Left Them Loved Myself (Stella Spencer) novel Chapter 89

E55 vouchers

Even though Sylvia and Stella hadn’t made their showdown public, no one here was a rookie–they figured it out in no time.

It didn’t take long for the news about the showdown between Lloyd Group and Lumière Group to spread like wildfire, sparking heated discussions all over.

“Looks like Lumière Group and Lloyd Group are about to fight for the top spot in the jewelry world,” someone said.

“So, who’s taking the win?” another person asked.

“Obviously, Sylvia’s got this in the bag,” someone replied confidently. “Not only does she have Lloyd Group behind her, but she’s also this rising star in jewelry design. As for Stella, well, I’ve never even heard of her.”

“But I bet Stella’s not a pushover either. There’s no way Mr. Ford would bring someone random to a major showdown like this,” another person argued.

“Even if Mr. Ford’s playing for keeps, it doesn’t change anything. Lloyd Group is huge, and jewelry is just one of their many businesses. They haven’t gone all in on this–probably just letting others have a piece of the pie,” someone else pointed out.

“Yeah, you’re right,” another person agreed.

No one could deny that Lloyd Group held an untouchable position in Seabrook’s business world.

As expected, most people were rooting for Sylvia, while Stella was being mocked. They assumed she was just trying to ride Sylvia’s coattails to fame, and that she had no real chance.

The organizers were thrilled. Rather than trying to suppress the rumors, they saw an opportunity and quickly approached the leaders of both companies.

The organizer said, “Everyone already knows about your competition. I think instead of keeping it quiet, we should lean into it. How about we arrange a special jewelry design showdown for both of you during the finale of the runway show?

“Of course, to keep things fair, I’ll invite one of the top designers present to join the judging panel. We’ll also let brand reps, buyers, and anyone else weigh in, and we’ll tally the scores to give you a clear winner, rated out

of 100.”

Finally, the organizer turned to both representatives. “So, what do you think?”

“That’s fine,” Ernest replied, his tone flat.

Jeremy hesitated. “And how exactly will you keep things fair with all these outside influences circling around?”

At a show like this, everyone had their own agendas. No one cared if the jewelry was beautiful or valuable- they’d make their choices based on what benefited them most.

All it took was a vote and a high score to potentially secure Ernest’s friendship–a small price for a valuable

50

17:24 Fri, Oct 17

Chapter 89

connection.

El 55 vouchers

“Well, the organizer hesitated. “Maybe I should just remove this part and get two more judges?”

Jeremy was about to agree when Ernest interrupted, “No need. Lloyd Group will stay neutral in this competition.”

That was surprising. Ernest was Sylvia’s biggest backer. If he was staying neutral, that almost felt like he was supporting Stella.

Jeremy raised an eyebrow but didn’t push the issue.

Once Ernest made his statement, he couldn’t backtrack. If he did, it would damage Lloyd Group’s credibility, and that wasn’t something they could afford.

The organizer smiled, thrilled with how things were shaping up. The competition between two top jewelry companies was bound to make his event the talk of the town.

But the two designers, Stella and Sylvia, didn’t show a hint of emotion.

Stella honestly couldn’t care less why Ernest was staying neutral–she just wanted to focus on the competition. As for Sylvia, she feared that if she showed any emotion, her frustration would show on her face.

Sylvia let out a cold laugh, then walked away with Ernest. No one noticed that Sylvia’s phone, hidden in the lining of her dress, had vibrated a few times while Ernest was announcing that Lloyd Group would remain

“Right? If it were me, I’d totally ride the hype, make sure my designer wins, and blow up my jewelry brand’s reputation, someone said.

“Well, if Mr. Lloyd is staying neutral, then I guess we better play by the rules,” another person said.

Thoughts of currying favor with Lloyd Group vanished.

At the same time, Sylvia’s eyes grew colder. Suddenly, her phone buzzed again. Sylvia slipped away to a spot, pulled out her phone, and smiled as she saw the messages.

The message was simple, containing just a single word: [Okay].

quiet

Sylvia didn’t respond, just tucked her phone away and walked off as if nothing had happened, but she seemed to be in a much better mood.

Evening had arrived–the exhibition was winding down.

Under the organizer’s guidance, the crowd moved to a side hall where the runway had been set up. The long- anticipated showdown between the two top designers was finally about to begin.

Suddenly, the entire hall lit up in a dramatic flash.

Bright white lights flooded the space, and soft warm lamps along the walls toned down the brightness just enough–not too harsh, but enough to make the jewelry backstage shine even more brilliantly, ready to steal the spotlight.

In front of the runway, an extra table had been set out for the judging panel.

At the table sat an elderly woman with a touch of silver in her hair and an air of classic elegance.

Her outfit was plain, but the single diamond hair accessory, with its masterful cut and brilliant light refraction, was a testament to her exceptional skill as a jewelry designer.

‘Why does she seem so familiar?‘ Stella wondered. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the renowned designer the organizer had invited seemed oddly familiar.

‘Maybe I’m just seeing things. Probably just my mind playing tricks on me, she reassured herself, forcing the thought aside.