The reporters went dead silent.

    The New York Rothschild family. Nics Rothschild-that titan of the business world.

    th

    Nobody wanted to mess with the Rothschilds, especially when this “Miss Rothschild” clearly wasn’t even a

    contestant.

    “Sorry, didn’t mean to bother you.”

    “We’ll get out of your way.”

    The reporters scattered like cockroaches, clearing a path for Rachel.

    Matt escorted her into the venue, and only rxed once he was sure no reporters had followed them.

    “Miss Leroix, sorry about that whole-“.

    Rachel shook her head, eyes twinkling with amusement. “You did great. The Rothschild name definitely

    Just then, another ck sedan pulled up.

    The door opened and Sophie stepped out in four-inch heels, moving with practiced grace.

    She wore a silver gown with wless makeup, though it couldn’t quite hide the exhaustion in her eyes.

    The reporters immediately swarmed like sharks smelling blood.

    “Miss Leroix, care to exin the vote maniption scandal?”

    “Do you think it’s fair that the organizers kept you in thepetition?”

    “Any truth to rumors about financial backers supporting you?”

    Sophie’s face went ghost white. She stumbled backward, nearly twisting her ankle in those heels.

    A lean hand caught her waist.

    Jaxon stepped out of the car, his gaze cutting through the crowd like a de,

    “Gentlemen,” his eyes swept over each reporter, “give thedy some space.”

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    The reporters hesitated, but seeing Jaxon’s face made them even more excited.

    “Mr. Rothschild! We’ve heard about your rtionship with Miss Leroix-what exactly is going on between

    you two?”

    “Are you here to support her?”

    “Is it true you’re engaged, like the rumors say?”

    The question made Sophie’s whole body tense with excitement.

    Jaxon smiled slightly, but his eyes were ice-cold. “Miss Leroix and I are old friends. I’m just here to cheer her

    on.”

    He paused. “As for anything else, noment.”

    Sophie froze, managing an awkward smile.

    Their rtionship summed up as “noment”?

    Jaxon ignored the reporters and strode toward the venue, keeping Sophie close.

    The journalists tried to follow but security blocked them.

    Sophie gripped Jaxon’s arm tight, voice shaking. “Jaxon, thank you…”

    Jaxon nced down at her, but his gaze drifted past her shoulder, scanning the crowd.

    When he’d gotten out of the car, he’d caught sight of someone in a pale blue dress who looked familiar…

    “Don’t mention it.” His eyes kept searching, clearly distracted.

    Sophie didn’t notice his preupation, still lost in her own gratitude. “I knew you wouldn’t abandon me.”

    Jaxon didn’t respond because he’d spotted that figure again-just for a second before she disappeared

    around a corner.

    Pale blue gown, silk scarf wrapped around her head like armor,

    Could that really be… Rachel?

    Jaxon’s heart started racing.

    “Jaxon, what are you looking at?” Sophie followed his gaze but only saw an empty hallway.

    “Nothing,” Jaxon pulled his attention back. “Let’s go.”

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    He guided Sophie into the venue, mind already working.

    If “Daughter of the Sea” really was Rachel, then thispetition was about to get very interesting.

    And finally-finally-he’d see Rachel again.

    After Matt led her to the green room, Rachel pulled off her veil.

    ording to Matt, Nics had specifically contacted the organizers to reserve this room for her.

    So she’d used his connections to get special treatment.

    She didn’t mind pulling strings. If you had connections, why not use them?

    She picked up her phone and sent Nics a quick message.

    “Thanks for the gifts. I love them.”

    Nics replied almost immediately: “d you like them.”

    She walked to the window, watching the crowd below.

    The room was on the third floor with a perfect view of the scene outside.

    Suddenly, she spotted Sophie clinging to Jaxon’s arm as they headed upstairs.

    Sophie’s movements looked weak and unsteady-without Jaxon supporting her, she’d probably copse.

    Amazing how much Sophie had worn herself down in just a few days.

    Knock knock.

    “Miss Leroix, thepetition’s about to start,” Matt’s voice came through the door.

    “Coming.” Rachel took a deep breath, rewrapped the scarf around her head, grabbed her purse, and headed

    for the door.

    Matt was waiting in the hallway. Once she emerged, he escorted her toward thepetition area.

    The corridor buzzed with activity. Rachel kept her head down, trying to avoid contact with anyone.

    Center stage featured ten design stations arranged in perfect rows, each equipped with exquisite tools and

    materials.

    The audience filled every seat, camera shes popping constantly in the media section.

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    Rachel found a seat toward the edge.

    Looking around, she noticed Sophie positioned front and center, her gown practically glowing under the

    lights.

    “Contestants, please prepare yourselves,” a staff member announced. “We’re about to begin.”

    Rachel adjusted her scarf, making sure only her eyes were visible.

    She could feel curious stares from the other contestants, but nobody recognized her as “Daughter of the Sea.”

    The stage lights dimmed, then zed back to life, illuminating Ma?lys in the center.

    She wore a sharp ck suit, microphone in hand. ulli/li/ul

    “Ladies and gentlemen, media friends, wee to the finals!” Ma?lys’s voice boomed through the theater.

    “After rigorous selection, ten top designers have emerged. Now, let’s meet them one by one!”

    Spotlights swept across the contestant area.

    Each name called brought a contestant to their feet and onto the stage.

    They started from the bottom rankings, building excitement as they worked their way up.

    Nine contestants had been revealed during the preliminaries, but the author of “Ripples”-Daughter of the

    Sea-remained a mystery.

    Everyone was dying to know who she was.

    But after calling the third-ce contestant to the stage, Ma?lys didn’t follow the expected order. Instead of calling the second-ce “Daughter of the Sea,” she skipped ahead and announced the first-ce winner:

    Sophie.

    Sophie blinked in surprise when she heard her name.

    She’d been hoping to finally see this mysterious “Daughter of the Sea,” never expecting such secrecy.

    But she quickly recovered, rising gracefully and waving to the audience with a smile. Her gaze swept the media section, then paused at a certain corner.

    That figure in blue… could it be her?

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