Chapter 14 - A Strange Experiment

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Early the next morning.

Just as Madeline walked out of the room, she saw Hugo bringing out a plate of black goop from the kitchen.

At the sight of her, a bright smile suddenly appeared on Hugo’s dirt-covered face. “Mommy, I made you breakfast!”

Madeline looked at the piece of charcoal-like object on the plate and wondered if it could even be eaten. “Uh…. Actually, there’s no need to cook…”

But seeing Hugo’s slightly hopeful and ingratiating gaze, she couldn’t bear to hurt his feelings.

Madeline whipped up two more sunny side-ups and placed them in front of him. Seeing Hugo eating them with relish, a strange feeling suddenly arose in her heart.

Her feelings towards Hugo were very complicated. On one hand, she knew that he was the child of her enemy, but on the other hand, she had an inexplicable sense of kinship towards Hugo. She couldn’t hate him, nor could she neglect him.

Also

For some strange reason, Hugo’s behavior towards his biological mother, Courtney, was terrible.

“Tm going to work today. Stay at home with Aurora.” Thinking of her sleeping daughter, Madeline said, “If she wants to do any strange experiments, call me.”

After settling the two children, Madeline left.

The Italian headquarters of the company she worked at had informed her that a VVIP customer (1. VIPs with a very high rank or spending power, not a status that can just be bought.] had paid a hefty sum of money to hire her as her designated fashion designer.

Madeline had returned to take on the role of Chief Designer for the US branch. With her current status, she had long since stopped accepting private orders. However, now that a big customer was keen to hire her and her company’s HQ had even persuaded her to take on this assignment, she was glad to

make this trip.

They had arranged to meet at a private and luxurious clubhouse, and after giving the concierge the room number, a waiter led Madeline through a long corridor to a wooden door.

“Come in.”

Madeline found the voice familiar. She looked up and was stunned.

Mrs. Astor was shocked too. “Why are you here?!”

Madeline left without another word, and called her company’s headquarters to confirm the client’s name.

Two minutes later, Madeline put on a business-like smile and sat down opposite Mrs. Astor. “Hello Mrs. Astor, I’m the Chief Designer of BELLA’s US branch, Willow. If you wish to switch to another designer, I’ll get someone else to come over now.”

Mrs. Astor was in complete disbelief. “How can you be Willow?!”

Willow was an up-and-coming fashion designer who had become extremely popular these past few years. The high-end gowns that she designed would be sold out as soon as they were released every season, and BELLA, which was originally a label that was struggling at the bottom rungs of the luxury

world, was propelled by Willow into a top female luxury clothes label.

To be able to get Willow to design one’s clothes was definitely a symbol of one’s status!

Mrs. Astor found it difficult to breathe when she thought about how she had used her connections, spent a lot of money, and put in a lot of effort to get a meeting with Willow, but it turned out to be Madeline, whom she had despised and ridiculed.

Didn’t they say that Madeline was a materialistic slut who would resort to any means to seduce men?! How did she make Favian Lewis like her, and now, turn into a famous fashion designer?

Seeing Mrs. Astor’s incredulous expression, Madeline’s smile didn’t change. She nodded cordially. “It looks like you aren’t too satisfied with me. I’ll call the other designers to come over now and take over this assignment.”

With that, she picked up her bag and left without any hesitation.

“Wait! You…” Mrs. Astor didn’t have time to think and quickly called out to her.

Madeline cut her off as she retained her perfect and polite smile. “Mrs. Astor, don’t worry. The other designers in our company are as outstanding as me.”

How could they be the same?

Would the other designers make her the envy of others? Would they be able to showcase her status?

The name “Willow’ alone would provide all that!

However, Madeline’s attitude clearly indicated that she did not want to take on this job.

Mrs. Astor was so angry that her chest started heaving up and down. However, she remembered that she had already boasted about this matter to the other rich ladies, and Mrs. Lewis’ birthday party was coming up. She could only grit her teeth and suppress the anger in her heart. “Sit down!”

Madeline secretly rolled her eyes and sat back down.

The two looked at each other in silence. Seeing the polite and cold smile on Madeline’s face, Mrs. Astor was still in disbelief. “Are you really Willow?”

Madeline pretended to reach for her bag, “I’ll call the other designers…”

“There’s no need!” Mrs. Astor’s face turned pale. “You’re the one I want!”

“Alright.” Madeline sighed softly and took out her laptop. “Please tell me your requirements.”

Seeing her businesslike attitude, Mrs. Astor’s embarrassment slightly subsided.

“Tm going to attend a friend’s birthday party in a few days’ time. I hope that this gown can showcase the Astor family’s status, make me look graceful, elegant and allow me to stand out from the crowd.”

As Mrs. Astor spoke, an arrogant expression appeared on her face.

Madeline nodded and typed a few words on the laptop.

Plastic and superficial relationships.

She wanted to stand out at her friend’s birthday party. What a touching friendship!

“Alright, I’ve noted it down…”

“Mrs. Lewis, this way please. Mom and the designer, Willow, are waiting for you inside.”

As the door was pushed open again, Madeline saw the people who arrived, and couldn’t help but frown.

She’d really started her day off on the wrong foot. These people were all old acquaintances of hers.

Courtney and Mrs. Lewis looked as though they had seen a ghost. They exclaimed at the same time, “Why are you here?!”

‘Madeline greeted them expressionlessly. “Hello, I am the Chief Designer of BELLA’s US branch, Willow.”

“Willow?” There was another chorus of surprise.

Seeing their reactions, Mrs. Astor actually felt much better.

It was fine as long as she wasn’t the only one embarrassed.

Her smile suddenly became natural. “Mrs. Lewis, do you know Willow?”

Mrs. Lewis’ expression stiffened. “Not really.”

Madeline smiled and didn’t say anything else.

Courtney was angry and jealous at the same time. She had never thought that Madeline would be Willow. She had not even finished university when she got pregnant!

This must be fake!

Coincidentally, Favian’s mother was here too. She had to expose Madeline’s true colors!

Courtney walked over, her gaze becoming pained. “Madeline, how could you come up with such a lie? You didn’t even graduate from university…”

As she said that, she covered her mouth as if she had said something wrong, and her actions caused the two other women’s imaginations to run wild.

As expected, Mrs. Astor and Mrs. Lewis’ expressions changed.

Facing their questioning gazes, Madeline sighed slightly and looked at Courtney with a bone-chilling gaze. “You probably didn’t investigate it clearly when you harmed me. Back then, I had already received the acceptance letter from the world’s top design institute.”

Courtney’s expression stiffened. “What are you talking about…”

“What? Do you want me to expose everything in front of your mother-in-law?” Madeline laughed sarcastically. “Back then, you drugged me…”

“Madeline!” Courtney did not expect her to really dare to say such an embarrassing thing in public!

She lowered her eyes in a panic and when she looked up again, her eyes were already red.

“Are you blaming me for not caring enough about you? Why didn’t you contact your family if you were still alive? We all thought that you were dead!”