Chapter 56
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Every time I’ve seen Lara Ellington, it has been in the formal setting of the competition. She’s either been wearing a gorgeous luxury dress or expensive athleisure.
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So, I’m slightly thrown off guard when she steps into Lily’s studio. She’s wearing cotton shorts and an oversized sweatshirt with Hello Kitty’s gigantic face plastered on it. Her auburn hair is in a messy bun on her head, and without the makeup she usually wears, I see a smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose.
She’s still ridiculously gorgeous, but she looks so…normal. Like a regular girl who could live in my apartment building.
When she speaks, however, she still does with the refined lilt of an heiress.
“Mother,” she calls out, and Lily turns to her daughter.
Lara hands a landline out to Lily. “Pierre says you’re not answering your cell. He’s losing his mind.”
Lily chuckles as she takes the phone from her daughter.
“Pierre?” she says into the phone, followed by rapid–fire, flawless French I don’t understand.
Lily rolls her eyes good–naturedly when Pierre responds, and then she says, “Juste une minute.”
She covers the speaker with her hand and turns to me. “Dear, I have to take this–it concerns my designers in Paris.”
I nod. “Of course, take your time.”
She grimaces. “It might actually take a really long time. And then I have to hop on a conference call to Milan.”
Oh, the glamorous life of a fashion icon.
I smile softly. “I understand, Lily.” I wave my hand around the room. “Thank you so much for the privilege of this experience.”
Her smile is so soft and genuine, it sends a pang through me. “It doesn’t have to be just an experience,” she says.
“What?”
She smiles as she reaches out and squeezes my shoulder. “For now, focus on the bridal selection and honing your skills.” She winks. “I’ll be in touch.”
I nod, feeling overwhelmed. What on earth does this woman see in me that endears her to me so?
Lily turns to Lara. “Sweetpea, see our guest out, would you?”
She doesn’t wait for a response before turning away, returning the phone to her ear, and resuming her conversation with Pierre as she
heads into the studio.
Once Lily is gone, the atmosphere is suddenly heavy and awkward. Lara stands unmoving at her spot by the door, and I stand unmoving by my spot near the dresses.
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Chapter 56
“Um…” I smile nervously. “Hi.
Lara raises a brow. “You coming?”
She doesn’t wait for a reply, turning around and leaving the room. I release a breath as I follow her, stopping to take one lasi the dresses and designs in the studio.
I don’t know if Lily really means it when she says she’ll be in touch. I might never hear from her again. But like I told her. I will always be grateful for the experience.
Lara doesn’t say a word as she walks ahead of me, leading me through the winding hallways of her massive mansion.
I clear my throat awkwardly, grasping for something to say to alleviate the awkward silence. “You have a gorgeous home,” I say.
“It’s my father’s,” she answers curtly, “not mine.”
I chuckle nervously. “Right.”
As we pass, I glance at pictures I saw earlier when Lily led me to the studio. Many of them are of Lara and her three brothers. In all the photos, she’s highlighted in the middle like a queen, and you can tell that as the last born and the only girl, she’s the most precious child.
I don’t notice that Lara has stopped walking until I run right into her. I gasp as I bump my forehead against her back. I take a step back “I’m so sorry,” I splutter. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
She turns around, and my breath hitches. Her face is blank, void of any decipherable emotion. She tilts her head towards the door. “Your car is waiting.”
She sidesteps me and starts to walk away. Before I know what I’m doing, I turn and call after her. “Lara!”
She stops and turns, her eyebrows raised in question.
“Um…” I wring my hands together. “I–I don’t know if you’ve seen the articles–about me and Lucas.”
Her eyebrows raise even higher, and I swallow. “There’s nothing going on between us, I swear.”
She cocks her head to the side. “And why would you be telling me that?” she asks.
I blink. “Uh, because…you–I mean, you guys—”
Lara rolls her eyes. “You think I care about some silly hashtags?”
I shrug helplessly. I don’t know what it is, but I feel this pathetic urge for Lara to like me. She’s so poised and cool, and the thought of seeing nothing old me as a rival makes me sick.
Her lip twitches slightly. “You heard Samuel at the press conference–Lucas and I aren’t pre–betrothed.” She says it with enough sarcasm that I know what I already suspected.
Lucas and her are already pre–betrothed, and her presence is all for show. She’s trying to tell me now that the scandal means nothing to her because, in the end, Lucas is still hers.
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Chapter 56
A
The idea releases conflicting emotions in me because it means Lucas might not be serious about pursuing me, which is a great relief.
But on the other hand, the idea of Lara being stuck with someone as…twisted as Lucas for the rest of her life unsettles me. I barely krem her, and she’s not exactly the friendliest, most approachable person in the world. Still, I feel like I should warn her.
But what would I even say? I should just mind my business.
For now.
“Tell me more,” Eliza gushes, her hand on her cheek as she and June listen intently to me recount the events at the Ellington estate. We’re in the ballroom, which has already been returned to its usual appearance after the ball.
Along with the other contestants, we were summoned for another announcement.
“That’s all. She said we would keep in touch, so…” I shrug.
“Wow,” Eliza says, reaching out to squeeze my hand. “I’m so happy for you, April. This is amazing.”
“Because she’s amazing,” June says, leaning against me.
I wrap an arm around my sister. “Thanks, guys.”
Just then, Easton walks in, and my stomach churns with anxiety. Is this another elimination? Will my name be called tonight?
Easton claps his hand once, and the mumbles and murmurs instantly quiet. “Over the previous weeks, you have been groomed in etiquette and social graces while in the midst of luxury and service. But as an Ashford, you need to be versatile. You might be required to brave situations where everything isn’t so easy, luxurious, or catered to.”
Eliza and I exchange a skeptical glance as Easton continues. “Which is why you will all spend the next two days and one night out in the woods–camping.”
A ripple goes through the room as a smile stretches my lips. I love camping. Back when my family was still whole, we used to go camping all the time.
“That’s right–just you girls, no maids or cooks or stylists.” Then he smirks. “You and the Ashford heirs, of course.”
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