I Married My Ex's Billionaire Father-Chapter 196: Find A Way To Keep Lyse Down

The police came by and asked the participants, including Lyse questions before leaving. A little while later, the backstage area, still buzzing with a mixture of relief and lingering tension, was slowly returning to a semblance of order. The organizers, after a hurried consultation, announced that the Golden Fleece competition could proceed at last. The discovery of the culprit behind the missing garment and the exit of the police had cleared the air, allowing the event to continue, albeit with a slightly delayed schedule.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the stage manager announced, his voice regaining its usual professional cadence, "we are pleased to announce that the first round of the Golden Fleece competition will now commence. Please have your two evening wear pieces ready for presentation in the next ten minutes, remember that we are behind schedule and have no time to waste."

A flurry of activity erupted as designers and their teams all scrambled to prepare. The earlier tension had been replaced by a renewed sense of focus and determination. Everyone was eager to showcase their talent, to prove their worth, to seize this opportunity to shine, Cora and the missing garment incident relegated to the background.

From across the room, Lyse noticed the relief on Brooke’s face and felt a twinge of pity for Cora her victim then it faded away. Cora was suffering for her own stupidity, it did not matter that she was only following Brooke’s directives. She had allowed herself be a pawn without considering for a moment how it would affect Lyse and that her actions had been discovered, she would have to face humiliation while Brooke was just going on as if nothing had happened.

Lyse turned away and went to her assistants who were dressing up the models. Her mind clear and focused, she made sure that her two evening gowns were perfectly presented. She had chosen a flowing, emerald green dress with intricate beading for her first piece, and a sleek, black jumpsuit with dramatic shoulder detailing for her second. Both garments were meticulously crafted, showcasing her impeccable construction skills and her unique design aesthetic.

As the designers were called up one by one to present their creations, Lyse who was calm and confident, watched with a mixture of anticipation and admiration as the models went through in their beautiful designs. She knew that the judges would be looking for more than just beautiful garments. They would be assessing the designers’ creativity, their technical skills, and their ability to tell a story through their clothing.

She did not envy the Judges for their jobs, from all of the designs she had seen, it would be hard to choose the best ones. She would hate to be the one to have to crush some people’s aspirations, but that was the point of competition, there had to be the winners and the losers. It was such a shame though, because there was an immense amount of talent in the room.

When it was her turn, Lyse walked confidently onto the stage, her two models following close behind. She introduced her first piece, the emerald green gown, explaining the inspiration behind the design and the intricate details of its construction. The judges, their faces serious and attentive, listened carefully, their eyes scrutinizing every aspect of the garment.

Then, she presented her second piece, the black jumpsuit. She spoke about the strong, independent woman she had envisioned when she created the design, a woman who was both powerful and elegant, one who was able to use such a color to stand out. The judges seemed particularly impressed with the jumpsuit’s innovative silhouette and its flawless tailoring.

After her presentation, Lyse returned backstage, her heart pounding in her chest even though her face remained serene. She had done her best. Now, all she could do was wait.

Brooke, who had presented her own evening wear pieces earlier, approached Lyse, a carefully crafted smile on her face. "You did so well, Lyse," she said, her voice laced with a hint of condescension. "Your garments were...adequate I guess."

Lyse met Brooke’s gaze with a neutral expression. She was not going to let Brooke’s subtle digs get to her. She had more important things to worry about.

"Thank you, Brooke," she replied, her voice polite but distant.

The judges deliberated for what seemed like an eternity. The tension in the backstage area was palpable. Finally, the stage manager returned, his face grave.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, his voice ringing through the room, "the judges have made their decision. They have selected the top ten designers who will proceed to the second round of the Golden Fleece competition."

He then began to call out the names of the designers, one by one. Lyse held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest despite how confident she felt in the work of her hands. She listened intently, her ears waiting to hear her name.

And then, she heard it. "Lyse Spade."

A wave of relief washed over her. She had made it. She was one of the top ten.

Brooke’s name was also called out, as everyone had expected. She walked forward, her smile wide and triumphant. She turned to Lyse, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of triumph and something else...something that looked suspiciously like malice.

"Congratulations, Lyse," she said, her voice dripping with false enthusiasm. "I am so happy for you. I knew you could do it, talent definitely runs in our family."

She stepped closer to Lyse and gathered her up in her arms, pretending to embrace her. She lower her voice so that only Lyse could hear. "But don’t get too excited, darling," she whispered. "This is just the first round. The real competition starts now. And I am still the favored one to win."

Lyse pulled away from Brooke’s hug with a smile and met her gaze with a steady look, refusing to be intimidated. "Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, Brooke," she replied, her voice calm and even. "Anything can happen, tables tend to turn all the time."

"And who is to say that someone may not get disqualified, tell me Brooke, how is Cora feeling?" Lyse added.

Brooke glared at her for a minute then she chuckled, a low, condescending sound. "Please, Lyse, Cora has been taken care off." she said. "But, Let’s be realistic. You might be good, but you are not...me. Everyone knows that I am going to win this competition."

Lyse smiled, a small, knowing smile. "Is that so?" she said. "I wouldn’t be so sure."

She reached behind her and pulled out a garment bag. She unzipped it, revealing a stunning, intricately designed dress. It was a dress that she had discarded earlier in the competition, deeming it not quite perfect, not quite ready. But it was a dress that showcased her incredible talent, her innovative design aesthetic, and her impeccable craftsmanship.

Brooke stared at the dress, her eyes widening in surprise. She recognized it. It was one of Lyse’s discarded designs, a design that she had secretly admired, even envied.

"This," Lyse said, holding up the dress, "is just one of the many things I’m capable of. And I haven’t even begun to break the surface of what I can really do. Plus, the only reason you have risen to these levels is because of my talent Brooke, i made you."

She smiled, a confident, self-assured smile that made Brooke’s carefully crafted composure falter. "Don’t underestimate me, Brooke," she said softly. "You might be surprised."

She zipped up the garment bag, her eyes meeting Brooke’s. "Now, if you will excuse me," she said, turning to leave. "I have a competition to win."

She walked away, leaving Brooke standing there, her face a mask of fury. Brooke’s carefully constructed confidence had been shattered. She had underestimated Lyse, and now, she was starting to regret it.

She knew that Lyse was a serious contender, a real threat to her dominance. And as she watched Lyse walk away, she could not shake the feeling that she had just made a big mistake. She had underestimated her rival, and now, she might pay the price.

She had thought that the move with Cora would be a perfect coup, with Lyse out of the competition there would be nothing to stop her from winning. But now, since that was out she would have to find a way to keep Lyse down or else her dreams of winning the competition might as well be dust.

As for Cora, she knew that was still a huge problem hanging over her head. She would have to do something drastic to enshrine that she never opened her mouth to speak of what she had instructed her to do.

Brooke briskly walked to Cora’s station and picked up her tablet then she walked out of the building and made a phone call.

"Hello, there is something I need you to help me with. Meet me at the cafe we always meet at, come right away."