Chapter 9 All Consequences Are Self-inflicted

Yolanda hadn't expected Cooper Coldson to come, and the light in her eyes ebbed away bit by bit under his disdainful gaze.

"No, I was just trying to help choose something for my cousin."

"That's good," Cooper huffed, "Yolanda, I've warned you before not to covet things that aren't yours, otherwise, there won't be a good ending."

Yolanda bit her lip in silence.

She knew that in Cooper's eyes, their marriage was something that didn't belong to her, and even more so, he himself was.

So now, everything was her own fault, her own doing.

Yolanda planned to leave. "Cooper, if you have time, remember to come with me to handle the paperwork."

"Yolanda, do you think everyone has as much free time as you?" Cooper's face looked even more displeased.

"Then why could you find time to come here, why..."

"What? Feel neglected?" Cooper sneered, "One is a person who will soon have no relationship with me, the other is my future wife. How do you think I should allocate my time?"

Yolanda clenched her fists, "If Young Master Coldson wants to spend more time with his future wife, then we should say goodbye to each other sooner rather than later."

"Yolanda, make it clear, this certificate has never changed anything," Cooper said as he turned and left.

At that moment, Melissa Greenwood came out.

"Where's Cooper?"

She had changed into a one-shoulder, palace-style wedding dress, which left no doubt about her ample bosom and slender waist.

The large hem of the dress, layers of light tulle, adorned with dazzling beads and diamonds, was extremely eye-catching.

Yolanda was momentarily stunned, looking at this wedding dress, she could imagine their happy wedding ceremony.

"Yolanda? Cooper didn't come?" Melissa repeated her question.

"Oh, he just left," Yolanda shifted her gaze.

Just then, Melissa's phone rang, and she waved the screen in front of Yolanda; the caller was Cooper.

She walked aside to answer the call.

"I left the items in the store," Cooper's voice carried impatience.

"Alright, I know you're a busy man, we'll have dinner together tonight," Melissa ended the call and shook her head helplessly at Yolanda, "I told him not to come, but he insisted."

She twirled around, "How about this one?"

"It's beautiful," Yolanda said truthfully.

"No, this off-the-shoulder neckline is too low, Cooper definitely won't like it," Melissa frowned, "Yolanda, wait for me, I'll go try on another one."

"Okay." Yolanda had no interest in looking at wedding dresses anymore and turned her attention to the cocktail dresses nearby.

This store was indeed one of the top ones in the country; even the cocktail dress designs were exquisite.

Yolanda looked at the dresses while sketching her own inspirations, so engrossed that she didn't even notice Melissa returning.

Melissa approached and, seeing what Yolanda was drawing, immediately guessed something.

Jenny Reyes had given them the same client.

Her mind raced, "Yolanda, what are you drawing? A cocktail dress?"

"Yes." Yolanda nodded, "This is the first order I received at the company, and I want to do a good job on it."

"Alright, let me help you," Melissa pulled Yolanda over to sit down, "Tell me about your design idea, and I'll give you some advice."

Without much thought and considering that Melissa was the director at Baruy, and directors' opinions are important, Yolanda shared her design idea in full detail.

"Yolanda, that's a great concept, go for it, the client will surely be pleased."

Yolanda felt more confident.

They chose three wedding dresses and left together.

Melissa wanted to treat Yolanda to a meal, but Yolanda declined.

"Cousin, some other time. I'm starting work tomorrow, and I want to send the samples to Manager Reyes early."

"Okay, Yolanda, good luck!"

After returning home, Yolanda stayed up all night. The next day as soon as she arrived at the company, she knocked on Jenny's door.

But Jenny was not in.

At the same time, Jenny was in Melissa's office.

She had just arrived at the company when the front desk said Director Greenwood had called her over. But when she arrived, Melissa wasn't there, only several sample designs were on the desk.

Jenny picked them up and admiration filled her eyes.

Soon after, Melissa arrived.

"Director Greenwood," Jenny began to sincerely praise, "did you design these samples earlier?"

Today was still two days from the agreed date.

"I don't think they're good enough yet, I'll think about it," Melissa said nonchalantly, "Manager Reyes, I called you here to ask how Yolanda has been performing lately?"

Jenny hesitated, "Not bad, I gave her an order, let's see her painting work."

"Manager Reyes has started assigning her tasks?" Melissa managed a faint smile, "Yolanda lacks experience and hasn't really designed garments before, perhaps you could wait a bit longer."

Jenny chuckled softly, "Since she has come to Baruy, she can't just sit around and do nothing."

Melissa sighed softly.

"Manager Reyes, don't misunderstand, I'm not trying to protect her, just... I'm afraid she might be too eager and make mistakes again."

"Yolanda is lucky to have a cousin like Director Greenwood who always thinks about her."

After a few more pleasantries, Jenny left.

No sooner had she returned to her office than Yolanda arrived.

"Manager Reyes," Yolanda was excited as she handed over several design samples, "I've finished designing the task you gave me."

"So quickly?" Jenny was slightly surprised, and a surge of anger rose within her as she took the samples.

She looked at Yolanda coldly, "Are these your designs?"

"Yes," Yolanda was puzzled by Jenny's reaction, "Do you think the client won't like them?"

She was a little unwilling, "I can explain my design to you."

"No need," Jenny said through gritted teeth, "Get out."

"Manager Reyes..." Yolanda panicked, not wanting to lose this hard-won opportunity.

"I said get out!" Jenny was clearly very angry.

"Alright." Yolanda still wanted to plead her case, "When Manager Reyes feels better, if you want to talk about these design samples, just find me."

As soon as Yolanda left, Jenny tore up the samples and threw them all in the trash.

She must be crazy to have believed a copycat could turn over a new leaf.

In the following days, there was no news about the sample designs, and Yolanda once again became invisible.

Unable to bear it, she sought out Sophie Taylor for information.

"A cocktail dress?" Sophie pulled out the printed designs, "They are already decided on, the client likes all these models."

Yolanda looked at them and saw that these design prints were almost identical to her samples.

Was her work recognized by the client?

Why did Jenny lose her temper that day?

And why hadn't she been informed of this development?

The more Yolanda thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. Even if she was forced to enter the company with the reputation of a copycat, she had now proved herself through her skills.