Chapter 176: Amaze the World
She was the galaxy itself, shining under the spotlight. Hannah and Gia walked hand in hand onto the stage, bathed in its glow. The audience was stunned by Hannah's beauty and her prominent status.
Janet, gritting her teeth, glared at Hannah. She seethed, watching Hannah amaze the world once more. How could Hannah possess such glory? How could she command such attention? Janet felt a surge of rage, a desperate urge to pull Hannah from the stage. She believed she, Janet, should have been the focus of the new product launch. But Hannah had stolen the spotlight.
Burning with hatred, Janet glared at Hannah, the center of everyone's attention. No one could believe the girl on stage, the lead designer of Celina—Crane—was Hannah, the privileged daughter of the Cooper family.
Crane, a legendary designer whose collections consistently dominated the market, even inspiring imitations from luxury brands, was Hannah? It seemed impossible. Once, Hannah had been criticized as a beautiful but talentless woman, her appearance juxtaposed against public criticism of her style, speech, and demeanor. This image, however, had been carefully cultivated by Charles, who feared Hannah would overshadow him. He dictated her style, behavior, and even hired media to spread negative stories, convincing many she was unworthy of him.
Even Charles stared in disbelief at the confident woman on stage. He remembered her as awkward and unsure of herself, a persona he had cultivated by lying about his preferences and manipulating her choices. Hannah had obeyed, and he believed, in his subconscious, that she knew nothing about fashion, assuming she lacked the confidence to assert her own style. He had therefore dismissed her as lacking taste, plain, and unattractive. He never imagined she would stand on that stage as the lead designer of a globally renowned luxury brand.
The simple, plain girl of the past had amazed the world. After their engagement ended, he lost more than just a fiancée; he lost access to the Cooper Group, fueling his resentment. He'd never truly cared for Hannah, seeing only her beauty and family prestige. Without those, he reasoned she would have married an ordinary man. Their breakup held no regret for him.
Even her subsequent independent success and marriage to Oscar left him unmoved. Yet, now, he felt a sharp pang of loss, a burning pain in his heart. Clenching his fists, Charles stared coldly at Hannah, realizing for the first time that he'd never truly known her. He’d grossly underestimated her; she wasn't the submissive, vulnerable woman he'd known, but brilliant and assertive. He wondered if her previous demeanor stemmed from love or a calculated plan.
He would no longer view her as ordinary, never again disdain her. He even wondered if he hadn't ended their engagement, he'd be sharing in her glory. The jealousy gnawed at him, amplified by the fact that she was not only successful, but married to another man. Charles had always enjoyed the best, including the woman he was supposed to marry, but Oscar had effortlessly taken it all away.
Jealousy burned in his eyes. He looked at Oscar, who gazed at Hannah with affection, a love Charles vehemently denied.
"You regret?" Oscar's cold voice cut through the silence. Though his gaze remained fixed on Hannah, the question was directed at Charles.
Charles struggled to control his anger. "Regret?" he sneered, feigning indifference. "There are countless brilliant women. Why should I dwell on her?"
Oscar smiled. "But she is the greatest among them. And you don't deserve her love."
Charles, speechless, glared, his face flushed with rage. Hannah's excellence left him speechless, her achievements undeniable. Compared to her, he had nothing to boast about; his perfection was merely superficial. He lacked the courage to question her success.
Gritting his teeth, Charles huffed, "Do you think you should be celebrating her success right now?" He finally conceded to her brilliance. Oscar ignored him. "She's going to steal your thunder!" Charles added, unable to stop himself.