[SOPHIE]
Sophie's carefully woven lies felt like they were unravelling thread by thread.
How much longer could she keep up this charade? The weight of it pressed down on her shoulders, but retreating now wasn't an option. She couldn't afford to let the cracks show. Not yet.
"Uh, I'll ask Cole," Sophie said hesitantly, her lips twitching into a weak smile. "But don't get your hopes up, okay? His parents are the ones handling the invitations—particularly his mom. You know how she is. She still favors Eve over me, so . . . I don't exactly have much influence there."
The words tasted bitter on her tongue, but they bought her a moment's reprieve. The group exchanged glances, their excitement dimmed but not extinguished.
Sophie's heart pounded as she plastered on a smile, all the while wondering just how much longer she could walk this tightrope without falling.
Find more chapters on empire
Lily and the others were quick to console Sophie, their voices gentle and reassuring.
"Don't worry, Sophie," Lily said with a sympathetic smile. "Mrs. Fay will definitely warm up to you eventually."
"Yeah, just give it some time," another chimed in, nodding earnestly.
Sophie returned a small, faint smile, masking the turmoil that churned within her. She didn't have the luxury to let her unease show.
"Hey, look!" someone suddenly exclaimed, cutting through their conversation. "It's Hyun's winter collection!" She pointed toward the television screen mounted on the far wall.
Lily chuckled, her tone dripping with derision. "What? He actually went ahead with that collection? Honestly, he's just asking for humiliation. Who launches a winter collection so soon after Astrid's? It's like setting yourself up to fail."
The others laughed, nodding in agreement. Sophie glanced at the screen, a smirk curling on her lips. Hyun had been bold—too bold.
She knew firsthand that his designs had been eerily similar to Astrid's, and now, by showcasing them, he was essentially walking into his own professional grave. His career would crumble under the weight of his own missteps, and she didn't even have to lift a finger.
Sophie sipped her drink, feeling a flicker of triumph as the models began to strut down the runway in Hyun's designs. The room fell silent, the laughter fading as everyone turned their attention to the screen.
"What's . . . what's with those dresses?" someone muttered, disbelief tinging her voice.
Sophie's smirk deepened. This was it—her victory.
Then, a gasp shattered the quiet.
"They're . . . they're beautiful!"
"Wait, what?" Sophie leaned forward, her voice laced with confusion.
"Look at the details!" another exclaimed. "They're stunning—so intricate, so unique!"
Sophie froze, her triumphant smile slipping as her gaze snapped to the screen. What she saw made her blood run cold.
The dresses weren't the same as Astrid's.
Yes, they shared a stylistic thread, but Hyun's designs were leagues ahead—more detailed, more refined. The embellishments were breathtaking, the craftsmanship impeccable.
Each piece radiated a unique allure that seemed to cast a spell over everyone watching. It was as if the dresses were calling out, irresistible and intoxicating, leaving the women in the room transfixed.
"How . . . how could this be?" Sophie whispered, her voice trembling. Her fingers tightened around the glass in her hand as her face drained of color.
Hyun's designs weren't just good—they were exceptional. And the most damning part? They felt like a natural extension of Astrid's Winter Collection, but elevated in ways that left Astrid's work pale in comparison.
Sophie's mind raced. This couldn't be possible. Hyun hadn't been working on another winter collection—her inside source had guaranteed it. There had been no mention of secret collections or last-minute changes.
Unless . . .
Her stomach twisted. Had Hyun deceived them all? Had he prepared a separate collection in secret, waiting for the perfect moment to unveil it? That was the only explanation.
He couldn't possibly have created another collection in such a short amount of time—unless he had already prepared a backup.
Was he truly that much of a genius, anticipating that his designs might be stolen and safeguarding his work with a hidden reserve?
Sophie's heart pounded as realization dawned. People wouldn't just admire Hyun's work—they would compare it to Astrid's. And when they did, the conclusion would be devastating.
Hyun's designs were meticulous, cohesive, and complete—everything Astrid's collection lacked due to the time crunch. The narrative wouldn't be that Hyun copied Astrid; it would be that Astrid had stolen from Hyun.
Sophie's grip on her glass tightened, her knuckles turning white. Anger burned in her chest, hot and unrelenting. This wasn't supposed to happen. Hyun was meant to fail, to fade into obscurity. Instead, he had turned the tables in a way she hadn't anticipated.
Her breaths came in short, sharp bursts as the realization sank in. This was no small problem. This was a disaster!
=== ===
Hyun's rise to fame was meteoric, his winter collection quickly becoming the talk of the fashion world. Social media buzzed with praises for his work, with fashion critics and influencers alike hailing his designs as groundbreaking.
The intricate details, refined craftsmanship, and innovative touches in his pieces left Astrid's collection looking almost amateur by comparison.
Discussions about the similarities between the two collections inevitably arose, but the narrative overwhelmingly shifted in Hyun's favor. His designs were so superior in quality and creativity that no one believed he could have copied Astrid.
Instead, whispers began to spread—had Astrid, the seasoned designer, borrowed from Hyun's brilliance? The timeline of their releases was the only factor keeping Astrid from outright scandal.
Forums and comment sections were filled with harsh critiques of Astrid's work.
"Astrid's pieces look rushed."
"Hyun's designs feel like art; Astrid's feel like an imitation."
"If Hyun's collection had come out first, there's no doubt people would think Astrid copied him."
The sting of these comparisons was brutal. Astrid's long-standing reputation as a leader in the industry was now overshadowed by Hyun's genius, with many dismissing her winter collection as second-rate and unimaginative.
Hyun's success was undeniable. His name was everywhere—magazine covers, viral posts, and glowing reviews. Fashion houses and investors clamored to work with him, and his collection sold out almost immediately.
It wasn't just a win for Hyun; it was a turning point that cemented his status as a rising icon, leaving Astrid struggling to reclaim her place in a world that no longer looked at her with the same awe.