Chapter 14 She’s Declared Dead
Anthony pulled out a soft measuring tape from nowhere and smiled cheerfully, “Ms. Finley, please stand up. I’ll take your measurements.”
Lenora closed the book in her hands and stood up to let Anthony measure her.
During the measuring, Bianca happened to return home. She was pleasantly surprised to see Anthony.
“Anthony, good thing you’re here! I need you to custom–make a gown for me.”
She wanted a gown to dazzle everyone at next Saturday’s annual celebration.
“Well…” Anthony hesitated as he put away the soft measuring tape. With a snap, the tape retracted into its case.
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to finish two gowns in ten days.”
Anthony held high standards when it came to designing and making
gowns.
Inspiration had struck him when he saw Lenora just now. He couldn’t wait to return to his office and start working on it.
Bianca’s gaze immediately shifted to Cecilia.
Cecilia’s family ran a luxury brand, and she knew many designers.
All of Bianca’s past gowns had been custom–made by designers hired by
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Cecilia.
It didn’t make sense that she should hand over the designer just because Lenora returned.
To her disappointment, Cecilia only smiled gently and said, “Bianca, this celebration will be Liliana’s debut. Why don’t you find another designer?”
The smile on Bianca’s face froze, and she clenched her fists.
After quite a while, she reluctantly responded, “You’re right. My sister is more important.”
Then she turned around and stomped upstairs, her high heels thundering loudly to express her resentment.
Bianca’s fury made Cecilia drop the idea of calling another designer. She calmly watched Anthony do color testing for Lenora.
Back when Liliana wasn’t found, Cecilia saw a bit of her daughter in Bianca, so she grew emotionally attached to Bianca.
But now that Liliana had returned, she naturally would give all her love to her own daughter.
Since Bianca got angry over something this small, there was no need to arrange a designer for her anymore.
Storming upstairs, Bianca slammed the door shut and started throwing the dolls on her bed in a rage.
“How could Liliana steal everything from me as soon as she came back?” she complained inwardly.
A knock sounded at the door.
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“Come in.” Bianca replied irritably.
Edward cautiously poked his head in and met Bianca’s reddened eyes. “Bianca, who upset you?”
He had been playing video games in the room next door when he heard. Bianca slam the door and instantly knew she was upset, so he came over to check on her.
“No one.” Bianca regained her composure, wiping nonexistent tears.
Her brief reply only made her seem even more aggrieved.
Something clicked in Edward’s mind, and he ran to the staircase, peeking through the gaps. Sure enough, Lenora was getting a custom gown.
And the person making the gown was none other than Anthony.
In that instant, Edward knew why Bianca was upset.
Anthony used to be Bianca’s exclusive designer, and now that shameless woman Lenora stole him away!
Furious, Edward was about to storm downstairs and make a scene, but a hand grabbed him. He turned to see Bianca’s face.
“Don’t go.” Bianca said with a bitter smile, shaking her head. “You just finished your punishment. I don’t want you getting punished again because of me.”
Last time, Edward picked a fight with Lenora and got punished: no lunch, an 8,000–word reflection, and a month–long freeze on his allowance.
This past month had
to spending money, een an absolute torment for Edward, who was used
water.
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nisher Declared Dead
“No way!” Edward’s eyes blazed with fury. “Bianca, you cooked for me when I was punished. I won’t watch you get bullied and do nothing!”
When he nearly fainted from hunger during his punishment, it was Bianca who cared about him and secretly made him a sandwich.
He’d never forget that for the rest of his life.
Seeing the indignant look on his face, Bianca curled her lips slightly.
“A cheap takeout sandwich and he’s completely won over. What an idiot,” she thought.
But sending Edward to pick a fight with Liliana wasn’t enough to ease the rage in her chest.
She wanted Liliana to pay a much heavier price.
With that in mind, Bianca continued trying to talk Edward down, “Forget it. I don’t want to stir up trouble before the celebration and upset Grandpa.
“It’s just a dress. It’s not worth it.”
Eventually, Bianca managed to make Edward give up the idea of confronting Lenora, but he etched this grudge deeply into his heart.
Three days before the annual celebration.
Anthony successfully finished the gown designed specifically for Lenora.
It was a dark green strapless chiffon gown, paired with dramatic, eye- catching jade earrings.
When Lenora put it on, she looked like a beautiful princess straight out of The Wizard of Oz, elegant and ethereal.
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Zoubia 14 5hrs Declared Deall
Anthony had drawn inspiration from Lenora’s gentle, refined
temperament, capturing her softness and serenity to perfection.
Cecilia grinned ear to ear, bustling around her daughter to help with the dress hem. “You look stunning. You’ll fascinate everyone at the
celebration!”
“Thanks, Mom.” Lenora twirled slightly, the diamonds on the chiffon glittering.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror, and the gloom on her face had already been replaced by joy.
This was the life that truly belonged to her, beautiful, passionate, and happy, not fighting over some man in petty jealousy.
Bianca watched coldly from the second floor, a glint of malicious calculation flashing in her eyes.
“You stole everything from me. You have to pay for it,” she thought.
She had a plan to humiliate Lenora at the celebration.
After Lenora finished trying on the gown, she had the maids carefully store it in the wardrobe, awaiting the big day
In Lasthelm of Teblaria.
Over the past month, police had gradually recovered the remaining fragments of the dress from the Kildenn River.
One piece near the chest area was soaked with blood, which led to the conclusion that Lenora was dead.
At the police station.
Zavier knelt before the autopsy table where the fabric fragments lay, fists clenched, head bowed. Tears of despair streamed down his face, and hist heart ached as if it were being torn apart.
For an entire month, Zavier refused to believe Lenora was gone. He pressured the police and mobilized all his resources to turn Lasthelm upside down, but there was still no sign of her.
Eventually, the police declared Lenora’s death accidental and officially closed her case.
“Nora…” As soon as Zavier spoke her name, tears rolled down from his face. soaking into his shirt.
His grief was overwhelming, his red eyes looking as if they might bleed.
With trembling hands, he slowly gathered the fabric fragments into his. arms, calling Lenora’s name over and over.
“Nora… Nora… Nora….
“Wait for me. I will find you…”
So what if the police closed the case?
He would activate all his networks to search for her. Dead or alive, he
would find her!
He had promised Lenora he would never leave her alone.
Zavier stayed in the autopsy room for a very long time. When he finally walked out, though his eyes were still red, his expression was calm.
