CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 40: EYES LIKE THE ABYSS

"President Vaughn, we’ve finally waited long enough for you!"

The car stopped outside the intricately carved jade double gates of the manor.

Those waiting there hurriedly stepped forward, bowing to welcome him.

The driver got out and opened the car door, and an elegant and distinguished person stepped out of the car.

He was dressed in a shirt and trousers, with a suit jacket draped over his arm, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up a few turns, revealing his well-built forearms in the light.

He seemed unconcerned about this trip, lacking the intimidating aura he typically carried.

Even the usual unapproachable air that warned others not to come near seemed absent.

"Has it started?"

Poe Vaughn glanced at the interior’s wholly European architecture, exquisite carvings, and masterful murals, his deep eyes captured in the glow within, yet the view remained elusive.

"Not yet, but soon."

The person greeting him responded while checking the time, "It will begin in five minutes."

"Alright."

Poe Vaughn stepped inside.

Quentin Quinn followed behind him, entering the lavishly decorated manor together.

Backstage, Ava Sterling, as the main character of the opening show, stood first behind the curtain, waiting for the music to start.

The other models were all prepared, standing behind her.

They still nervously checked their appearances once more.

Ava Sterling had already made her preparations and was very confident; she didn’t need to check.

She simply stood there, wearing the custom-made long gown from S&U, with her chin slightly lifted, her face so exquisitely made-up that under the lights, it was breathtakingly beautiful.

She, however, showed no emotion; she was indifferent, like a proud queen on her throne, facing her subjects without mercy.

The models behind her were both envious and jealous as they watched.

Meanwhile, hatred flared up in Joyner’s eyes.

Ava Sterling had treated her this way, yet S&U still protected her.

She was no longer the same Ava Sterling from before, so why were so many people still by her side!

Ava Sterling, I will not let you go, absolutely not!

Joyner’s beautiful nails dug into her palm, her face filled with cruelty.

Precisely at seven, the lights in the front hall dimmed instantly, white mist rose, and quickly, the entire venue was enveloped in a hazy atmosphere.

The venue was decorated with flowers, vines, and green trees, which, under the shroud of white mist, resembled a fairyland.

In the corner of the viewing area, in an extremely discreet spot, unnoticed by others, a tall figure quietly seated himself with the dimming light.

His suit jacket remained draped over his forearm, his long legs crossed, and his deep eyes steadily fixed on the front.

"Swish~ swish~"

The clear sound of flowing water was heard, immediately followed by the chirping of birds, the sound of flowers blooming, creating a scene reminiscent of a forest, where everything in nature was reviving.

At this moment, the curtain slowly pulled open.

A beam of light fell straight down.

The person within the beam clearly appeared before everyone in the venue.

Everyone was stunned at that moment.

She was wearing a glacier-white long gown, extremely long and slender, wrapping her completely from chin to instep, with fabric so thin that it outlined her body’s lines, incredibly graceful.

The hem of the gown trailed along the ground, very long, swaying slightly as she walked forward, like silk floating on a stream, flowing with the current.

She wore a half-draped, gossamer-thin crystal dress, entirely made of transparent crystals, each piece labor-intensive to create. The light cast on it dispersed countless dazzling, brilliant rays.

Very beautiful.

Incredibly beautiful.

No one was unimpressed by the person in that beam of light.

They even forgot to blink as they watched.

Ava Sterling looked forward, her face devoid of emotion or expression, like a transcendent being without desires or emotions, indifferent to everything here.

She moved forward, the light followed her, step by step she strolled forward, all the light converging on her.

Everything around dimmed into insignificance.

Eric sat in the viewing area, watching the person on stage steadily moving forward, overwhelmingly professional as soon as she stepped onto the stage.

He finally relaxed, a smile forming on his face.

Whenever Ava Sterling stood on the catwalk, she was the most dazzling presence.

No one could take away the light that enveloped her.

She was naturally born for the catwalk.

"Click-clack, click-clack!"

Countless shutter sounds echoed, densely overlapping the music in the venue.

Others also reacted, hurriedly taking photos with their phones.

Ava Sterling knew many were watching her and understood her performance had satisfied everyone present.

She neither felt pride nor complacency, nor did she relax.

Before stepping off stage, she maintained this state.

However, as she completed most of the journey and turned a corner, a silhouette caught her eye.

He sat in the shadows, his deep eyes fixed on her.

Just like at Sylvanus Bay that evening, when she stood on the stage and he sat below.

He held a phone, his eyes akin to an abyss.