His First Love Modeled My Winning Design

Chapter 2

Evander didn't come home until the following afternoon.

His clothes were rumpled, and the scent of a woman's perfume hit me the moment he walked in.

A lipstick print stood out starkly on his collar.

I gave him a cold look and kept packing my suitcase.

"Let's break up."

"Break up?" Evander scoffed. "Why? Because I threw Chloe a welcome-home party? Elowen, there's a limit to how jealous you can be."

"It's not just that." I met Evander's eyes, utterly serious. "You've never respected me or tried to understand me, not my work and not who I am as a person. Chloe is the only person who matters to you. I don't see why I should keep making a fool of myself."

Evander gave a cold laugh.

"Fine. Let's break up. I was bored with you anyway."

I picked up my suitcase and headed for the door, but Evander was blocking the way.

"Move."

"Elowen, don't regret this later."

Evander slammed the door behind me.

3 days later, Evander brought Chloe to my studio.

Chloe looked every inch the internationally famous model. Her long, pale legs were flawless, and her crop top and tiny skirt gave her an innocent yet seductive look.

She nestled against Evander's shoulder with a coy smile.

"Van told me you sell intimate apparel here. Could you show us around?"

Evander's face hardened.

"Chloe has delicate skin. If your lingerie irritates or damages it, I'll hold you responsible."

I nodded. If a sucker wanted to hand me money, why would I say no? So I led them straight to the custom pieces priced in the tens of thousands of dollars per set.

Once inside, Chloe looked around and began picking everything apart.

"The cut on this one is awful. This one has way too many design elements fighting for attention. And isn't this fabric terrible?"

Then she suddenly pointed to a lingerie set embroidered with petals and covered her mouth with a gasp.

"Oh my God. This is practically identical to a Victoria's Secret runway look from 3 years ago!"

She raked me with a taunting look.

"Ms. Collins, that's design plagiarism. It's illegal. You really shouldn't do things like that."

I clenched my fists.

Every piece I made had cost me countless late nights and painstaking effort.

As a designer, I could accept criticism of flaws in my work. What I could not accept was being falsely accused of design plagiarism.

"Ms. Reed, accusations require evidence. If you truly believe this piece involves design plagiarism, then show me the design sketches you're comparing it with," I said coldly.

Chloe burst out laughing.

"Oh, I was just making an offhand comment. Besides, Victoria's Secret has put out so many runway looks. Where am I supposed to find the design sketches now?"

Evander frowned at me.

"Chloe was only joking. Why are you taking it so seriously? Or are you feeling guilty?"

"I simply don't accept baseless accusations."

"Forget it, Van. We're making things difficult for her."

Chloe patted Evander on the shoulder, the malice in her eyes impossible to hide.

"I've seen tricks like this from small-time designers plenty of times. They copy something from overseas and count on people back home not recognizing it. Maybe you can fool people who don't know the international scene, but don't expect to fool me."

I looked at the two of them and couldn't stomach their smug, ugly behavior any longer.

If they wanted to turn this into a test of professional knowledge, fine. That was one fight I wasn't afraid of.

"Ms. Reed, accusations need evidence. The Victoria's Secret show you mentioned from 3 years ago had an ocean theme, while this piece is built around petals. I don't see how you could possibly call them the same design. And if anyone here is trading on what people back home don't know about the overseas market, it's you. As far as I know, several luxury brands you've represented over the past few seasons have posted dismal financials, and every magazine issue with you on the cover has hit a new low in sales. You only came home because your career overseas had stalled. Now you're trying to coast on what's left of your fame and start over here."

That hit Chloe exactly where it hurt. Her face twisted at once.

She immediately started sniffling and crying.

"Van, I already said it was just an offhand comment. Why does she have to keep hounding me? Ms. Collins, I'm very grateful you've taken care of Van all these years, but his heart is with me. That's not something I can control."

When Evander saw his first love in tears, his expression darkened at once.

"Elowen, do you really have to make this so ugly? I'm telling you, I never loved you during all those years we were together!"

Evander's weak attempt to hit back only grated on my nerves.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I can continue serving you. Please leave."

"Elowen, you dare throw me out?!"

Evander had never been humiliated like that before, and he immediately called the Department of Consumer Affairs.

"I want to report Elowen Atelier for vulgar marketing and selling substandard products!"

He looked at me smugly.

"In the eyes of regulators, those so-called designs of yours are nothing but vulgar p*********y. Elowen, just wait. Your studio is going to be shut down!"

30 minutes later, inspectors from the Department of Consumer Affairs knocked on my shop door.

I ignored the pair's taunts, opened the doors wide, and invited the inspectors to check everything thoroughly.

Just as I expected, they found nothing.

Evander's face turned livid. The inspectors also warned him not to file malicious complaints.

After a full day of chaos, I sank into a chair in the studio, exhausted.

I would make sure every humiliation I'd suffered today was repaid twofold at the competition awards show.