Chapter 17 Breathtakingly Beautiful

• “Estelle, we’re at a film festival. Is it appropriate to display my Taekwondo skills?” Noelle spoke coolly, staring at Estelle like she was a fool.
• Estelle’s breath hitched. “Fine. If you think that it isn’t appropriate, why don’t you dance for us? You’re a skilled ballet dancer too, right? “The Nutcracker” sounds like a good choice!”
• Right now, at least a dozen people were in Benjamin’s dressing room. Most of them were top actors and influential people. Their gazes were full of mockery as they stared at Noelle, waiting for her to make a fool out of herself. After all, Noelle would possibly go all out to attract attention to herself.
• “Look, my sister is shy. Everyone, please give her a round of applause. I remember that she would often get excited to perform when a crowd gathered when we were younger.” Estelle began to clap as the others soon joined in contemptuously.
• The claps were evidently mocking Noelle, seeing that she wasn’t worthy of being here.
• Noelle gazed at the snobby faces and told herself to hang on.
• After a brief moment of contemplation, she let out a beatific smile and pulled Estelle’s hand. “Estelle, thank you for your help. Why don’t you join me for this dance? I remember you used to love “Swan Lake,” right? I’ll be the white swan, and you can be the black swan. Look, you’re dressed in black. That’s perfect for you! Let’s join hands and perform “Swan Lake” together!”
• She turned to the mocking audience. “Everyone, do you want to see Estelle performing a ballet dance? She used to be a famous ballet dancer. Please give her a round of applause!”
• “Hey!” Estelle struggled free of Noelle’s grip angrily. Did she ask me to perform a ballet dance backstage at a film festival? Is she kidding me?
• “Estelle, you’re a nominee for Best Actress today. If you dance with me, we might end up in the headlines tomorrow morning. Won’t you help me?” Noelle looked at her earnestly. Ha! I can act, too! She began to muse to herself, utterly pleased.
• “Noelle, this is too much!” Suddenly, Estelle became the center of attraction. She couldn’t help but grit her teeth at the turn of events.
• “So you’re saying no? You won’t help me?” Noelle’s gaze reddened instantly. Tears nearly gushed out of her eyes as she released her grip on Estelle’s arm, evidently hurt by her sister’s refusal.
• “Forget it!” Benjamin was sharp enough to notice the undercurrent between them. He cut in and eased the tension right away. “We have plenty of chances to see them dance next time. The event is about to begin, so we should be getting ourselves ready.”
• As Benjamin had made it clear, everyone left his dressing room.
• Noelle returned to her dressing room to touch up her makeup. Her song performance was about to start soon. She was slightly nervous as she hadn’t been on stage for some time.
• Whenever she felt nervous, she would often need the bathroom. After doing her business, she washed her hands in the sink. Looking up at her strikingly beautiful reflection in the mirror, she cheered herself up.
• Noelle Hooper, you can do it!
• The door to the bathroom opened as a familiar figure soon strode in.
• Estelle was coming over, her heels clicking on the floor.
• As a nominee for the Best Actress award, Estelle would be going on stage twice— to announce the winner for the Best Director and to receive her award, if she did win it. Hence, she had changed into her third and most expensive outfit of the day.
• It was a Dior haute couture gown, the one and only piece in the world. A total of nine hundred and ninety-nine crystals were embellished on this enchanting gown, making her figure glitter beneath the lights.
• As the saying went, “Clothes make the man.” The expensive gown gave Estelle complete confidence until she met Noelle.
• Noelle’s reflection in the mirror was absolutely flawless. Jealousy overwhelmed and consumed her in just an instant.
• “Noelle, Sophia picked a nice dress for you. It might be old, but this is what you deserve.” She turned and beamed as her hand glided across Noelle’s shoulder.
• Estelle was jealous of Noelle, no doubt. Although the latter was wearing an outdated and simple gown, she still stood out from the crowd with her striking looks. The gown seemed more expensive on Noelle’s elegant figure. It had a low-cut back design, but it only served to enhance Noelle’s elegance.
• Estelle’s fingers touched the thin strap that was holding Noelle’s dress together. What a thin strap. If I exert some force on it, it might snap anytime. Noelle will no longer be the arrogant white swan.
• Before she could do so, Noelle had already swerved out of her grasp deftly.
• “Thank you for that praise. I’ve always thought that a man makes the clothes, instead of the other way round.” Noelle knew what Estelle was planning and she kept a distance from her. If I’m not mistaken, Estelle’s agent must be waiting outside for her. There are no surveillance cameras in the bathroom, so this is the perfect place for her to carry out her evil plan.
• “Ha, Noelle, your wings are already broken! Why are you still so arrogant? Do you think that your little trick will make Mr. Durward cast you? Just give up. Who are you to steal that role from me?” Estelle was harsh as there was nobody around. “Noelle Hooper, I’ve already taught you a lesson before. If you refuse to back off, I’ll force you to leave Shining Entertainment!”
• Back then, Estelle’s mother was a mistress who had successfully married Noelle’s father. They moved into the Hooper residence together. Noelle had never liked her, so they had been rivals for over ten years. There was no need for Estelle to put up an act now.
• “Are you going to blacklist me? Ha! I thought that you’ve been doing that all along.” Noelle scoffed.
• “I’m glad that you’re aware of that. Noelle, you’ll never win. I’ve gotten both your man and your career! If I were you and got humiliated badly at the wedding, I would’ve left showbiz and spent the rest of my life alone. Only someone as shameless as you would be bold enough to go around!”
• “Estelle, you’re comparing yourself to me? When your mother and you are the most shameless and despicable women in the world?” Noelle’s gaze turned sharp. She spun on her heels and inched closer to Estelle. “Furthermore, I haven’t taken my revenge on the person who humiliated me at the wedding. Why would I escape now? Don’t tell me you were the one who framed me? Are you feeling guilty?”
• Estelle staggered backward as cold sweat streamed down her spine. Damn it, what is she talking about? Did she find out that I was the one who had arranged for that person’s appearance during the wedding?