Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)
Chapter 64

Freya watched as Sylvia took over the milk carton.

With a touch of impatience, Freya made a toast gesture.

"Cheers."

Just as Freya was about to take a sip, Sylvia, seizing the moment Freya was off-guard, snatched the carton right out of her hands.

"This brand has many flavors, let me see which one I prefer. Oh! Freya, you got the same flavor as me?"

Freya's face was a mix of panic and forced cheerfulness as she closely watched Sylvia's hand, "It seems we have similar tastes, so I ended up buying the same one." With that, she grabbed the carton back from Sylvia's left hand and took a gulp, as if afraid Sylvia might opt for a switch.

Sylvia also raised her carton for a sip, "Thanks for the treat."

Watching Sylvia drink through the straw brought a genuinely happy smile to Freya's face.

"Don't mention it, glad you like it."

"I've got to head inside."

Sylvia walked into the waiting room without a change in expression.

Seeing the closing door, Freya couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

...

The competition had begun.

The atmosphere was jubilant, both on and off the stage, and the lounge buzzed with excitement.

Almost all contestants gathered around Bridget, complimenting her beauty and her stunning gown. Some even openly stated that Bridget was bound to take first place. Bridget smiled modestly, though her eyes betrayed a certain smug satisfaction as they found Sylvia.

After a few contestants had their turn on stage, the atmosphere in the lounge grew tense and quiet. After all, since they were here to compete, who wouldn't want to win? When it was Bridget's turn, Sylvia suddenly clutched her stomach and dashed out.

Bridget covered her mouth, suppressing a giggle. She murmured to herself, "Oh, Sylvia, do you really think I'd let you steal the spotlight with so many cameras around? You can blame your striking presence for this. Whether it's the creations or the creator, you'll never outshine me."

Bridget had her strategy of preventing Sylvia from coming on stage from the start, and though Sylvia was clever, she was no match for Bridget's planning.

Then, the host called Bridget's name, and she rose gracefully, making her way to the stage. Applause erupted as Bridget made her entrance, capturing all attention.

"Thank you, everyone. Today, I'm presenting a collection inspired by nature.

The use of cutout designs evokes a sense of ethereal nature, with a delicate base encrusted with emeralds and sapphires, hanging as if suspended in air near the neck and ears, perfectly matching nature's palette. Under the lights, they resemble sunlit leaves dancing in the breeze."

After Bridget's explanation, her work was shown to the judges, while detailed images were displayed on the big screen for the audience.

She then added, "I took this competition very seriously, opting for genuine diamonds and gems instead of replicas to capture authenticity and direct visual impact."

The audience was in awe.

"Such lavish use of gems, just like that?"

"Major competitions do use real items, but given that all contestants are college students, the organizers agreed to allow replicas for display. It's surprising Ms. Simpson went to such lengths."

"Ms. Simpson truly is a genius, both in design and thoughtfulness. Look, Eloise is nodding in agreement. It seems Ms. Simpson has this in the bag."

Eloise, the most significant judge of the event and the prize being an internship at her studio, scrutinized Bridget's collection, showing clear admiration.

When asked for feedback by the host, Eloise granted her high recognition.

"Ms. Simpson's design is quite clever and innovative. However...from the entire collection, I find the ring a bit jarring. Its size is too prominent, making it somewhat discordant with the rest of the collection."