Chapter 675
Camille arrived at her design studio only to find Elva sitting rigidly, as if awaiting a verdict.
“Are you the wife of Mr. Chambers?” she inquired with a touch of surprise.
Elva, flustered, rose to her feet. “Ms. Camille,” she corrected, her voice a soft tremor.
Camille’s gaze swept over the woman before her. She had expected the grand dame of the Chambers family to be an epitome of sophistication and brashness. But the reality was quite different.
Elva was clad in a simple white power suit with her hair pulled back into a neat chignon. Despite the impeccable makeup, it couldn’t mask her pallor and the weariness in her eyes.
“Mrs. Chambers, please take a seat,” Camille offered, her voice even.
She had come with a grudge against the Chambers Group but seeing Elva, the anger just wouldn’t surface. Instead, she decided to wait and see what card Elva would play.
“Ms. Camille, I know it’s quite presumptuous of me to come unannounced, but I really need your help to design an evening gown,” Elva pleaded urgently. “Money is no object. Whatever others can offer, I can double, triple it. I just need you to make a dress for me. Please,”
“Mrs. Chambers, I’m just a designer, Camille chided gently, noting how Elva’s hands trembled around her teacup, her eyes glazed over. “But you should know, ever since my studio opened, we’ve operated strictly by appointment. No one can bypass this rule.”
a sudden, soft thud Elva had collapsed to
Chambers! What are you doing?” Camille exclaimed, rushing to
eyes caught sight of bruised and bloodied skin beneath the sleeve that had ridden up
her mother enduring humiliation and abuse at the hands of the
get a dress from you because only a creation by you can truly stand out. No one else’s work is even worth considering,”
this. Stand up and let’s talk,” Camille said, her voice hoarse as she tried to maintain composure. “I’ll help you, let’s take your
Elva’s reddened eyes as she clung to Camille’s hand. “Thank you, truly, thank you so
assistants dismissed, it was just the two of them. Camille took Elva’s measurements and selected three
think of these three? If they’re not to your liking, I can find
consideration, Elva clutched a forest green gown close, as if fearing Camille might change her
perfect as bespoke. They might need adjustments. Why don’t you try it on and I’ll make the alterations
Elva stepped into the fitting
a bottle of
thud from the fitting
Chambers? Are you alright? Mrs. Chambers?” Camille called out, her voice laced with
answer came, she feared the worst and broke into the
Chambers!” she cried
half–dressed, revealing a back marred by old
with her own jacket, gently lifting her up, and pinching her head to
Chambers, wake
eyes fluttered open,
her voice filled with urgency and concern, asked, “Mrs.
as she turned away,
you?” Camille’s eyes blazed with barely
herself as she prepared to flee. “I’ll transfer the money for the dress, and my assistant will pick it
her, “Mrs. Chambers! Domestic abuse will never stop once it begins! You know better than anyone the humiliation and pain you’ve been enduring all these years!
can at least survive.
real dead–end! Mrs. Chambers, there’s still time
slammed shut before she could
A thought began to form
pulled in,
my God, mom, what kind of dump has this little witch picked out? It’s so out of the way, the drive here was a total nightmare!” complained a woman stepping out of the car, dressed in a pink lace dress that screamed suburban chic. Her
was Camille’s half–sister,
penny–pinching brat is probably saving up for her own wedding gift or something,” followed a plump, middle–aged woman with a pinched face and eyes that seemed perpetually arched in disapproval. It was Eunice’s mother, Mrs. Evert. “This so–called ‘renowned designer‘ is just a title she’s given herself, laying the groundwork to snag a wealthy husband. As if anyone reputable would want her once they know about her illegitimate background. To marry her? It would be a stain
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