The lively rhythm of the club's music resounded through the air as Frederick leaned in towards the man sitting beside him, his voice barely audible over the deafening beat."How was the investigation? Any response yet?" He asked, his eyes briefly flicking towards his companion before settling back on the mesmerising dancer on stage, twirling seductively around the pole at the centre of the stage. He took a slow sip of his wine, fingers toying with the stem of the glass as he continued following the dancer’s every movement.“I’m afraid we found nothing. I already told you it was an impossible task without a name or any mode of identification,” Devon, his companion, and one of his few friends replied casually with a grin while he played with the woman on his arm. Frederick frowned at his response; this was the third person who had told him the same thing that very day.As promised, he had started looking into the identity of the hacker or programmer working with Mark on his newest pro
"It's just a week away, and you are just telling me now? Now of all time?" Merissa asked exasperatedly, her eyes filled with rage and disbelief as she stared into Zach's indifferent eyes."What do you mean I have to look for another model to work with? Where will I get a good model at this time? Are you expecting me to pick from those leftover crumbs? If that's your suggestion you can forget it!" She exclaimed with a flushed face as she began pacing up and down the living room of her apartment, in nothing but her flimsy night dress.Zach sat down with an indifferent expression that masked the anxiety he was feeling. It has taken him all the courage he could summon, with a lot of overthinking, to finally conclude on this outcome.Cutting off all relations with Merissa before it was too late.After his breakup with Lily and his continuous study of the series of events that had happened around her in the past few months, he could tell nothing good would come to those who opposed the sile
"Why are you dressed so suspiciously? What tricks are you up to this time?" Alana asked with a raised brow as she noticed Lily, who was dressed in a way that made her gender unrecognisable."You talk as if I'm always playing tricks," Lily replied with a playful glare. "That's because you are always planning something. Is this related to the new plans for the store or something else?" Alana asked as she looked Lily over, searching for a trace of her boss. "Are you wearing a wig and lenses right now?" She asked and Lily nodded. "If you were meeting me for the first time, would you know I'm a lady? Do I give off the perfect masculine energy?" She asked with a subtle baritone voice, making Alana gape at her in surprise."What's the heck? Yes, I would definitely know; your voice sounds fake and unnatural but you do give off a subtle masculine vibe like the transgender kind.""Are you going to commit a crime?" Alana was questioned with a suspicious expression, making Lily roll her eyes.
"Sure, what do you have for me?" Mark asked, and Lily brought out her laptop. After typing away for a while, she turned it on to face him. Displayed on the screen were several codes and a small screen showing the analysis for the codes."This is the new programme I set for the Nex device. It's a major upgrade from the formal one, and there is a possibility that it would overshadow the Waves programme we did previously. I did pour out my heart into writing this programme after all," she chuckled after saying the last part."This programme will give birth to a major change in the mobile phone market. A revolutionary change," she continued, each word spoken seemed to capture Mark's heart as he stared at the programme with starry eyes."It's tempting and I can already imagine the huge profit, but what's the catch? I'm sure you could have told me all this through the site instead of meeting in person. Should I be worried I'll have to sell my soul to get it?" He asked with a teasing smile,
"I don't like the fit of this dress, ugh! It's so big and uncomfortable," Celina grumbled as she twirled around, fully dressed for the award event that was going to start in a few hours.Being one of the prominent families in the fashion industry, the Lam Fashion is held in high esteem, making attending the banquet a must for Celina who'd rather be somewhere else than entertaining some obnoxious guests. "You also think it's too overrated, don't you? I told Mum I don't like the dress but she insisted I wear it to honour the designer of the dress who would be in attendance tonight. To think I'll have to spend the next few hours hating myself, ugh!" She continued as she turned to the bored-looking Lily, dressed casually in a sweatshirt and sweatpants. "It's not over the top; it's okay; it just doesn't fit your taste. A lot of people will want to kill to have that dress you know? Just have it on for a few hours and you can change out of it later," Lily advised, making Celina scrunch up
"Welcome everyone to the most anticipated national fashion competition!" The host announced cheerfully, and the hall erupted in excited cheers.The atmosphere in the grand auditorium charged up, buzzing with anticipation as fashion enthusiasts from all corners of the country and even outside the country gathered to witness the much-awaited national competitions between the top geniuses in the fashion industry of the country.The stage was set with dazzling lights and an impressive runway that demanded attention. A panel of distinguished judges sat at the forefront, their keen eyes ready to scrutinise every detail of the upcoming showcases."As you all know, this competition is a celebration of the diverse talents that make our fashion industry so vibrant," the charismatic host continued, his voice resonating through the large auditorium with nothing less than a thousand audience. "Designers, models, and tailors from various backgrounds will showcase their unique creations and tell us
"Is it to your liking?" Soren asked with a smile as he sat in front of Lily, who had received his milkshake gift. Lily shrugged and took another sip before replying, "What do you think? You did get me my favourite milkshake."Soren chuckled lightly and took the seat in front of her. "I wasn't expecting you to take it," he confessed, and Lily raised a brow. "Why not? It's a milkshake, isn't it?""We are competitors," he pointed out as a matter of fact. "And so?" She replied, making him shake his head."You are new to these things, but you have to be careful amongst the other representatives. You could get hurt any minute if you are too careless," Soren warned, genuinely making Lily smile."It's a good thing I know senior Soren would not hurt me. Right? How is it being her tailor and getting along well?" Lily asked, and Soren sighed heavily. "I can't wait to get all these over with, honestly. Zachary pulled out of being her model last week, and we had to look for other people to do
"That's a lie! There is no way he could be allergic to cinnamon rolls!" Merrisa argued, "I've seen him eat cinnamon rolls several times! It must be a plot by this wrench!""Should I believe your report or the medical report? And are you accusing the competition managers of colluding with the participants?" The manager demanded coldly, shutting up her argument with a glare. "Tha…That's not what I meant. I was just worried about my teammate," Merissa choked out, unable to raise her voice under the manager's glare."It might be inconvenient, but there will be a change in your team's setup. We've informed your school, and a new representative will be sent. The next stage of the competition will continue as scheduled, so get ready for your presentation with no delay," the manager explained, and she walked away with the rest of her group.Lily smirked upon seeing Merissa's red face. "I can't believe there could be someone as shameless as you; how could you accuse someone else of the crime
"Given the report received about Frederick Watson's involvement with both Anderson and Hamilton family. An investigation has been launched against him. However, our latest report says he is currently in hiding and possibly out of the country." "Search parties will be sent out to go after him, and the local authorities will be collaborating with international authorities to bring him to justice.""In the meantime, after the case with the Andersons had been settled, the internet users speculated about how Mark had gotten close to Roseline for his revenge.""And although there has been no statement agreeing or disagreeing with the people's speculations, Mark had officially proposed to the beautiful, raiding star in the business sector, Lily Turner—a lady who has been an enigmatic figure since her first appearance in the fashion competition. And has further spread her wings.""To commemorate their beautiful engagement, Lily and Mark had announced a new product they worked together on. Th
Destroy It From The Inside Out"You know?" Lily muttered as she stood by the large window of her bedroom, looking down at the bustling city night. "I never really figured out how my mum was able to know I would be reborn." "I had hoped that gathering all her work in one place would provide me some answer. I thought she would leave an explanation behind," she said while swirling the wine in her hand. "With everything she left behind, she was sure I would be reborn as Lily Turner. Yet, I can't figure out how she know and how she did it." {...} The system remained silent as it listened to Lily's rant. "There has to be something I'm missing right? She's never one to leave me this confused and lost about anything," she continued. "I mean, since you are involved in this you should know better right?" {That was your goal from the beginning wasn't it?} The system asked with a knowing sigh. {You want to know how I came to be?}"Yes." {I already told you when we first met. I'm not from th
Lily sat at the dessert store, her fingers lightly drumming against the table as she stared out of the window. The bustling streets outside felt distant, a blur compared to the storm in her chest. The message from Mark replayed in her mind."Can we meet up?""I'm an idiot, I know, but we really need to talk."She had almost ignored it. Almost.She wanted to make him desperate, but somehow, she found herself picking the most sexy dress in her closet and dressing up to meet up with him.The sound of a chair scraping across the floor snapped her out of her thoughts. Mark stood there, hesitating, his usual confident demeanour replaced by uncertainty.“Hey,” he said softly.Lily didn’t respond immediately, her gaze steady and unreadable. “You’re late,” she said finally, her tone flat.“I know,” Mark admitted as he sat down. “Thank you for coming.”She crossed her arms, leaning back slightly. “What do you want, Mark?”"You didn't tell me anything; I found out through the news, and then you
"We received a tip from an anonymous sender," the news anchor announced. "Evidence of crimes committed by a certain family whose name has recently been on the internet where a certain banquet video was uploaded." "This evidence includes the cause of both Mabel and Victoria Hamilton's untimely deaths. As well as many other criminal cases that would ultimately lead to the downfall of the prestigious family." "At the same time, we got news that the leadership position of the corporation owned by this family has changed hands. For now, this particular news has not been confirmed." The following morning, chaos erupted. News outlets were flooded with breaking stories about Henry and Kate’s crimes. Social media exploded with outrage as videos and documents went viral. Law enforcement agencies were forced to respond, launching immediate investigations."Oh goodness! Why are all the big corporations and names getting exposed this year?""Is justice finally coming out into the open?! My moth
"It's turned on," Lily reported to Bryan over the phone as the other asked about the computer that was delivered to him. "And I've confirmed that it really was the one that has been sending those messages to Hamilton.""It's connected to that AI-powered robot in the vault." She continued. "And to top it off, all evidence of Henry's misdeeds was recorded in it. Including notes written by my mother." "Are they enough to send Henry out?" Bryan asked "Yes, and his wife too." Lily replied. "There are several videos of Kate poisoning my mother while she was still pretending to be a housekeeper. And also a clear video from my last moment as Victoria." Bryan's voice grew tense. "Lily, if we release this information, it won't just end Henry and Kate's hold on the Hamilton family. It could ruin Hamilton completely.""It won't," Lily breathed out. "At first I just wanted to ruin everything and get it over with, but now I want to cherish my mother's hard work and the legacy she left behind."
"Is that Mark's private car?" Lily asked with a frown as she watched the video gotten from the camera close to the factory address sent to her.{The plate number index matches that of Mark's private car. However, this video was made about three weeks ago.}Frowning, Lily replayed the video again. It was a car driving on a highway in the middle of the night. Seeing the date, she recalled she had a date with Mark that night and after he had hurried off. All through their time together, it was even more restless than usual. "Is this all you found?" {There is a similar video of him returning back to the city. But he hasn't gone back to the factory after that.}She jumped off her chair, got changed into a comfortable sweatshirt and pants, and a black sneaker. She picked a small hiking backpack from the closet and her wallet as she exited her apartment.{You are going to the factory?}"Yes," Lily replied calmly. "I at least need to figure out why they sent the note even if I don't know w
"Can you arrange a meeting with Annabelle Wilson?" As she sent the message, Bryan replied almost immediately. Lily glanced at Bryan's text and smirked. "De Ox tonight, between 8 PM and 9 PM. Perfect."She quickly tapped out a reply: Thanks. It's such perfect timing.Bryan: Need help?Lily: I'll be fine on my own. With her plan in motion, Lily pulled up the files containing Henry's promiscuity, one she had meticulously prepared for Henry’s misdeeds. Photos, text messages, and financial transactions—everything she needed to plant the seed of doubt in Annabelle’s mind was compiled neatly in a folder.At exactly 8:15, Lily walked into the dimly lit lounge, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. She gave off an air of confidence, dressed in a sleek black dress that hinted at authority and poise. Her eyes scanned the room until they landed on Annabelle Wilson—a striking woman in her early forties, elegantly dressed in a champagne-coloured gown.Annabelle looked up as Lily a
"I think now is the perfect time to get the computer," Lily announced over the phone. "Given the news about his wife's scandal, Henry and William will be too busy to guard the company like a guard dog." "You want me to send people in there pretending to be electricians to retrieve the computer?" Bryan asked, and Lily hummed. "It will be a bit difficult for me to retrieve it at the moment." Lily replied. "Heard you've not been out of your apartment since the announcement. That's a week ago; that's unhealthy." Bryan sighed. "I'll come pick you up later today, and then we can discuss whatever your plans are." "There won't be a need for that," Lily gritted out as she worked away on her laptop. "I can't afford to be distracted right now.""Is this about Mark's engagement to Roseline?" Bryan asked, making Lily pause as her eyes narrowed at the screen of her laptop. "This has nothing to do with Mark or his engagement." She breathed out, massaging her forehead as she felt her eyes stingi
Lily walked into the living room with an extra sway in her hips as she remembered the event from the previous night. A small smile played on her lips, feeling giddy and excited about the news from the previous night's banquet. She picked up the remote and turned on the TV while waiting for the news with a warm cup of tea in hand. However, instead of the scandal she was expecting, she was met with Mark and Roseline's red carpet photos. Frowning, she turned up the volume just in time for the reporter to announce:"Next on the line of news is Mark Watson, the newly appointed CEO of the Watson Group. The genius businessman has finally announced his engagement with Roseline Anderson, the popular A-list actress."Lily’s smile froze, the warmth from her tea doing little to quell the chill that spread through her chest. Her hand tightened around the cup as she stared at the screen, unable to believe what she was hearing.“Engaged?” She whispered, her voice shaky. “That’s not possible.”The