Hidden Love: The Billionaire's Second Chance

New York City. At the international event, New York Fashion Week, the epic music began to rise. On the runway, a young woman appeared in a fall-winter design inspired by classic European style. Every step she took, every graceful turn that made the long dress sway beautifully, captured all the attention of the guests below. The beauty faced the cameras perfectly, showing a gentle smile along with the stunning expression in her eyes. The serious atmosphere suddenly filled with gasps and admiration because of her heart-shaking smile. After the opening walk, she continued moving forward. Wherever her long and elegant legs stepped, the guests’ eyes followed closely behind. Every professional model had her own special style on the runway. Some gave a soft and elegant feeling, while others looked mysterious and seductive. Anny Laurent proudly belonged to the second type. Whether the music was strong or soft, melodic or EDM bass, once it matched with her, everything became darkly charming and unforgettable. Some people said that choosing a model who was too beautiful could make the outfit lose its spotlight. But a beauty like Anny Laurent knew exactly how to use her appearance to highlight the design she wore. Combined with her perfect figure and attractive curves, she looked like a noble lady walking out of an old British-American movie. It was impossible to look away from her. But every beautiful scene had to end eventually. The role of first face came to a close, and when Anny Laurent disappeared behind the backstage curtain, the guests could only feel deep regret. Their obsession with the girl was so strong that even the other models, including the final Vedette, could not bring back their excitement. After the show ended, Anny Laurent received flowers from her fans before staying behind for interviews with famous reporters from all over the world. Naturally, every journalist gathered around her. On the other side, the Vedette, Linda Heard, stood there in loneliness. Her heavy makeup only made the jealousy in her sharp eyes more obvious whenever she glanced at Anny Laurent. Several times, she even ignored the reporters’ questions. “Miss Anny, according to the information released earlier by the organizers, the Vedette position this year originally belonged to you. Why were you suddenly changed to first face at the last minute? Was there some hidden reason behind it?” A reporter asked her. Anny still kept the same smile on her lips. “The organizers made their decision after careful consideration. Honestly, it doesn’t matter who becomes the Vedette. As long as the designs are honored properly, then the show is already a great success.” Anyone with sharp eyes could clearly see that Vedette Linda Heard had been completely overshadowed by first face Anny Laurent during tonight’s show. Her words sounded like an open mockery toward Linda Heard. It seemed the rumors about the two women hating each other were true after all. Linda was already furious. So after the interview ended, Anny Laurent returned to the dressing room, where her assistant Lilith was busy organizing things inside. The moment she saw Anny, she quickly walked over, took the flowers for her, and handed her a cup of milk tea. “It’s your favorite flavor — mint and jasmine with extra pearls. I made the driver go really far to buy it for you.” “Thank you, babe…” Anny Laurent raised the cup and quickly took a big sip before her manager Killian returned and complained about her drinking too much sweet stuff. “Anny, go to hell!” At that moment, Linda Heard suddenly rushed over from behind and grabbed Anny’s wrist violently. Slap! Even heaven would avoid disturbing someone while eating. The slap made Anny Laurent stumble backward, almost falling to the floor. The pearls in her mouth nearly made her choke. Lilith reacted too late. She hurried over to support Anny. “Linda, what are you doing?” Slap! “Trash. I’m talking to your master. Stay out of it and get lost.” The moment Anny Laurent saw Lilith being slapped, her eyes turned ice-cold. For seven years in the harsh modeling industry, she had endured Linda’s constant jealousy and attacks. She spoke to Lilith, who was still holding her despite the pain. “Step back.” “But sis…” Just one look from Anny was enough for Lilith to understand. She quietly stepped aside and waited. Anny Laurent straightened her body and faced Linda Heard directly. “You’ve always bitten me from behind. Can’t hold it in anymore now?” For an Asian model to climb to the very top of the international fashion world, her hard work over the years might not be fully recognized, but at least everyone knew she had powerful support behind her. Or maybe everyone understood it… except Linda Heard, who still stubbornly kept picking fights with her. The other models in the room, who had first been shocked by Linda’s actions, were now even more stunned by Anny’s response. Both Linda Heard and Anny Laurent came from powerful backgrounds. Everyone wanted to see how far this drama would go. “You think a mixed-blood thing like you can compare to me? Look at yourself. A cheap woman who only knows how to flirt with those old investors…” Slap! Slap! Anny Laurent slapped Linda Heard hard. Before Linda could even fall to one side, the second slap landed on her other cheek, sending her crashing onto the floor. Linda held her face, staring at Anny with wide eyes, unable to believe how strong her hand was. Anny calmly brushed her slightly red palm. “People like you, who think you’re superior to others, are really annoying. I didn’t bother you, so don’t think I’ll quietly let you bully me. These two slaps are simply me returning the favor. If you still don’t know your place, don’t blame me.” Just because she never talked about losing the Vedette position didn’t mean she did not care. She had worked hard and proven her talent to earn that spot. She truly wanted it. Yet people still believed she only received favor from the powerful designer Laura Lambert in the fashion capital of New York. Linda Heard refused to let things end there. She immediately jumped up and rushed at Anny, grabbing her hair. “You b***h! How dare you hit me?” Seeing that Linda still refused to stop, Anny no longer held back. She pinned Linda down instantly. Within minutes, painful screams filled the dressing room. “Ahh… Anny, let me go… ahh… my hair…” Some time later, Killian returned and froze at the scene before him. After hearing Lilith explain everything, he clicked his tongue helplessly. Around them, none of the models dared to step forward to stop the fight. Everyone was afraid of getting dragged into trouble because Anny Laurent looked like a trained martial artist completely beating Linda Heard apart. Only after a while did the organizers hear about the incident and rush over. The moment Killian and Lilith heard people approaching, both of them quickly jumped in to stop black-belt Taekwondo Anny Laurent. Anny was still full of rage. “Let me go! I need to teach this b***h a lesson…” “No, no, the organizers are coming…” The moment she heard that the organizers were arriving, Anny Laurent’s acting instinct suddenly appeared. While lying on top of Linda Heard, she immediately collapsed onto the floor and skillfully let Linda end up on top of her instead. Before Linda’s slap could even land, Laura’s furious and powerful voice echoed through the room. “Linda, stop right now! What are you doing?” Everyone turned to look. Not only had the organizers arrived, but reporters had followed them inside as well. The crowd of reporters pushed past the staff and continuously snapped photos of the scene where Anny Laurent appeared to be helplessly beaten down by the Vedette on the floor. “Huhu… save me…” Anny Laurent instantly showed off her incredible acting skills. Even Killian and Lilith, who had stayed by her side for years, were stunned for a moment before rushing over to pull Linda away from her. The surrounding models looked at Anny’s painful expression while Laura Lambert anxiously cared for her, and they genuinely felt afraid of such terrifying acting talent. Linda Heard was accused of attacking Anny Laurent, yet she herself looked miserable while being dragged aside in a messy state. Since Anny had already chosen to play the victim, she decided to act until the very end. She staggered weakly as if she was about to faint. Seeing this, Laura quickly shouted: “Hurry… hurry and call an ambulance… Anny is about to faint…”