The Queen's Back

25

As a man in a suit passed by the design department, it turned out to be none other than Jeremy.

Barbara put on a pitiful expression, looking at Mona with a face that suggested she was the victim. "Mona, it's all my fault. I didn't hold onto it properly. It has nothing to do with you."

The people in the design department turned their attention to Mona, and a few even began whispering among themselves.

Mona watched Barbara's performance with a sense of disbelief. Seeing Jeremy approaching, she understood Barbara's intentions.

Barbara's plan was to make Jeremy lose all affection for Mona, transferring any fatherly love he had to herself. She also aimed to paint Mona as a spoiled and difficult heiress in the eyes of the design department. What Barbara didn't know was that Mona no longer felt any daughterly affection for Jeremy. All that remained was resentment.

It was because of Jeremy and Beatrice's actions-tampering with the car brakes-that her mother had died in a tragic accident.

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Mona had no interest in befriending the people in the design department, nor she need anything from them. There was no reason to seek their approval.

Mona's gaze remained fixed on Barbara, saying nothing.

For some reason, being stared at by Mona made Barbara feel uneasy, as if Mona could see right through her.

After a long pause, Mona glanced at the spilled breakfast on the floor and said calmly, "Since you know it's your fault, clean it up. The smell is disrupting everyone's creative flow."

With that, Mona didn't spare another glance at either Barbara or Jeremy.

Although she was just an assistant, her status as the Clem family's eldest daughter meant no one dared to openly criticize her. Doing so would be career suicide.

As Mona walked away, Barbara watched her with a flash of resentment, muttering softly, "Yes, cousin."

Jeremy simply observed the scene without intervening. After the affair ffair scandal from the previous day, he knew it was best not to upset Mona over something minor. If she reported it to the Clem family elders, it would not bode well for him.

Since Mona had spoken, even though the design department staff felt sympathy for Barbara, no one dared to help her. After all, getting a job at the Clem Group wasn't easy.

Once Mona left, the onlookers dispersed, leaving Barbara to clean up the spilled breakfast alone. Her grip on the broom was so tight that it seemed it might snap if she applied any more force.

Barbara seethed with resentment. She believed that one day, Mona would experience the same humiliation she felt now, but a hundredfold.

However, her plan had succeeded. Jeremy had witnessed the scene, and so had the others. Mona's image in their eyes was tarnished, and Barbara couldn't help but smile.

Back at her desk, Mona calmly picked up a design book and began sketching, unfazed by the morning's events.

Elara, noticing Mona's composure, scooted her chair closer and asked, "Mona, what are you up

10?

"Just practicing my drawing. It's been a while, and I'm a bit rusty Mona replied casually. Sun, Oct 20

"I saw Barbara deliberately try to hand you the breakfast this morning. When you didn't take it, it fell," Elara whispered.

From the moment she met Barbara, Elara disliked her. Her pitiful demeanor only fooled gullible men, and knowing Barbara had been involved with someone else's fiancé made her even less likable. Mona, on the other hand, was genuine and straightforward, which Elara appreciated.

"Yeah, I know, but you're probably the only one who noticed. Everyone else likely thinks I was bullying her," Mona said with a shrug.

Her tone was indifferent, showing no concern for her image. Elara felt that Mona seemed to have risen above it all.

Before she could say more, the design department manager announced, "Everyone, listen up. We have an opportunity. The famous actress Artemis Rain will be attending an awards ceremony in two months, and our department will design her gown. If you're interested, submit your designs within two weeks. Once she makes her choice, we'll create the gown. That's all, back to work!" After the manager left, the department buzzed with excitement about the project:-

Mona was

seager to participate. Whether or

"Are you going to enter, Mona?" Elara aske not her design was chosen, she wanted to give it a shot.

Mona nodded confidently. "Yes, I am. Whether I succeed or not, there's no harm in trying."

Elara had been on the fence about participating in the design competition, but hearing that Mona was entering inspired her to give it a try as well.

She

"Yeang

I'll give it a shot too.

Who knows, maybe the celebrity will have a unique taste and choose my design!" she said with a laugh. might be getting a bit

a bit carried away, Elara chuckled and said, "Alright, maybe I'm being a little too ambitious. But dreaming is important, right?" Mona smiled and nodded. "Absolutely! Dreams fuel our motivation. Let's both enter and see where this takes us!"

That afternoon, Maxwell found himself glancing at the clock while working, occasionally looking at the marriage certificate on his desk, wondering why time seemed to crawl.

Bud entered Maxwell's office and noticed his gaze drifting to the side. Following it, he saw the bright red booklet labeled "Marriage Certificate."

He was stunned. Last time, Maxwell had mentioned an engagement, and now there was a marriage certificate. Could it be with Mona?

"Is this marriage certificate yours?" Bud asked, puzzled by how quickly things had progressed.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Maxwell's lips curled into a smile as he nodded. "Yes, it is."

"Maxwell, you can't be serious! Let me see it!" Bud exclaimed, reaching for the certificate, but Maxwell was quicker, "Come on, Maxwell, I knew you were joking. That can't be yours, Bud teased, skeptical that Maxwell would marry so easily. To his surprise, Maxwell opened the certificate and said, "It is mine and Mona's. I just didn't want you to get too excited and accidentally damage it."