Rebirth: Love me Again

At this point, Astrid Valencière's fame had skyrocketed seemingly overnight with the release of her Winter Collection.

The fashion world was ablaze with praise, hailing it as the most innovative and enchanting collection of the year. Every piece carried a whimsical charm, blending fantasy-inspired elements with modern elegance—a striking departure from Astrid's usual style.

Yet, behind the scenes, things were far from the glittering image being presented to the world.

For years, Astrid's name had been fading into obscurity. Her designs, once considered groundbreaking, had grown stale. Critics whispered that her creativity had waned, and her collections no longer sparked the excitement they once did. She had tried everything—new partnerships, bold color palettes, even risky materials—but nothing seemed to work. It was as if the industry had moved on, leaving her behind.

Just as she was on the verge of desperation, Sophia Rosette had appeared, almost like a savior, bearing a portfolio of designs.

But these weren't Sophia's creations—they were Hyun's. How she had come into possession of them, Astrid didn't ask. She didn't care. All she saw was an opportunity to reclaim her dwindling relevance.

The designs were nothing short of genius, embodying a unique blend of fantasy and innovation that Astrid could only dream of creating herself.

However, there was a catch: time. With only weeks before the Winter Collection's debut, they had to make compromises. Many of the designs had to be simplified or scrapped entirely to meet the deadline. Even so, what they managed to produce was nothing short of extraordinary.

The show was a smashing success. The collection was hailed as "groundbreaking," "ethereal," and "visionary."

Astrid's name, once a fading echo in the fashion world, now blazed like wildfire across the industry. Magazines scrambled to feature her, influencers gushed over her pieces, and critics lauded her sudden creative renaissance.

But not everyone was celebrating. Behind the applause, there were murmurs of confusion.

Why had Astrid's work taken such an abrupt and radical turn? Her usual designs were rooted in traditional elegance, but this collection was something else entirely—a fantastical, whimsical dream that felt almost too fresh to be hers.

Astrid didn't care about the whispers. She reveled in her newfound success, standing at the center of the fashion world's spotlight once again. And standing beside her, basking in the glow of triumph, were Sophia and Sophie Rosette.

To them, this wasn't just about Astrid's resurgence—it was about ruining Eve's reputation and crushing Hyun's budding career.

Both Eve and Hyun had become obstacles in their path, and it was time to put them back where they belonged—beneath their heels.
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Sophia meticulously planned every detail of the scheme, her cunning mind weaving a flawless trap, while Sophie eagerly executed her mother's instructions with unrestrained delight.

For the Rosette women, this was a victory on all fronts. Eve's credibility was in tatters, and Hyun, the creative genius behind the stolen designs, was left with nothing but a ruined reputation and an uncertain future once his winter collection came and he had no choice but to show the same designs as Astrid.

The masses would tear him apart for daring to challenge Astrid's designs. Even if he boldly claimed the creations as his own, who would believe him?

Against a seasoned, venerable designer like Astrid, Hyun—just a budding talent—stood no chance in the court of public opinion.

The weight of her reputation would crush his words before they could take flight. The harder he fought, the more the world would sneer, branding him a desperate fraud. They wouldn't see his genius; they'd only see a copycat clawing for relevance. And with that label, his dreams would shatter, leaving him with nothing but scorn and obscurity.

While Astrid didn't care about the origins of the designs or the lives she had destroyed. All that mattered was the applause echoing in her ears, the cameras flashing in her face, and the knowledge that, at least for now, she was back on top.

"You're incredible, Mother," Sophie purred, reclining in the hospital bed while biting into a glossy red apple. Her leg, wrapped in a pristine cast, was purely for show—after all, she hadn't really fallen down the stairs.

"By planting the blame on Eve without directly accusing her, her reputation is now in tatters. And as for that useless designer? I can practically hear him scrambling in panic! Ahahaha! There's no way he'll dare showcase his collection now that Astrid has already paraded those designs. Unless he wants the public to brand him a plagiarist, he's finished."

At the edge of the room, Sophia sat poised with an air of satisfaction, a cruel smirk tugging at her lips. "I told you to trust me, darling. People like them are laughably simple to destroy. A single whisper in the right ears, and the right money, and they're already drowning in scandal."

She swirled the wine in her glass, the deep red liquid catching the light like blood. "And Astrid has already arranged for the winter collection to be gifted to your classmates, just as promised. Imagine their delight when they see they're wearing pieces from the most celebrated designer of the season. Why would they ever need Hyun's pitiful creations now? Astrid reigns supreme, and they'll lap it up like the obedient sheep they are."

Sophie's eyes sparkled with malicious glee. "You're brilliant, Mother. My classmates will be over the moon. And best of all, that puny designer will be humiliated once he showed up with the same collection as Astrid. Serves him right for denying us. And Eve . . . Ahahaha. That girl will never show her face again." She laughed, her voice sharp and cold, echoing through the room like a victorious battle cry.

Sophia leaned back, her tone laced with a sinister calm. "Exactly as planned, my dear. The higher they climbed, the harder they were destined to fall. And we made sure this fall will be unforgettable."

=== 🤍 ===

|| A/N ||

Hey Lovelies! 🌟

In the next chapter, we'll be shifting the focus to the other female leads, as not much happens with Eve at this point until the Winter Collection unfolds.

Before wrapping up this arc and diving into the next one, we'll introduce the other FLs for just two to four chapters, then jump back to Eve's story. Stay tuned!

Thank you all so much for your incredible support—it means the world to me! 💖

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