Justin Schofield’s explanation was that it was his codename from college.

Holly Sinclair didn’t say anything more.

She signed her name on the line for the other partner.

After signing the contract, Justin Schofield suggested giving the studio a new name.

In the end, they both agreed to change Julian’s Studio to SH Studio.

S was for Justin Schofield’s codename, and H was for Holly.

The combination also happened to be the initials for "Sinclair Holly."

Holly Sinclair was very pleased.

Holly Sinclair spent the next two days familiarizing herself with the studio’s past clients and business operations.

This gave her a general idea of the work that lay ahead.

There were five people in the studio altogether.

Besides her, there was another designer, two design interns, and an assistant.

「On the weekend.」

Holly Sinclair took her assistant, Joanna York, to Mount Nympha.

"Holly, why are we going to Mount Nympha?" Joanna York asked curiously.

"Do you know who Sonia Sutton is, the eldest daughter of the Sutton family?" Holly Sinclair asked, not looking up from the client files she was flipping through.

Joanna York nodded. "I know. Miss Sutton was one of our studio’s clients."

But it had been a long time since she had come in to have a qipao custom-made.

"She’s getting married," Holly Sinclair said, "and she plans to use a qipao as her main wedding gown."

The Sutton family was a major powerhouse in Mistcroft.

The family’s youngest son, Caleb Sutton, was the one who had previously won a car from Tristan Sterling.

Since the eldest Miss Sutton was getting married, her main wedding gown was sure to be incredibly valuable.

If they could land this contract and design a one-of-a-kind wedding gown for her, SH Studio would surely make a name for itself among the social elite.

"Holly, you mean..."

"We’re going to win her over."

"But I heard a lot of studios are trying to land this huge contract. The competition is so fierce... I don’t think our studio stands much of a chance," Joanna York said, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

"How will we know if we don’t try?" Holly Sinclair countered, giving Joanna York a warm smile.

’You have to have a dream. What if it comes true?’

Two hours later, Holly Sinclair and Joanna York arrived at Wyvern’s Crest Manor on Mount Nympha.

They inquired at the front desk and learned that Miss Sutton was in the mountaintop coffee shop.

The two made their way to the coffee shop.

Sonia Sutton was sitting by the window, leisurely enjoying the view.

"Hello, Miss Sutton. I’m Holly Sinclair from SH Studio. We spoke on the phone yesterday."

Holly Sinclair stepped forward and offered her business card, getting straight to the point.

Annoyed at the interruption, Sonia Sutton glanced over at Holly Sinclair with displeasure.

She ignored the business card and said coldly, "Pardon me, but I believe I made myself quite clear on the phone yesterday. I already have a studio in mind."

Holly Sinclair had anticipated Sonia Sutton’s cold rejection.

But she didn’t back down. She maintained a poised, graceful smile, her tone earnest. "Miss Sutton, a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Every girl hopes to be the most beautiful bride in the world on her wedding day. I’m sure you’re no exception, right?"

Sonia Sutton arched a brow slightly.

"So, Miss Sutton, could you give me just ten minutes? Please take a look at my..."

Holly Sinclair said, holding out her design sketches.

But just as she held out the sketches, a cup of coffee was poured directly onto them.

The coffee stain spread rapidly, soaking the paper.

The sketches were ruined.

"Oh, I’m so sorry. My hand slipped."

At the same time, a saccharine, all-too-familiar voice filled the air.

"Megan Grayson!"

Holly Sinclair spun around, glaring daggers at the other woman and gritting her teeth.

But Megan Grayson wasn’t alone.

Behind her stood Tristan Sterling and Vivian Linton.

’What terrible luck!’

Holly Sinclair cursed under her breath.

She had expected Vivian Linton to be competing for the job, but she never thought she’d run into her here.

Tristan Sterling watched Holly Sinclair, his face impassive and his expression unreadable.

"Holly, what are you doing here... Oh, you’re here to see Sonia."

Vivian Linton took a step forward, looking at Holly Sinclair with feigned surprise. Her eyes fell to the ruined sketches in Holly’s hand, and she added with mock sympathy, "Holly, you’re too late. Sonia has already decided to work with us at Vervain Studio."

The way she casually threw around the name "Sonia" was an obvious attempt to show off their closeness.

Holly Sinclair understood.

’There was no way Vivian Linton was chummy enough with Sonia Sutton to call her that. Not on her own.’

’So, it must have been Tristan Sterling who made the connection for her.’

"You all know each other?" Sonia Sutton asked, eyeing the group.

"We do! Holly and I are best friends..." Vivian Linton jumped in, moving to affectionately take Holly Sinclair’s arm.

’She couldn’t let Sonia Sutton find out that Holly and Tristan were married.’

’Sonia Sutton was only willing to let her design the wedding gown as a favor to Tristan.’

’If she found out Holly Sinclair was Tristan’s wife, she would definitely change her mind.’

’After all, in a circle like theirs, social obligations and personal connections were paramount.’

’Without Tristan Sterling’s backing, she would never get these kinds of resources and opportunities.’

"We’re not friends."

Holly Sinclair pulled her arm away from Vivian Linton’s grasp, her words cold.

She didn’t bother to be polite.

The disgust was practically written on her face.

The smile on Vivian Linton’s face nearly cracked.

"Holly, who do you think you are—"

Megan Grayson couldn’t stand Holly Sinclair’s holier-than-thou attitude and was about to lash out.

But out of the corner of her eye, she caught her cousin shooting her a cool glance.

She immediately fell silent.

Holly Sinclair could feel Tristan Sterling’s piercing gaze fixed on her.

But she refused to look at him.

That night, she had thrown up all over him.

She had done it on purpose.

She had been a little drunk at the time, powerless to resist his forceful advances.

Finally, left with no other option, she had resorted to that dirty trick.

She could imagine, even with her eyes closed, just how foul his expression must have been.

She had thought he would slam the door and leave her to sleep all night on the soiled bed.

But to her surprise, he had returned a short while later, carried her to the bathroom, and cleaned her up before leaving.

Holly Sinclair pulled herself from her thoughts, turned back to Sonia Sutton, and made one last attempt. "Miss Sutton—"

"Miss Sinclair, you needn’t say more."

But Sonia Sutton cut her off, her expression aloof. "I’m confident Miss Linton can design a wedding gown that I’ll be happy with. After all, she was the one who restored Madam Quincy’s antique qipao."

At the mention of the antique qipao, Vivian Linton’s face stiffened for an instant.

But she recovered immediately, smiling as she vowed to Sonia Sutton, "Don’t you worry, Sonia. I will absolutely make you the most beautiful bride in the world!"

"Then I shall wait with bated breath," Sonia Sutton said, giving a nonchalant nod.

Holly Sinclair watched Vivian Linton, amused.

’Too pure a stream will have no fish, and too shameless a person is simply invincible.’

’Vivian Linton was the living embodiment of that saying.’

’She was the one who had restored the antique qipao, yet Vivian Linton could take all the credit without even batting an eye.’

’When it came to being that shameless, Holly had to admit defeat.’

"My apologies for the disturbance, Miss Sutton."

Seeing how things stood, Holly Sinclair had no choice but to take her leave.

"Holly, are we just giving up like this?" Joanna York whispered, hurrying to keep pace with Holly Sinclair.

"Of course not."

A determined glint shone in Holly Sinclair’s eyes.

Watching Holly Sinclair’s retreating figure, Vivian Linton’s lips curled into a barely perceptible smirk.

A flicker of triumph flashed in her eyes.

’Holly Sinclair, trying to compete with me?’

’As if you’re worthy!’

...