CHAPTER 240: THE SWEETEST SUGAR AND THE DEEPEST TRAP

On the last day of the design competition, Hilla and Orlenna arrived at the scene together.

Bruce did not participate, but she and Orlenna sat in front of the VIP seats.

"I think the design is not bad."

Orlenna secretly turned her head and whispered in Hilla’s ear.

Hilla followed Orlenna’s fingertips and looked over. At a glance, she saw the girl in the corner. She held a piece of grass green cloth in her hand and was cutting it on the model.

In this kind of competition, it was the most time-saving and the most effective method to operate on models.

It seemed that this little designer was very smart.

Hilla took a closer look and felt that although her technique was a little immature, she did have her own ideas and insights about fashion design.

"Mom, you have a good eye. I think this girl can be recruited to the Anderson Group."

The Anderson Group had its own clothing company, and Hilla had a branch company of the Anderson Group. It was given to her by Orlenna before. Although she was not busy with her business, she would often go to visit it.

There were professional managers in the company. Although she couldn’t help much, she would still go out to take a look.

In the eyes of outsiders, she might be inspecting as a leader, but only Hilla understood that she was learning the fresh design operation, production, and even management philosophy of the company.

Orlenna nodded in satisfaction. "Although she can’t win the award, she was excellent. You can get someone to contact her."

Of course, they would not contact her personally.

Hilla smiled as well, and the conversation between them ended.

She turned to look at the other participants on the stage. The figure of a woman in the middle of the stage instantly attracted her attention.

Orlenna, who was always paying attention to Hilla, quickly noticed the woman in the middle of the stage.

However, when she first looked at her, she had no impression of her. When she looked at her carefully, she found that she looked a little familiar. After thinking about it, she did not feel that she had seen such a girl before.

However, since Hilla was sizing up this girl, it was obvious that her work was very attractive. Orlenna also observed it carefully.

After watching for a while, he nodded in agreement. "This girl is also very good. Her clothes are not ordinary and the patterns look a little familiar, but... but the clothes are really beautiful."

It was a very eye -catching design, and it should be the most outstanding among this year’s designers, although in Orlenna’s opinion, this kind of design was somewhat fancy.

However, the work made by the girl, especially the patterns she embroidered on the cloth, was very bright. The design this time was also very fashionable and bold, so she should be able to win the competition.

Hearing Orlenna’s words, Hilla was stunned for a moment, and the smile on her face was stiff.

Orlenna looked at her absent -minded appearance and felt that something was wrong. She couldn’t help but say, "What’s wrong? Is something wrong with this girl?"

Hilla had been looking at the middle of the stage since just now. Originally, she thought that she was looking at the clothes designed by this girl. Later, Orlenna discovered that Hilla was staring at the girl.

Did she have a conflict with Hilla in the past?

As expected, Hilla said in a small voice, "Her name is Cercei. She was from the Cornel family."

Orlenna frowned slightly. The Cornel family? Which family? Why did she have no impression of it?

River City was originally a place where rich and powerful families were piled up. Every year, there would always be one or two families that had been replaced. Orlenna did not care much about the outside world now, especially about the business companies. As time passed, she could not remember clearly and could not tell those unknown small families.

Seeing the puzzled look on Orlenna’s face, Hilla was a little embarrassed. She was afraid that Orlenna had long forgotten the two companies that had gone bankrupt because of Bruce more than a year ago.

She quickly explained, "The Cornel Group went bankrupt more than a year ago, but I didn’t expect that she would come here now."

Moreover, she would appear here as a designer. Although Cercei had learned fashion design as her, previously, Cercei was not at this level. Now, Hilla seemed to understand why she was at this level.

Whether it was from the cutting technique or from her operation, it appeared to be smooth.

When she was doing it, her extraordinary proficiency could be seen in her every movement.

In addition to her position on the stage, Hilla could only think of one possibility, which was that someone had already revealed the test questions before the design competition, and Cercei had obviously received the test questions early, so she had

prepared early.

At first, Hilla didn’t seem to be able to guess who this person was. But now, when she saw Cercei’s work and the dark pattern flower vines on her clothes, Hilla finally understood who the person behind Cercei was. Obviously, it was Queeney.

Hilla could tell at a glance that the two patterns came from the design paintings of the Holt family, because even she and Halle had only seen it before, but they would not embroider it.

Hilla also felt that the ready-made clothes that Cercei designed this time were familiar. She had not met Queeney in private once and had also entered Queeney’s private show.

She had seen this dress in that show before, and it had only been slightly modified.

It was no wonder that in this competition, Cercei would become the first to complete every time.

She already knew the test questions and prepared her work early. The person who taught her to cheat behind the scenes was the initiator of this competition. How could such a person not win?

As expected, Queeney had already prepared for the championship before this competition.

This person was probably prepared for her!

After all, she had a conflict with Cercei in the past. If Hilla was standing on the stage now, she would probably be unable to hold back her anger when she saw that.

Queeney was really good at playing tricks. Not only did she utilize this design competition to make a lot of money for the Richards Group, but she could also find someone who had conflicts with her to make trouble for her in the competition.

In the end, Queeney had even prepared for the champion of the competition. Even if

Hilla really participated, she wouldn’t be the champion under such circumstances.

She wouldn’t be able to get the design paintings.

She couldn’t get the paintings, and in the end, it was her enemy who got them.

Queeney probably wanted to destroy her in one blow.

Hilla couldn’t help but sneer. Her eyes were cold as she looked at the arena.

Queeney misunderstood her to be vulnerable.

...

Orlenna looked Cercei on the stage up and down. Orlenna turned her head and asked with some uncertainty, "Did you guys have a conflict before?"

Hilla was stunned for a moment and nodded hesitantly.

"Yes, a little. But it seems that there are more now."

Hilla was a little helpless when she said this, but she also looked disgusted.

Hilla and Cercei were just the pawns in Queeney’s hands. Hilla knew it, but she was powerless to escape.

Queeney clearly knew about the conflict between Hilla and Cercei, which was why Queeney had allowed Cercei to attend the competition.

Cercei had the foundation and talent for design. Moreover, she had grown up over the years. With the help of Queeney, it was not difficult for Cercei to obtain a good ranking in this competition.

However, Queeney had used all of her despicable methods to make Cercei win the championship to break Hilla’s heart.

Although this idea was childish and ridiculous, it was useful in many cases.

"What? Was Cercei getting on your nerves lately?"

Orlenna’s domineering and unreasonable protection made Hilla blush and grateful.

Since Hilla was pregnant these days, although Orlenna got in the way of their relationship, she took care of Hilla with all her might and was even willing to accompany her to the design competition.

It wasn’t that Hilla didn’t know about Orlenna’s hard work these days. Although it was because of Hilla’s child, Hilla still benefited from it, and she also felt Orlenna’s love for her.

Hilla shook her head and smiled, "Not recently, but just now."

"Just now?"

Orlenna was stunned. She glared at Cercei in the middle of the stage and frowned.

Hilla didn’t intend to make Orlenna suspicious. She explained directly, "Maybe it’s not all her fault. I’m afraid she is also a tool in Queeney’s hands to win the competition."

"I’ve seen this cheongsam Cercei made before. It was in Queeney’s private display cabinet, but I’m more familiar with the patterns on it. It’s some of the lost patterns of the Holt family. Halle and I don’t know it."

With that, Hilla was very ashamed. When she was young, she was playful. When her father taught her skills, she only learned a little when she was in a good mood.

Hilla didn’t learn much!

"You mean that Queeney took her work and deliberately made up such a question? She even lied to everyone that it was a temporary question. Then, she stole the Holt family’s embroidery and gave it to Cercei on stage to let her win the championship!"

Orlenna’s words were straightforward. Although Hilla didn’t expect Orlenna to say it so bluntly, she couldn’t help but agree.

This matter sounded absurd but it was a fact, and Hilla had no reason to refute it.

Moreover, Hilla didn’t know what kind of deal or agreement there was between Dao Queeney and Cercei. But Hilla knew that the Holt family design paintings were a disguise, and the thing would always fall into Queeney’s hands.

Queeney was using the design paintings to test Hilla. Since it did not live up to Queeney’s expectations, Queeney would still use this excuse from time to time to break Hilla’s heart.

However, there was one thing Queeney should understand. The value of the design paintings would not be up to her wishes.

"She is dreaming!"

Orlenna glanced coldly at the position of the main seat. Queeney’s attention was now on Cercei in the middle of the stage. The smile at the corner of her mouth had already made it clear that everything was going her way.

Orlenna and Queeney were about the same age and were of the same generation. At that time, the Anderson family and the Richards family had a good relationship. However, when Orlenna’s husband died, the Anderson family was in a precarious situation. Orlenna completely recognized the ingratitude of the Richards family and Queeney.

Although the Anderson family was not petty and vengeful, they didn’t get on well with the Richards family.

Queeney was sitting beside Mrs. Hutt. Being the biggest investment in the competition, they were talking and laughing.

What a joke. A few days ago, Mrs. Hutt, who had followed the lead of the Anderson family, turned to flatter Mrs. Hutt.

"You don’t need to spend too much effort on that kind of woman. Just send her away."

Hilla knew that Orlenna was talking about the wise Mrs. Hutt.

"Yes, I will keep it in mind!"

"But they should learn something. After all, no one can mess with our Anderson family."

Orlenna was not a young girl like Hilla. Orlenna had lived for several decades. They were not the only ones getting sophisticated.

Even with this kind of low-table tricks, they dare to plot against the Anderson family.

If it was before, Hilla might have hesitated a little when he heard what Orlenna said.

But now, Hilla just smiled, like a cunning cat. Looking at Orlenna, Hilla smiled gently and said, "Mom is right!"

Orlenna nodded in satisfaction, "Don’t worry. Just listen to me. It should belong to our Anderson family. Sooner or later, it will still belong to our Anderson family. Those who want to take things from us should also see if they can."

It was obvious that Orlenna felt that Queeney could not take things from the Anderson family.

If Queeney took it, it was just wishful thinking.

The result of the competition was just as they had guessed.

The champion was the new designer, Miss Cercei!

Hilla smiled and clapped her hands with the people on the stage enthusiastically.

Watching the lights on the stage and the dancing ribbons, Hilla looked at Queeney.

Then, Hilla smiled sweetly at Queeney.

Obviously, Queeney was a little surprised to see Hilla’s smile.

In Queeney’s opinion, Hilla should not be so happy to see what she cared about fall into the hands of her enemy.

Even if Hilla was not emotionally devastated, she should not smile.

However, Hilla had a beautiful smile on her face, and even Orlenna beside her looked a little dazzling.

After the competition, Hilla followed Orlenna into the car. She didn’t say a word the whole time and had always been obedient.

Until the next morning, Hilla and Orlenna met the champion in the hotel, Cercei!

Hilla didn’t saw the shock on Cercei’s face but followed Orlenna to sit down on the opposite sofa.

Hilla thought that there would be an anxious negotiation between them, but before Cercei came to herself, Orlenna had already spoken.

"I heard that after you won the championship this time. The Richards Group will recommend you to the Hutt family to be their chief designer."

"I feel that a talent like you is a little underappreciated by the Hutt family. There is a vacancy for a design director in one of the Anderson Group’s branches. I wonder if you are interested."

"Well, the original general manager of this branch company started from the designer. Although the Hutt Group is generous, you should know very well that the benefits of our Anderson Group are much better than theirs. What’s more, you are a

talent who won the award, and our Anderson Group will not treat you unfairly."

As Hilla listened, she felt that Orlenna’s sugar-coated bullets were very attentive. But Orlenna dug a deep trap for Cercei, and Hilla didn’t know if Cercei would follow.