Chapter 71 The Dress Disaster


    In this world, there are a thousand things that can bring pain:


    a sharp object like a knife thatcerate through flesh; a bullet from a gun that end a life; and forces of


    nature that wreak havoc upon humanity…


    But nothing is more dangerous than a sinister mind. Evil is indifferent to appearances, and when it lurks


    underneath pure, beautiful skin, it bes twice as deceptive.


    Cloris''s fingers closed over a small pair of scissors as she stood behind her sister. She clutched the


    handles with determination. In one swift, ndestine motion, a piece ofce was cut from her sister''s


    beautiful dress.


    It was barely holding on, and threatened to snap any moment.


    An eerie smile shed on her painted lips before morphing into one of her sweeter ones, the one that


    charmed people and had men running to fulfill her every whim. It was a very convenient facade indeed.


    No one could have discovered the malicious tilt of her eyes as she waited.


    She had taken the time to carefully study the dress. The piece ofce that she had damaged held the


    upper and lower parts in ce. Once it was broken, the dress would break apart from the waist.


    Cassandra would definitely be the center of unwanted attention if her dress caused a blunder at


    this event.


    Nothing would save her from judging eyes. They would feast on the sight of her and tear her skin off


    piece by piece until nothing was left of her reputation.


    They say clothes make the man, but after tonight, Cassandra would be destroyed by these fabrics.


    With these thoughts in mind, a wicked sense of fulfillment rose in Cloris.


    ''Cassandra, don''t me me for being cruel. You''re being too ambitious, stealing the spotlight every


    time. You need to have a taste of humiliation!'' Cloris thought spitefully as she looked at Cassandra.


    Her sister was refining her make-up in front of the mirror, powdering her beautiful face innocently and


    ignorant of Cloris''s ns.


    "You look really beautiful tonight, Cassandra," she said sweetly. Yes, her sister looked beautiful, and


    she could hardly wait to see her lovely features twist into shock and despairter. She would surely


    savor the image of a devastation on Cassandra''s face. As they walked out of the restroom, she let


    Cassandra go out first and stealthily threw the scissors into the trash bin. Cassandra was none the


    wiser.


    A cold expression dawned on Cloris''s face, giving her eyes a cruelty that was impossibly wrong on


    such a beautiful face.


    Who could ever have imagined that a girl such as her, blooming like a flower, had poison in her veins?


    Her beautiful eyes were scalding in their malice.


    "Cloris, let''s go find Arthur. I have a n to discuss with him," Cassandra said to her young sister. At


    once, Cloris''s expression morphed back into practiced pleasantness.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Cassandra remembered that Rufus mentioned his n of pursuing a real estatepany alliance,


    which would promote the joint development of real estatepanies in G City. Arthur headed one of


    the major real estatepanies. This event would be a good opportunity to discuss ns with him.


    The two sisters walked back towards the hall, oblivious of Victor''s watchful eyes from the dark.


    He stalked to the trash bin where Cloris had secretly disposed of the scissors. Pulling a handkerchief


    from his pocket, he picked them up and examined.


    There were tiny blue fibers caught at the des, the same as those of Cassandra''s dress.


    It didn''t take him much time to figure out what happened. Grimly, he put the scissors into his suit pocket


    and hurried into the hall to find Rufus. Upon finding him, he motioned for him toe closer and


    murmured into his ear.


    Rufus''s eyes narrowed at Victor''s words. His head shot up and he scoured the crowd for any trace of


    Cassandra.


    He found her with Cloris, heading for Arthur''s direction.


    Several industry peers surrounding Arthur, and he was engaged in conversation,ughing at some


    point while holding a ss of champagne in his hand.


    Arthur noticed the two sisters as they made their way toward him, and raised his ss to them.


    "Ah, Cassandra, Cloris." He motioned to his associates and introduced thedies, "Let''s wee the


    ''two beautiful sisters'' from Tang Group, Cassandra and Cloris. Cassandra here is an excellent


    designer, who has won over the Dawn Star Company in a recent bidding. As a designer myself, I must


    say she has won my admiration!"


    Admiring eyes fell on the two sisters, surrounding them withpliments.


    However, before Cassandra could acknowledge the praises from the people, she felt thece around


    her waist snap. Every second weighed heavily as she felt the fabric of her dress slipping down.


    In a split second, her naked back and the waist were bared to everyone''s eyes.


    Cassandra was reeling from shock and embarrassment as she stood in the midst of the people, her


    mouth gaping from surprise.


    "Oh my god, sister! What''s wrong with your dress?" Cloris eximed loudly, drawing more attentions


    toward Cassandra.


    The entirety of the hall quieted down instantly as they took in the scandalous view.


    Cassandra just stood numbly in the middle of the debacle, feeling as if her limbs had turned as heavy


    as lead.


    Women looked at Cassandra with disdain in their eyes as they spoke in hushed voices.


    "I can''t believe there are such women. Does she want attention that much?" one woman used.


    "How shameful, ruining the asion. This is a corporate party, not a strip club. There are lots of old


    gentlemen who are old enough to be her grandfather. How could she do such a thing?" another one


    echoed.


    In an instant, the tables have turned - the earlierpliments changing into sneers and mockery. It


    seemed that everyone was convinced of Cassandra''s indecency.


    The men in the room seemed to be more sympathetic, at least in words. With such a beautiful and


    almost naked body presented in front of them, how could they not to take in the view? They roamed


    their eyes all over her skin. Cassandra felt like fleeing, if only her feet moved.


    The press and journalists who were previously gathered at the corner of the hall rushed forward and


    joined the ensemble.


    Cameras shed and shutters clicked simultaneously. A wardrobe malfunction in a business party!


    This news would definitely sell like hot cakes on tomorrow''s tabloids.


    Rufus strode forward, his fists clenched.


    As soon as he reached her, He took off his coat and wrapped it around Cassandra.


    Turning to Victor, he ordered, "Bring the car downstairs."


    Then, he turned his cold eyes to the people surrounding them. They flinched from the intensity of his


    gaze and at once, the press put down their cameras and the crowd dispersed, creating a path for them.


    Putting a hand around Cassandra''s shoulder, Rufus walked her out, away from the prying eyes of the


    others.


    A Maseratiy in wait at the gate of the hotel. Rufus opened the passenger door and gently seated


    Cassandra in the seat. She was pale, and her lips were trembling. Rufus clenched his jaw and then


    turned to the driver.


    "Get out. I''ll drive," he ordered.


    Not needing another word, the driver got off as he cast a glimpse at Rufus'' s dark face.


    Rufus took the driver''s seat and drove off, leaving Victor and the driver standing on the side, both at a


    loss.


    The driver, who had no clue of what had happened looked at Victor questioningly.


    "So Mr. Luo just left? The party is about to begin. Isn''t he supposed to make an opening speech? What


    should we do?"


    Victorined, ignoring the driver''s confused expression.


    After such an incident, the party would definitely be thrown into chaos. To top that off, the boss just left.


    Who would clean up the mess?


    Just as Victor racked his brain for the best course of action, his phone rang as a message from Rufus


    arrived.


    "Call the Public Rtions Manager and ask her to deal with the situation,"


    the message read. "The Public Rtions Manager?" Victor murmured. Immediately, the image of a


    pretty girl with a lovely smile shed in his mind.


    Ah, yes. He meant Ste.


    Under these circumstances, she was the most suitable person to dispel the earlier fiasco.


    He called Ste instantly, told her what she needed to know sinctly, then asked her to get to the


    hotel as soon as possible.


    Ste, who was out eating with friends at the time of the call immediately excused herself and said


    goodbye to her friends. Then, she hailed a taxi and asked the driver to take her as quickly as he could


    to the hotel.


    Victor was waiting for her at the gate of the hotel, telling her more of what happened as they walked to


    the direction of the hall. When Ste learned that Cassandra''s dress snapped and Rufus took her


    away, she could not hide her surprise.


    For the next few seconds, Victor witnessed a myriad of expressions on Ste''s face. First, there was


    anxiety for Cassandra, but it was quickly reced by a trusting smile when the thought of Rufus being


    with her.


    She knew he would not let any harme to her friend. That was his charm. He was not only


    handsome, but he was also very thoughtful. Knowing that Cassandra was now with Rufus, she felt


    more at ease.


    Victor watched her silently with curious eyes, wondering what was going on inside the woman''s head.


    Unable to decipher her thoughts from the quick changes in her face, he finally decided to open his


    mouth and ask, "Have you figured out how to deal with this? What''s the n?"


    Ste rolled her eyes at Victor and said, "Don''t worry. Watch and learn."


    As they stepped into the hall, Ste took out a pair of ck-rimmed sses from her bag and put them


    on. The sses had the desired effect, making her look more serious.


    It was as if a switch had been turned on. Now, in ce of the casual air around her from a few seconds


    ago was a professional and mature aura. Her shoulders were squared as she stood a little straighter.


    Victor was impressed with the sudden change.


    She walked confidently into the stage, wearing a cordial smile. Then she spoke into the microphone,


    "Good evening,dies and gentlemen. The Tang Group would like to extend our warmest wee to


    each and everyone of you. It is an honor to be the host of this year''s party. I am Ste, the


    spokesperson of thepany. On behalf of our president, Mr. Horace Tang, and our CEO Mr. Rufus


    Luo, I would like to wee and thank you all foring!" She spoke clearly and steadily, and her


    presencemanded everyone''s attention.


    All eyes were on her. Conversations were brought to a temporarily halt as they listened to her remarks,


    then an apuse sounded as she finished her speech.


    Ste epted the sound of ps and smiled brightly at the audience.


    She had always been a good speaker. Years of debatepetitions served her well at this time.


    Proceeding without a script, she continued to speak, summing up a bit of history, and concluding with


    optimism for the future of thepanies and businesses. Once again, the hall echoed with apuse,


    and the party moved on smoothly.


    Victor watched Ste, awestruck and visibly impressed.


    She had proven him wrong. At first nce, Ste looked like any other lively girl who had just


    graduated from her college and those who were around her age who were alwaysughing and did not


    take anything seriously.


    Now, seeing her confidently speak in front of all these people, calm and graceful… Victor saw her with


    new eyes.