The Queen's Back

"Then let's go. Help me downstairs," Mona said as she stood up.

Old Mrs. Hattic assisted Mona down the stairs and then quietly went to prepare tea. Mona took a seat opposite Barbara, exuding the air of a hostess.

"What brings you here, cousin?" Mona asked casually.

Barbara's lips curled into a slight smile as she looked at Mona with feigned concern. "I heard you were robbed abroad and had to stay in the hospital for a long time. It scared me! Are you alright?" Mona truly had a stroke of luck; encountering a robbery abroad yet emerging without serious harm was remarkable.

'If something had happened to her-like a scar on her face-Maxwell would surely divorce her. After all, how could the CEO of Carter Group want someone with a flaw in their appearance? Barbara thought. Facing Barbara Burton's insincere concern, Mona felt a wave of nausea. She didn't even want to continue the charade. "Your sources are quite up-to-date, cousin," she replied coolly.

Aside from Teddy, who knew about the incident, Mona hadn't even informed her grandparents.

Barbara laughed awkwardly. "I was just worried about you. I heard you took a couple more days off after returning, so I kept an eye on the news from Arkenvale."

After Old Mrs. Hattie served the tea, she quietly left the room.

Mona picked up her tea and took a delicate sip. "Thank you for your concern, Barbara, but as you can see, I'm perfectly fine."

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries. When Mona didn't mention anything about designing for Artemis Rain, Barbara couldn't resist asking, "By the way, did you get to meet the celebrity Artemis Rain?" Mona shook her head honestly. "No, I didn't."

Hearing this, Barbara felt a surge of satisfaction. If Mona hadn't met Artemis, it meant her design hadn't been seen, suggesting that Mona's trip to Arkenvale was in vain.

Though pleased internally, Barbara maintained a facade of sympathy. "I see. Well, no worries, Mona. I should get going; I have work to do at the company," she said with a smile, standing to leave.

Mona realized that Barbara misunderstood, thinking she hadn't been chosen by Artemis Rain. Mona decided not to correct her, planning to surprise her back at the company.

She knew Barbara's visit was purely to gather information, and now that Barbara had gotten what she wanted, Mona was content to let her believe what she wished.

Mona also anticipated that once Barbara returned, her colleagues at the company would hear about her supposed failure. However, Mona wasn't concerned about clarifying things immediately. She felt there was no rush to set the record straight and thought it would be more impactful to address it when she returned to the office.

As Barbara left, she couldn't help but smile, feeling as if even the summer sun was shining more warmly on her.

As Maxwell returned home, he noticed someone leaving the house from a distance. Initially, he thought he might have mistaken the place, but as he got closer, he recognized it was Mona's cousin, Barbara. Without acknowledging her, he quickly averted his gaze and walked past her.

Barbara was about to greet him, but seeing him ignore her, she stomped her foot in frustration.

She believed Maxwell married Mona only because of her shares in the Clem Group and her status as the Clem family's heiress. Without those, how could Mona compare to her?

Barbara was determined to prove her superiority over Mona through the gown design for Artemis Rain. She wanted everyone to see that she was better, with Mona left in her shadow.

She envisioned a future where, after acquiring Mona's shares through Teddy, Maxwell would be eager to marry her. Anything Mona valued, whether possessions or people, Barbara wanted for herself, including Maxwell.

When Maxwell entered the house, he found Mona sitting alone on the sofa, lost in thought. He sat down beside her and asked, "How are you feeling?"

Mona replied, "Pretty good. I feel much better today than yesterday. I should be able to go back to work the day after tomorrow."

Seeing Mona's eagerness, Maxwell considered suggesting she rest for a couple more days but decided against it. "Alright, I'll take you to the office then." Mona nodded, a smile playing on her lips.

Two mornings later, Maxwell ensured Mona arrived safely at the company. He watched her walk confidently before leaving.

Upon entering, Mona felt the eyes of many colleagues on her, their gazes filled with mockery and amusement, as if they were watching a spectacle.

The colleagues at the company hesitated to speak directly to Mona, wary of provoking her wrath. Instead, they observed her from a distance, their curiosity piqued as they exchanged whispers and glances. Mona noticed their stares and smirked slightly. They were expecting her to fail, but she was ready to surprise them. Ignoring the whispers and glances, Mona walked confidently to her desk and sat down.

end you Elara, one of the few genuine friends Mona had at the company, looked at her with concern. "How did accident? It seems like traveling abroad isn't as safe as staying here. But you look alright now, so I'm relieved." Mona appreciated Elara's sincerity. "Yes, Nathontown is definitely better. I hurt my back, but I'm recovering well."

Elara nodded. "I'm glad to hear that. Don't worry about the gown; there will be other opportunities."

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in a car

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Mona realized that Barbara had spread the rumor that she hadn't even met Artemis Rain. "Well, despite the bad luck with the accident, Artemis gave me an opportunity. The trip wasn't for nothing." Elara's eyes lit up with curiosity. "What opportunity?"

Mona put a finger to her lips, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "You'll find out soon enough."

With that, Mona stood up and headed to the manager's office, leaving Elara to stew in her anticipation.

As soon as Mona left, the design department buzzed with hushed conversations. Elara listened, feeling frustrated by the gossip.

"Maybe she staged the accident to have an excuse for being rejected by Artemis."

"Exactly! Where does she get the confidence? She's just a recent graduate with no portfolio. Why would a big star choose her, design? It's a risk to their reputation!"

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