Chapter 18 Get Lost

• “Enough, Noelle!” Estelle gave her a push angrily. “You’re obsessed about revenge and whatnot! It’s no surprise that Jackson despises you!”
• Noelle was unfazed by Estelle’s snarky remarks earlier, but at the mention of Jackson’s name, her heart ached suddenly.
• Jackson Hayes, I’ve risked my life to protect you, but you think that I’m evil and b*tchy, just like Estelle.
• “Are you aware that I am getting engaged to Jackson next month? Dad has already acknowledged our relationship. He is going to gift the villa at Purple Gardens to me. Remember Purple Gardens? The villa that Dad prepared as your wedding gift? Hmm, I wonder if Dad prefers me to you now.”
• Estelle smiled smugly as Noelle’s expression turned gloomy. Her victorious smile was like a poisoned arrow, landing itself straight through Noelle’s heart.
• She’s taken everything from me— my career, my beloved, and even my father’s love. Compared to her, I am merely a loser.
• Estelle and Jackson are about to get engaged. They are about to get engaged...
• “Congratulations, Estelle.” Noelle let out a sneer. Her heart was filled with disappointment.
• “Thank you. Because of what you’d done, our engagement will be a low-key affair. Never mind about that. After all, he’s now mine. Do stay away from us, Noelle. You’re seriously a jinx.”
• “Nice lipstick. What is the color code?” Estelle was focusing on her verbal attack when Noelle suddenly reached out and snatched her lipstick away.
• “Oh? You can have it if you like. Ah! Stop it! What the f*ck are you doing, Noelle?”
• It was too late. Noelle had already drawn a few lines on Estelle’s expensive dress using the lipstick like a crayon.
• The ugly red stains ruined the stunning dress immediately. Noelle let out an arrogant chuckle as she stuffed the lipstick back into Estelle’s bag.
• “You’re right. I’m a jinx, so you’re getting unlucky!” Ignoring Estelle’s yells, she pushed the bathroom door open and strode out.
• “Hilary, something happened to Estelle. You should go in and help her.” Noelle informed Estelle’s agent, Hilary Bundt, who was waiting outside the door.
• “Hilary, don’t let her go! The b*tch ruined my gown!” Estelle rushed out of the bathroom furiously. At the sight of the ruined gown, Hilary’s gaze widened in shock.
• “Oh, dear! What happened? Estelle, this is an haute couture gown by Dior! Do you know how much it’s worth? I spent a lot of effort in borrowing this dress for you. It will be displayed at a museum in Paris later. Shit, we’re in deep trouble.”
• “It’s her! It’s Noelle’s fault!” Estelle managed to spit out through gritted teeth. Damn it! I should have known that Noelle was no pushover. I shouldn’t have entered the bathroom alone!
• Noelle hadn’t moved at all. When she heard Estelle’s accusation, her face paled instantly. “Estelle, it was you who slipped and ruined your gown! I came out to ask for help. How could you shift the blame onto me?’
• “Y-You!” Estelle’s hand trembled while she pointed at Noelle in fury.
• “Stop it. Let’s see if we can salvage it.” In a panic, Hilary scanned the dress anxiously. She couldn’t be bothered to accuse the culprit because the dress was much more important now.
• “Yes, yes. Perhaps we can wipe the stains away.” Noelle chimed in. She took out a piece of cleansing tissue from her bag and handed it to Hilary, who immediately used it on the expensive dress without hesitation.
• The moment the cleansing tissue glided across the dress, the lipstick stain spread out and seeped into the fabric.
• “Try absorbing it with a cotton pad!” Stifling her laughter, Noelle offered a piece of a cotton pad to her.
• Hilary was about to take it from her when Estelle slapped her hand away. “Hilary, have you gone nuts? How could you trust her?”
• “Estelle, I just want to help you.” Noelle retracted her hand pitifully.
• “Get lost!” Estelle glared at her ruined gown and roared out loud. Shit, I’m going on stage later!
• Get lost? Sure. The scene is over. I won’t have to stay here any longer.
• Before Noelle reached her dressing room, she realized that something was amiss. The straps that were holding her dress up had snapped, causing her dress to slip down slowly. She hurriedly pinned the dress to her chest before it could slip down any further.
• She fumbled around before realizing that the last strap that was holding her dress up had also snapped.
• It must have happened back then when I was trying to help clean the stains on Estelle’s gown. One of them must have pulled the strap on my back, causing it to break!
• F*ck, I have twenty minutes left till showtime. What should I do?
• One hand on her chest and the other on the hem of her gown, Noelle rushed out of the dressing room to find someone who could help her, preferably a female.
• She was walking anxiously along the hallway when someone called out, “Ms. Hooper?”
• Looking up hastily, Noelle met Dominic’s gaze.
• “Dom!” Her gaze brightened up. She had no time to figure out why he was here. Pointing at the stairs in front of them, she urged, “I’m glad to see you here. Come, I need your help!”
• As she was clutching her chest and the hem of her dress clumsily, Dominic said nothing as he hurriedly followed her.
• At the stairs, Noelle spun around, showing him her back. “My dress strap broke. Help me tie it up!”
• Her tone was uneasy. When she showed her exposed back to Dominic, it didn’t seem like she was shy at all, even if he was of the opposite sex.
• As Dominic did nothing, she urged impatiently, “Hurry, Dom! I’m going on stage soon!”
• “Okay!” Dominic agreed as he drew closer to her.
• Her back was stunningly beautiful, flawless like marble. The seductive curve of her back that trailed to her hips caused Dominic’s throat to go dry. Swallowing hard, his coarse fingers trailed across her waist. His palm heated upon coming into contact with her skin. Somewhere in the nether regions, his groin stirred.
• Damn it!
• Holding his breath, Dominic shut his eyes as he grabbed both sides of the strap.
• “Can you tie it up? If you can’t, I’m in deep trouble. This is the only dress that I prepared for the event. If I can’t go on stage, Sophia’s efforts will be in vain. Dom, why don’t you find a safety pin so that I can pin the straps together!” Noelle ran her fingers across the wall in frustration.
• She’s going to wear this revealing dress on stage? Dominic’s expression soured. She wore this sexy dress at the red carpet event earlier. At that thought, he stopped trying to tie the strap together as he gave it a forceful tug instead.