Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Elise Chandler quickly regained her composure, glaring furiously at Tina. “You think turning Tanner’s exquisite one-shoulder gown into a simple strapless dress counts as design?”

“That’s exactly it.” Gwendolyn joined Elise on the runway, arms crossed, chuckling disdainfully as she eyed the ombre dress altered by Tina. “And here I thought you had some real talent. Turns out it’s nothing special.”

“What’s the rush?” Tina glanced coolly at them both.

“You’ve ruined this dress!” Elise shrieked, unable to contain herself. “Tanner hates it when someone tampers with his designs! If you’ve jeopardized our Woodwind family’s collaboration with Tanner’s own brand, I will never forgive you!”

“And what about it?” Tina responded emotionlessly, “Wasn’t it you who asked me to make changes? What are you complaining about now?”

“Just because we asked, you thought you should? Who do you think you are!” Elise was incredulous at Tina’s arrogance. “Tanner wouldn’t even spare a glance at someone as tasteless as you!”

“Heh, this is actually the first time I’ve come across someone so full of themselves,” Gwendolyn mocked Tina. “Let’s make a bet then. If Tanner praises your alterations, I’ll shave my head right here on this runway!”

Tina’s eyelashes fluttered up as she looked towards Gwendolyn, a captivating smile spreading across her face. “Shave your head? I like that! Are you sure about this bet?”

“Absolutely!” Gwendolyn snapped back. “If Tanner actually compliments you, I won’t just shave my head on the spot, I’ll keep it bald for life!”

“Great, that’s the spirit.” Tina nodded. “Let’s see it, then!”

She used her scissors to cut a jagged, tiered neckline on the dress, then stitched on some strips of fabric from a butterfly applique she had torn off earlier, creating a lapel-style collar.

By now, it was too late for Elise Chandler to intervene, so she stood aside coldly, pondering how to explain the situation to Tanner and planning to blame it all on Tina.

As she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard murmurs from the crowd below the runway. “This alteration actually looks quite good.”

“Indeed, it’s the same dress, but it looks completely transformed.”NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

“Mr. Farrell’s fiancee is quite talented.”

From where Gwendolyn and Elise stood, they could only see Tina’s back, blocking their view of the dress. Gwendolyn, curious and anxious, tried to pull Elise over to get a better look, but just then, a blond, blue-eyed man emerged from backstage.

“Tanner!” Elise rushed over to him.

“Miss Sinclair, what’s the matter? Why did you stop the model from continuing?” Tanner asked in stiff Chinese.

“I’m so sorry, Tanner. Someone was audacious enough to ruin your gown on the spot, claiming to alter your design,” Elise said tearfully. “It’s my fault for not stopping her, for not protecting your work.”

“It’s not your fault, Elise Chandler,” Gwendolyn added fuel to the fire. “It’s all because that Tina was too arrogant, belittling your design as worthless, and claimed that if you saw her alterations, you’d have nothing but praise, no criticism at all.”

Tanner frowned, he and Elise could only see Tina’s back and not the dress itself.

It was undeniable, though, that Tina’s silhouette was striking under the soft blue runway lights, adding a layer of mystique as she worked, her graceful shoulder blades subtly moving with her cutting.

If only she wasn’t someone who didn’t respect other’s creations, Tanner thought he might have invited her to be the model for his season’s campaign based on her silhouette alone.

Unfortunately, that beautiful silhouette and the Starnight Butterfly dress she wore were both marred by her actions.

Tanner’s eyes, filled with a fervent admiration, fell on the Starnight Butterfly on Tina, lamenting how such a garment was wasted on her.

Seeing Tanner’s furious expression, Gwendolyn’s lips curled into a cold smile, certain of her victory.

And Tina, having committed such disrespectful acts at another designer’s show, was destined to ruin her reputation, fiancee to Jared Farrell or not.

The crowd below, seeing Tanner’s thunderous face, felt sure Tina was doomed.

After all, which designer could tolerate their work being publicly criticized and altered by a novice?

But before Tanner reached Tina, she had completed all the alterations. She stepped aside, letting him see the transformed dress for the first time.

The previously heavy cake-style hem was simplified significantly, appearing much cleaner. The strapless neckline had been altered into an asymmetrical smallcollar with a V-shaped cut in the middle, subtly revealing a hint of cleavage. The entire dress, previously dull, now looked elegant and dreamlike.

Tanner was instantly dazzled, his reaction a mix of shock and delight.

He strode towards the dress, eyes glued to it, unable to see anything else as he circled it, continuously exclaiming in awe, “My God! I knew something was off when the original was completed! My initial design was rubbish! This is what a true haute couture dress looks like!”

The room fell silent, even the runway music ceased.

Gwendolyn and Elise Chandler were stunned, doubting their own ears.

“What did I just hear?” Gwendolyn’s face grew particularly grim. Did Tanner just praise Tina’s alterations? Did he just call his own design rubbish? Was he bewitched?

Clearly, Elise Chandler shared Gwendolyn’s thoughts. She approached Tanner, intending to ask what was going on. Could it be that Jared Farrell had somehow intimidated him from the audience?

However, upon seeing the altered strapless dress, Elise too was momentarily lost for words, her eyes wide with astonishment.

As Gwendolyn saw Elise halt mid-step, her face full of shock as she stared at Tina, she followed, “Elise Chandler, what are you…”

She too caught sight of the stunning dress, her heart starting to panic. How could this be?

Her gaze turned towards the front of the runway where Amber, looking sullen, was clutching Annabelle’s arm. Amber had insisted that Tina, who had grown up in the countryside, couldn’t possibly know anything about designing clothes.

A person of such taste, how could she disrespectfully show up in a T-shirt and jeans at a formal event?