waking
Chapter 35

Chapter 35

As Rosalind read the post, her eyes were locked on that username -Elf in the Evening. This was Naomi posting Naomi was the real Elf in the Evening!

Rosalind gasped, her heart thumping. Suddenly, she felt sick to her stomach and vomited blood.

“Dillon!” she cried out, panic–stricken. Dillon walked out of the bathroom. “What’s going on?”

He slipped his phone into his pocket, his face etched with concern. “Rosalind, you look awful. What happened?

Grabbing Dillon’s hand, Rosalind was close to tears. “The fans–they’re ripping me apart. It’s gotta be Naomi’s doing. We used to share the account. and she wanted a slice of the fame, even though she said she couldn’t draw. I caved and said yes. But now she’s posing as me and turning the fans against met

Dillon’s expression darkened, a mix of rage and pity. “Damn, that’s just rotten. Anyone who steals an identity… it’s like they’re begging for a bad karma smackdown

Rosalind trembled, looking scared. “But Dillon, Naomi’s my sister, please don’t talk like that about her.”

The irony was that Rosalind was the real thief here, and Dillon’s harsh words felt like a curse on her. But she couldn’t confess that. One little lie snowballed into a mess. All she hoped was that Naomi would play along.

“Dillon, I need to see her. I think we got our wires crossed. She’s dodging me, and she won’t even answer my calls. Could you help me see her?” Rosalind’s voice was soft, pleading. “Everyone’s turning on me, but I’m the real victim here! Please, Dillon, can you help? Tears rolled down her checks as she spoke.

“Of course, I’ll help,” said Dillon firmly. “Just chill for now, and let me deal with this. I can’t stand liars and frauds. People who mess with others deserve to be ostracized. No mercy for them, alive or dead”

Muttering. Dillon left no doubt–if she were lying, he’d call her out in a heartbeat.

Rosalind stayed silent, nudging him to go replace Naomi.

When Dillon left the room, Freddy was outside, eyeing him coldly. “Off to replace Naomi now!”

“What’s it to you? Dillon shot back with a mocking grin. “You’re old news, man. The Edwards sisters dropped you like you’re a hot potato, and you are still making a scene now. Didn’t you get the memo? Truth hurts, Rosalind’s over you, man. Back off. With that, Dillon walked away.

Freddy gritted his teeth and then stepped into the room. Rosalind was frantically texting something on her phone. She looked up, a fake smile stretching across her face as she called “F–Freddy

“You’ve moved on with him,” Freddy said flatly

“That’s not true. I’m not with him; it’s always been you,” Rosalind fired back, her eyes welling up with tears. “Freddy, how can you think that of me?”

Freddy scoffed. Rosalind’s act seemed so phony it was almost laughable. He had seen it all, she hadn’t even tried to be discreet, and now here she was, lying straight to his face.

Rosalind wasn’t about to let Freddy go just yet. She enjoyed the thrill of being chased and was addicted to the feeling of being worshipped by men and idolized by legions of fans. She needed Dillon to play his part, but she also wanted to keep Freddy on the hook, pining for her.

Freddy, who’d been head over heels for Rosalind since they were kids, was so used to putting her on a pedestal that he’d actually ditched another girl for her, even though the mere thought of Naomi left a bitter taste. “Looks like I’m getting out of here today, Freddy announced. “What did you. have Dillon do for you anyway?”

She was upfront with him. I had him reach out to Naomi for me,” Rosalind admitted. “Freddy, you’ve gotta talk to Naomi. If she keeps this up, I’m

“Fine. Til sont it out, Freddy agreed, though he didn’t say how. Then he checked himself out of the hospital. His own family was hitting rock bottom and they were looking to the Edwards family for support. He didn’t want to start drama with Rosalind, not openly anyway.

After stepping out of the hospital, Dillon made the call to Naomi. “Ms. Edwards, Rosalind’s freaking out. She’s desperate to meet with you, Dillon said, all politeness on the line. “So, what’s the move now?”

Naomi was playing with a pencil. Tell her I don’t come cheap–500 thousand dollars for an hour.

“And if she won’t pay?” asked Dillon.

“Oh, she’ll pay,” Naomi said with a smirk. She knew her comic work was worth way more than that. Naomi’s work had once made Rosalind tens of

millions, scooping up awards left and right. The Edwards family had money to burn, and 500 thousand dollars was small change to them.

The financial crisis was nipping at the Sanders family’s heels, and with the Edwards family’s help being their only out, Naomi knew she had to play it smart. She didn’t want to spook Rosalind with a huge ask upfront; she aimed to bleed her dry over time instead

After they hung up. Dillon went back to see Rosalind, while Naomi wrapped up a sketch of some men’s fashion.

Shawn always went for the custom–made look: black, dark, simple, and classy. Even with his scars and disabilities, the guy exuded power–no suit could hide that.

Naomi’s new designs for men were mostly suits, but with hidden patterns and subtle, classy accessories. She hoped Shawn would be up for wearing

them

Before, in her past life, Naomi was all about women’s fashion, until Rosalind trashed all her work, insisting she only draw comics. This time around, Naomi was determined to let all her talent shine

Not long after, Dillon’s phone buzzed with news from Roulind–she agreed to Naomi’s terms and wanted to set a meeting.

Naomi just smiled coyly, “Rosalind’s got no cards to play. I’ll pick the time and place. She can wait. When I’m ready, I’ll arrange it.”

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