Free Web NovelChapter 74: Chapter 74: Wanting to Punish Her Severely
Nathan Fletcher fixed his sharp gaze on his good buddy’s face, teasing him roguishly. "Tsk, tsk. So, tell me, between those two, who’s the new flame? And who’s the old love?"
Holly Sinclair was the wife.
Vivian Linton was the unforgettable ex-love.
It was hard to say which one was the new flame.
"And you?" Tristan Sterling shot Nathan Fletcher a cold glance, turning the question back on him.
"Hmm?"
"New flame or old love. Who would you choose?"
The two main models about to take the stage today were both Nathan Fletcher’s women.
One was Wendy Wyatt, his caged canary.
The other was Shirley Sheffield, his fiancée-to-be.
"An adult doesn’t choose. Naturally, I—" Nathan Fletcher’s lips curled into a smile. After a slight pause, he said, "want them all!"
"That girl from the Wyatt family doesn’t seem very docile," Tristan Sterling reminded him coolly.
"Yours seems docile enough..." Nathan Fletcher said with a meaningful smile. "But is she really?"
Tristan Sterling arched an eyebrow.
’Holly Sinclair was a liar!’
’He’d never known she could be so stubborn.’
’He had always thought she was gentle, obedient, and considerate. And for the first two years of their marriage, she had indeed been a docile, perfect wife.’
’She never said "no" to him.’
’No matter how he ignored her or gave her the cold shoulder, she always greeted him with a smile whenever he came home.’
’But one day, she suddenly changed.’
’She became irrational and unreasonable. She became...’
’The kind of woman who made a man want to teach her a harsh lesson!’
...
"Holly Sinclair, this is terrible!"
Holly Sinclair had just returned backstage when Joanna York ran up to her, crying out in a panic.
"What’s wrong?" she asked, frowning.
Seeing Joanna York’s panicked expression, Holly’s heart dropped.
A terrible premonition began to spread through her.
"Wendy Wyatt suddenly has a terrible stomachache," Joanna York said, frantic. freёwebnoѵel.com
"What?!"
Holly was stunned.
’For Joanna York to be this panicked, it had to be serious.’
"Wendy, what’s wrong?"
Holly rushed over to Wendy Wyatt and asked with concern.
"I don’t know what’s happening. I suddenly feel weak all over, and I have diarrhea..."
Wendy Wyatt was slumped over the vanity table, her face pale and a thin layer of sweat beading on her forehead.
"Do you think you ate something bad?"
"I think so..." Wendy Wyatt’s eyes reddened as she looked at Holly, full of guilt. "Holly, there’s no way I can go on stage like this... What are we going to do?"
Holly didn’t speak, but inwardly, she was frantic.
’If Wendy couldn’t go on, what would happen to the finale piece?’
’The finale was the most important part of the show!’
’If her most important design couldn’t be shown, her last two months of work would have been for nothing.’
"Holly, I’m so sorry." Wendy Wyatt felt awful.
’Holly’s chance to make a name for herself in the qipao world depended on this single event, and now, at the most critical moment, she’d gone and messed it all up.’
"It’s okay. We’ll just get another model," Holly said, patting her best friend’s shoulder comfortingly.
"But you tailored the finale qipao exactly to my measurements. No one else can wear it." Wendy’s eyes filled with tears, and her voice grew more distressed. "You’ve been preparing for so long..."
Holly’s expression was grim.
’In her heart, she felt even worse than her best friend.’
’But what was done was done, and there was no use just feeling miserable about it.’
Suddenly—
"Well, what do we have here?"
A woman’s voice cut through the air, dripping with schadenfreude.
The expressions on Holly and Wendy Wyatt’s faces changed instantly.
It was Shirley Sheffield and Vivian Linton.
The one who had spoken was Shirley Sheffield.
The gloating, of course, was aimed at Wendy Wyatt.
After all, as the saying goes—
When love rivals meet, sparks are bound to fly.
Neither Holly nor Wendy Wyatt said a word. They just stared coldly at Vivian Linton and Shirley Sheffield, who were clearly spoiling for a fight.
"Holly, what happened? Do you need our help?" Vivian Linton asked, crossing her arms. Her words feigned concern, but her expression was that of someone enjoying a good show.
"Get lost!"
Holly wasn’t about to play her games and snapped coldly.
"What kind of attitude is that?!" Shirley Sheffield was astonished.
’She’d never seen someone so brazen.’
’The woman had barely said a word before being told to get lost, and she was supposedly here to express "goodwill"!’
"You can get lost too!"
Wendy Wyatt clutched her stomach, snapping coldly at Shirley Sheffield.
The principle was simple: you deal with your own rival.
"Are you crazy? You dare tell me to get lost?!" Shirley Sheffield was furious.
Wendy Wyatt shot to her feet, rolling up her sleeves. "The reporters from Mistcroft are all outside. I wouldn’t mind giving Miss Sheffield a headline."
The implication was clear: she wanted a fight.
Vivian Linton quickly pulled Shirley Sheffield back a step.
’She’d experienced Wendy Wyatt’s ferocity firsthand. A painful lesson had taught her that it was best to avoid provoking a madwoman like her.’
’With Wendy Wyatt unable to go on stage, their goal was already achieved.’
’There was no need to get tangled up in a pointless argument.’
’If Wendy really went crazy and hit Shirley Sheffield, it would ruin Shirley’s turn in the finale, too.’
"Let it go, Miss Sheffield. You’re an A-lister, a person of status. Don’t lower yourself to the level of some no-name actress," Vivian Linton whispered, placating Shirley Sheffield.
Shirley Sheffield understood what Vivian Linton was thinking.
Seeing Wendy Wyatt still clutching her stomach, looking like she was in agony, brought her immense satisfaction.
"Wendy Wyatt, after all the trouble you went through, you can’t even make it on stage. Tsk, tsk. I really feel for you."
Shirley Sheffield finished her taunt, then left with Vivian Linton, a smug, triumphant smile on her face.
"Look at them, so pleased with themselves!!"
Wendy Wyatt glared at their retreating backs and spat viciously.
"Don’t say any more. I’ll get someone to take you to the hospital."
Worried about her best friend’s health, Holly quickly took out her phone to arrange for someone to take her.
...
「Time passed, and the qipao show drew to a close.」
Each studio was to present its finale piece in turn.
These magnificent and elegant finale pieces were a matter of pride for each studio.
The models from the first three studios finished their presentations, earning waves of applause.
The guests in the audience nodded, showing their approval of the designs.
Next was Vervain Studio.
Shirley Sheffield appeared in a black qipao with a platinum dragon train, exuding an air of mystery, sex appeal, and captivating charm.
The moment she stepped out, she was met with a roar of cheers.
"Wow! That finale piece from Vervain Studio is gorgeous!"
"Yes, it’s absolutely stunning."
"I take back what I said earlier. It looks like Vervain is every bit as good as SH."
"Shirley looks absolutely breathtaking in that qipao."
"A fine rider for a fine steed. A perfect match!"
The flood of praise reached Vivian Linton’s ears.
The corners of her lips curled up in an irrepressible smile.
Their final piece was already on stage, so there was no need to remain backstage.
So, Vivian Linton was now sitting beside Tristan Sterling, listening to everyone praise her work, her heart blooming with delight.
’She’d heard that Wendy Wyatt had already been sent to the hospital.’
’With her finale piece unable to be shown, Holly must be hiding backstage crying her eyes out right now.’
The thought of Holly’s tear-stained, heartbroken face made Vivian Linton’s smile widen.
At that moment, everyone was craning their necks in anticipation.
"Isn’t SH’s finale piece still to come?"
"Yeah, what’s the hold-up?"
"Don’t tell me they saw how amazing Vervain’s was and are too embarrassed to come out now?"
The crowd began to speculate.
Vivian Linton and Shirley Sheffield, who was on stage, exchanged a look.
They both saw the undisguised glee in the other’s eyes.
’That pair of bitches, Holly Sinclair and Wendy Wyatt, had finally lost to them!’
Seeing no sign of movement from SH Studio, the host was about to go on stage to smooth things over.
But just then, a figure in red slowly emerged from backstage.
