Chapter 289

Hannah emerged onto the runway, illumination highlighting each nuance of her ensemble.

She donned a sheer lace top, adorned with myriad sapphire-toned gemstone specks that caught the light with every gesture. The bottom was a daring departure-crafted solely from linked platinum loops.

The ensemble radiated like flowing astral essence.

A hush of astonishment traveled across the spectators

"Hold on... Isn't that Ms. Scott? Why is she the finale model?"

"Honestly? She's pulling this off-looks just as stunning as the seasoned models."

A reverberation of shock surged across the space.

Seated in front, Claude's trademark gentle grin stiffened. His grip instinctively constricted around the champagne flute's stem,the skin on his hand going pale.

The astonishment and appreciation gleaming in his stare was barely masked-he hadn't braced for this. This moment struck him with the sheer intensity of Hannah's dazzling presence.

And then, a laugh escaped him. A wild desire arose to seize her offstage and lock her away-where only his eyes would ever witness her, where she existed only within his reach.

Up on the mezzanine, Vincent's eyes widened. From his perch,Hannah's figure remained in full view. His heart felt like it had been struck-hard and sudden-by something ineffable. It wasn't corporate exhilaration. It wasn't the appreciation of genius design. It pierced deeper. Something ruptured the

genius design. It pierced deeper. Something ruptured the logical scaffolding he'd spent years erecting.

He now saw a version of Hannah he hadn't fully understood until now. That magnetism. That gravity. It wasn't mere charm -it exuded dominance, majesty.

He gulped, throat tightening sharply. And from nowhere, a recollection surfaced-her voice, "I believe your feelings are clear now."

A hand rose instinctively to his chest, where his pulse thundered beneath the skin. Maybe she'd been right.

In the corner of the venue, Erica's expression shifted violently.The iciness of smug control vanished-overridden by stunned fury and scalding outrage that nearly devoured her. How the heck had things unfolded like this? Rather than sabotaging Hannah's show, she had inadvertently handed Hannah an opportunity to elevate the event into an even brighter spectacle.

The flip, the overwhelming collapse-it was intolerable. Erica clutched her seat's arm so fiercely that her knuckles bleached,her features contorted by wrath.

Meanwhile, Hannah exited the luminous runway wearing her gem-dusted stilettos, each footfall resounding beneath thunderous cheers and the gazes of scores of captivated spectators.

But as soon as the drape descended, severing her from the crowd's eruption, her stance crumbled entirely. She pressed her spine against the cold wall, inhaling in gulps,chest heaving as the tension ebbed at last.

That short walk-that gleam, the gazes, the silent void before the score rose-had drained her completely.

Silently,Hannah retreated into her private chamber, yearning for a breath alone.

But solitude barely lingered half a moment.

"Hannah!" The sharp rhythm of stilettos echoed rapidly before Vicki stormed inside.

Vicki had caught every instant backstage-Hannah's path on the runway hadn't seemed improvised whatsoever. It felt rehearsed. Purposeful. There was no doubt in her mind-Hannah never planned for Alice to appear tonight.

"What a spectacle!" Vicki spat, venom coating every syllable."Impressive, truly. You had played everyone like a fool." She flung her arms out dramatically. "That ovation out there? All that praise? Bet you're thrilled, Ms. Scott-stepping up by trampling someone else. Feels incredible, huh?"

Team members nearby began to drift over, pulled by the rising voices. Their faces reflected shock, anger, and growing indignation at the accusations.

Meagan, in particular, looked infuriated and advanced, though Hannah halted her with a glacial motion.

Hannah lifted her gaze to meet Vicki's eyes, calm and sharp."You've got a vivid imagination, Vicki. Shame it's so poorly applied."

That jab only stoked Vicki's rage. Her voice pitched higher."Poorly appolied? I stood there watching Alice erupt in hives SO severe that she collapsed. And it happened today,right before the finale. Don't tell me it was all an accident!"

Her eyes burned into Hannah, demanding answers.

Around them, whispers circulated among the gathering staff.

Hannah's mouth curled into an icy arc, her stare razor-sharp."Accident? Who told you it was an accident?"

The entire space froze. Even Vicki's tongue stalled in shock.Her voice faltered. "W-What do you mean?"

Hannah straightened. Her eyes held Vicki's as she answered with slow precision, "I mean, it was no coincidence. Alice was sabotaged-intentionally. Someone wanted to ruin this show,and they didn't care if it destroyed her career in the process."

The charge hit Vicki like a slap-but then her expression twisted into something darker. She lunged verbally, sharper than before. "Sabotaged? What a slick cover-up. Tell me,who in this locked-down backstage could pull off such sabotage-without you being complicit?"

Her voice spiked with intensity. "I think it was your doings. You engineered this. You made sure Alice had an allergic reaction,then swooped in and took her spotlight. You're the mastermind behind all of it!"