Billionaire

Chapter 243

Connor stood by the floor–to–ceiling windows of his office, watching as the rain started to pour down outside. His mind had been lost in thought for quite some time. His and Chloe’s reunion as adults had been just as dramatic as he imagined it would be. Even after more than a decade, he recognized her instantly.

Back then, her life had hit a rough patch. He always thought that such a bright and cheerful girl would grow up to be a beacon of light, but she was suffering from severe insomnia because her mind weighed down with worries. She might have seemed carefree on the outside, but she was falling apart inside. That was when he decided he had to love her right.

So, he became her Trophy Boy, doing everything he could to love, please, and heal her. Even though he knew she only saw him as her fuckbuddy, he also knew it was the only way he could love her.

But everything changed when Claire suddenly returned to the country. The calm waters of their lives began to stir. He knew that a towering wave of trouble might rise, sweeping all of them into chaos. How could he protect Chloe completely? It seemed nearly impossible.

Connor’s older sister, on the surface, was the all–powerful lady of the business world. But inside, she was a madwoman, capable of going off the rails at any moment. Without being fully prepared, Connor could only deceive the public and stay away from her. Maybe this was the best outcome for now.

Connor glanced outside at the increasingly heavy rain, watching the world blur in the storm. He didn’t want Chloe to get caught up in the dark, dirty, and bottomless pit of his family feuds. One wrong step, and she could be shattered to pieces.

Meanwhile, the Paris Fashion Design Competition was in full swing. Backstage, Lisa watched Chloe return with her model. She was grinding her teeth in frustration. She hadn’t expected Chloe’s design to be so breathtaking, especially the way the hem of the dress fell away at the end. It was like mastering the game to perfection.

Lisa’s eyes were glued to the runway’s display screen. At that moment, the big screen was tallying Chloe’s overall score. Chloe’s piece had indeed stunned all the judges. But there was a catch. The judges scored during the model’s walk, and some of them were used to giving scores as soon as the model appeared. So, most of them had already scored before seeing the dramatic hem reveal.

Unfortunately, he scoring system couldn’t be changed. If the judges had waited just a minute longer, Chloe’s score might have been even higher.

The final score was eventually tallied: 95 points. When Lisa saw this score, she finally

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breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t higher than Hers, which meant she might not lose.

Chloe’s “Sandglass” was impressive, but Lisa’s Timeless Garden” had the edge in color and visual appeal. The live broadcast compared the two pieces, and the consensus was that it was a tie, too close to call. The final decision was up to the judges.

The show had lasted six hours, and after all the designers had showcased their pieces, the award ceremony remained. Awards were based on overall scores, with various awards given to the top ten designers. Although the top ten contestants all received international awards, the specific category awards would be decided by the judges.

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Among the hundred designers, the highest score was 95, held by both Chloe and Lisa. Naturally, many people were discussing the relationship between the two. Domestic netizens had also uncovered their connection: one was the heiress of the Meadows family, and the other was the adopted daughter. The real–versus–adopted heiress drama was a hot topic online.

Of course, Belle Époque ended up being the biggest winner in this competition, sweeping the board.