A Figure Lurking In The Shadows

The discovery of Lyse's dress, ripped to shreds and discarded in the trash, sent a ripple of whispers through the backstage area. Contestants huddled together, their voices hushed with a mixture of shock and speculation. "Do you think she is going to be disqualified?" one whispered.

"Without a final piece, she doesn't stand a chance," another murmured. The air was thick with tension, everyone waiting to see how the drama would unfold.

Brooke, outwardly a picture of concern, inwardly seethed with satisfaction. Her plan had worked perfectly. Lyse's design, her biggest competition, was out of the picture. She had effectively eliminated her rival, securing her own path to victory. She just needed to maintain her facade of concern, to appear genuinely sympathetic to Lyse's misfortune.

"This is just awful." Brooke cooed with faux sympathy. "After all your hardwork, this is how it ends for you in such a sad and pathetic manner."