossed his legs and asked with a wry smile.
"What plan?"
Tristan Sterling retracted his gaze, elegantly flicking an imaginary speck of dust from his knee as he asked nonchalantly.
"New flame, old love. Who’s it going to be?"
