The Mysterious Billionaire and His Substitute Bride (Ethan and Janet)
Chapter 856 The Speech

There was still no sign of the last model, and Zuri was beginning to grow anxious. She headed backstage to check.

The next moment, bright lights flooded the stage after the 2-second blackout, stopping her in her tracks.

The music came alive next in rhythmic beats.

Finally, there was Derek. He walked onto the stage and stopped in front of the starting point for a few seconds. The black hat covered his eyebrows and eyes, drawing attention to his high nose and sharp jaws, down to the sensual line of his collarbones. The tear on the clothes had been sewn into the shape of the crescent moon- W Marks Studio's unmistakable insignia.

Derek walked on the stage, his footsteps in time with the beat of the music as he dominated the whole room.

Janet quietly lifted the curtain, unable to take her eyes off him. Derek was a completely different person on stage. There was no trace of the lazy and lethargic man from earlier. Now, the person in front of everyone was a king, and this stage was his. Some people were born to shine under the spotlight. Derek was one of them.

He was the perfect match to Draco's masterpiece. Janet didn't feel it in the fitting room, but she could see it now. Derek's movements were sure and fluid, flawlessly showing off the clothes. All eyes were fixed on him. At this moment, he held the entire room in the palm of his hand.

There could have been no better finale. After his walk, the show was finished. All the models came onto the stage one by one. Under the lights, the logo of W Marks Studio gleamed proudly on the screen.

Zuri was left astounded by the whole show. She brought her hands together in a loud clap, and others followed. Soon, the room was drowning with the sound of applause.

Backstage, Zuri cleared her throat and said, "Janet, you should go out and say something. I'm sure everyone would like to hear a few words from the designer of W Marks Studio."

It was the right decision to let Janet in today.

Janet hesitated. It was no small matter to change Draco's original design without telling him. She would have a lot of explaining to do after she got back. As things stood right now, she didn't think she had the right to speak on behalf of the studio. "Maybe next time. Mr. Wesley is not here and I don't think I can represent him." Janet waved her hand.

Derek walked off the stage and stood in front of her. With a smile on his face, he said, "What are you being shy for now? That's not like you. Where's the woman from earlier? It's tradition for designers to give a speech after the show. You can't break it."

Janet took two steps back, but Derek had already grabbed her wrist and then carried her up.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" With a scream, Janet covered her face with her hand.

The next thing she knew, Derek put her down and was handing her a microphone. Behind her, all the models who wore Draco's designs stood.

Janet was shaking with nervousness inside. She took the microphone and said, "Mr. Wesley couldn't make it to the show, so I am here on his behalf. Ladies and gentlemen, I hope this collection reached your expectations. Since the founding of W Marks, integrating innovation and simplicity has always been the central direction of Mr. Wesley's designs. In the future, he will stay true to this vision and create more original pieces."

The room was once again engulfed in resounding claps. After her speech, Janet turned around and went backstage. The show had come to an end.

The live broadcast had concluded. Inside the W Marks Studio, the young designers hugged each other, ecstatic at the success of the show. "Janet's speech was great!" they cheered excitedly.

"Mr. Wesley made the right choice taking her in." Tasha was also happy.

The whole studio was in a celebratory mood. None of them paid attention to Dalores.

She was sitting on a chair, her head bowed as she furiously sketched. Her hand gripped the pencil, drawing over lines again and again until the wood snapped.

Resentment chewed on her insides as she muttered, "It's not fair... Why does she get to have everything?"