Bride To Be Not Me (Janice and Simon)

Amelia stepped into the business car and immediately spotted Janice in the back seat. Her face was pale, and Edward was carefully dabbing her dry lips with a cotton pad. His movements were careful and almost tender.

Seeing them together, Amelia felt a pang of guilt. "I..."

He asked, "You met with Simon?"

"Yeah." Amelia fidgeted with her hands. "Don't worry. I'll keep my word. It's already done."

Edward didn't know what she had planned to take Simon down.

"Someone with the last name Appleton gave him money. Did you know about

that?" he asked.

"Elsie and her father?" Amelia was stunned.

So, that was why Simon was keeping Elsie around-she was useful.

"I see."

If she wanted to take Simon down, she'd have to cut off all his lifelines—including Sarah.

Amelia clenched her teeth and muttered, "Elsie, you have no one to blame but yourself."

Throughout their conversation, Janice didn't even glance at Amelia. She treated Amelia with complete indifference as if she were nothing more than garbage.

After Amelia exited the car, she watched from a distance as Edward slowly assisted Janice into the competition venue.

Once, Amelia had wanted nothing more than a simple life. But that was long gone.

...

In the second round of the competition, only six entries remained. Each design was a strong contender.

Janice was glad she had come to the event. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to imagine just how much the international crochet scene had changed in just one year.

Foreign designs had always been rigidly traditional and lacked the same vibrancy. But this year's designs were completely different. They were bold, fresh, and unexpectedly striking.

Janice sat in the audience and frowned. "These contestants must've had expert guidance."

Edward noticed it too.

The entries were impressive, but her design was in a league of its own. There was

no question about the quality of her design.

However, she said, "I might not win the Best Seamstress Award this year."

Edward understood the situation

well. "The foreign judges will likely give newcomers a chance to stand out. They won't let a Cruznia contestant or a domestic company rise too quickly and dominate the scene."

That meant Janice had to present herself as a newcomer. If Shirley won again, it would only invite backlash from foreign competitors and put Prosper Stitch Group at risk.

"Maybe that's for the best," Janice said. "Speaking of Shirley, there's something I never told you. Years ago, a company sent someone to kill me after I refused to cooperate with them."

"When was this?" Edward's expression darkened. "What's the company's name?" "Onley Group."

It was a Cruznia-owned company, but the employees were foreigners.

The results of the second round were announced, and there was no reason to stay any longer. Janice had only wanted to see the styles of her competitors. What she saw was a wake-up call.

Foreign companies wanted to take over, but she wasn't about to let that happen. Crochet was part of Cruznia's heritage.

Someone grabbed Amelia's arm outside the competition hall, and she turned around. The man had distinct Cruznian features, but he looked frail and sickly.

"It really is you, Amelia!" he said.

It was Zedrick Jovarek-the man who had ruined her life.

A sharp pain shot through her chest as she slapped him hard. "Get lost!"

She despised him with every fiber of her being.

But Zedrick didn't seem bothered by the slap. "I've been looking for you for ages. Are you okay?"

Amelia let out a bitter laugh. "How do you think I've been?"

"Let's talk in the car. There are too many people here, and they'll be coming out soon," he said.

"I have nothing to say to you." Her eyes were red as she yanked her arm free and stormed off without looking back.

A nearby bodyguard turned to Zedrick. "Mr. Jovarek, should we bring her back?"

Zedrick shook his head. "Knowingnoveldrama

she's stilkin the country is enough.

My father plans to expand the

company to Cruznia, so I'll go with him. Going home... Maybe that's not such a bad ending, after allTM

As he got into the car, his body wavered slightly. He shut his eyes. "Look into how she's been doing over the past year. I want to know if anyone's been giving her trouble."

"Yes, Mr. Jovarek."